Cannabinoid control of Multiple Sclerosis
Prof. David Baker (david.baker@qmul.ac.uk)
Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London
Wednesday 16th March, 2011. 18:00 – 19:30. Darwin Lecture Theatre 2, UKC.
Multiple sclerosis is the major cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults and can affect up to 1:500 people in certain areas of the United Kingdom. Autoimmune disease induces conduction block, demyelination, axonal, neuronal and synapse loss that serves to impair normal neurotransmission. This results in the development of a variety of neurological symptoms, including spasticity (muscle stiffness), which are poorly controlled. This has prompted some people to use and perceive benefit from taking cannabis. Through investigating experimental models of multiple sclerosis, we have demonstrated how and why cannabinoid compounds may be involved in symptom control and regulation of other disease processes during multiple sclerosis. This has underpinned subsequent clinical studies that have lead to the recent licensing of medicinal cannabis extracts for symptom control in spasticity. Through exploring cannabinoid biology, we have identified ways to exploit the therapeutic potential of the cannabinoid system, whilst limiting the psychedelic side-effects associated with cannabis use.
