Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Background: With the aging Canadian population, there are increasing numbers of individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. As there is presently no known cure for dementia, there is an ongoing search for effective treatments for the behavioural symptoms of dementia, which can include agitation and aggression. In recent years, cannabis and related products have become a popular treatment for a variety of medical conditions, including chronic pain and psychiatric disorders. Research from animal studies and a small number of human studies has shown that synthetic cannabinoids such as nabilone may be helpful in reducing behavioural symptoms such as agitation and aggression. Although some physicians currently prescribe nabilone, there is limited information about the safety and effectiveness of this practice. Aim: We will investigate how nabilone compares to antipsychotics (the most commonly used medication for behaviours in dementia) in terms of their safety and effectiveness for the symptoms of dementia. Methods: We propose a population-based matched retrospective cohort study using linked health administrative data available from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences to compare users of nabilone and atypical antipsychotics among individuals with dementia residing in Ontario long-term care facilities. Participants will be followed for up to 1 year for 3 primary outcomes: safety, tolerability, and effectiveness. We will use Cox proportional hazard models to determine the hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval for each outcome. Significance: Our study will help to identify possibly new treatments for the behavioural symptoms of dementia to improve the quality of life for the growing number of people affected by dementia.