Autism
Best reviews
2021: This review of the ECS & autism looks at all of the human studies & finds that AEA levels are lower in people with autism
Endocannabinoid Markers in Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Scoping Review of Human Studies
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178121005515
2021: A review of targeting the ECS for the treatment of autism - with lessons from animal models
The role of the endocannabinoid system as a therapeutic target for autism spectrum disorder: lessons from behavioral studies on mouse models
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34813825/
2021: CBD & neurodevelopmental disorders like autism
Cannabidiol and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34093265/
2021: A review of using medical cannabis in children & teens with autism
Medicinal Cannabis in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34403168/
2021: This review looks at PEA for autism & looks at its several different mechanisms
Palmitoylethanolamide and Its Biobehavioral Correlates in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of Human and Animal Evidence
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/4/1346/htm
2021: For treating epilepsy & autism, this review suggests cannabidivarin (CBDV - a phytocannabinoid similar to CBD but with a shorter tail)
Therapeutic potential of cannabidivarin for epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33895189/
2021: A review of how to treat autism spectrum disorder by targeting neuroinflammation via the endocannabinoid system
Healing autism spectrum disorder with cannabinoids: a neuroinflammatory story
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763420306850
2021: This review looks at the potential of using cannabinoids for the treatment of autism
Potential of Cannabinoids as Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022395621001266
2020: This meta-review of CBD for children with autism included ten studies
Cannabinoids for People with ASD: A Systematic Review of Published and Ongoing Studies
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32825313/
2020: Clinical review of cannabis & CBD for autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Medical Cannabis: Review and Clinical Experience
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32892960/
2019: A review of microglia, the ECS & autism
The Endocannabinoid System as a Window Into Microglial Biology and Its Relationship to Autism
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31619967
2019: A review of CBD & autism
Cannabidiol as a suggested candidate for treatment of autism spectrum disorder
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30171992
2017: The endocannabinoids and the neuroinflammation of autism
Role of Endocannabinoids on Neuroinflammation in Autism Spectrum Disorder Prevention
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28764155
2017: A look at the endocannabinoids & autism
Perspectives on the Role of Endocannabinoids in Autism Spectrum Disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30854511/
2017: How the ECS is dysregulated in autism
Endocannabinod Signal Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Correlation Link between Inflammatory State and Neuro-Immune Alterations
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28671614/
Timeline of Research
2022: Among humans with autism, they were more likely to be using CBD than the rest of the population
Cannabis and cannabidiol use among autistic and non-autistic adults in the UK: a propensity score-matched analysis
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34916323/
2022: In children with autism, the use of low doses of CBD & trace amounts of THC decreased behavioral problems, improved cognition & increased social interactions
CBD-enriched cannabis for autism spectrum disorder: an experience of a single center in Turkey and reviews of the literature
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34911567/
2022: In children with autism, treatment with cannabis caused 65 biomarkers to shift towards more typical development
Cannabis-Responsive Biomarkers: A Pharmacometabolomics-Based Application to Evaluate the Impact of Medical Cannabis Treatment on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34874191/
2021: In a mouse model of autism, long-term treatment with CBD-rich medical cannabis oil lessened anxiety & repetitive behaviors
Behavioral aspects and neurobiological properties underlying medical cannabis treatment in Shank3 mouse model of autism spectrum disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34645786/
2021: According to this survey, about 20% of people caring for a child with autism give their child CBD
2021: Zynerba presents their new Phase 2 data on their transdermal CBD gel for treating autism
Longer Term Tolerability and Efficacy of ZYN002 Cannabidiol Transdermal Gel in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): An Open-Label Phase 2 Study
https://zynerba.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/SSBP_BRIGHT_08.18.21_FINAL.pdf
2021: In a mouse with no CB1 receptors, researchers looked at changes in social behavior & communication with relevance to autism
Communication and social interaction in the cannabinoid-type 1 receptor null mouse: Implications for autism spectrum disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34173729/
2021: In brain scans of human with autism, CBDV caused the striatum of the brain to move towards more neurotypical functionality
Modulation of striatal functional connectivity differences in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder in a single-dose randomized trial of cannabidivarin
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34210360/
2021: In children with epilepsy & autism, Zynerba’s CBD transdermal gel helped with sleep
Impact of ZYN002 Cannabidiol Transdermal Gel on Sleep in Children and Adolescents With Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies and Comorbid Autism Spectrum Disorder
2021: Zynerba’s CBD transdermal gel helpful for those with autism including for behavior, seizures & sleep
ZYN002 Cannabidiol Transdermal Gel: Efficacy and Safety Findings in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Related Disorders
https://zynerba.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-ASCP-ZYN002-in-ASD-Poster_2021.05.21_Final.pdf
2021: This meta-review looks at how children with autism spectrum disorder tend to have lower levels of endocannabinoids in their blood & that their risk of developing autism may be increased by using acetaminophen because its pain-relieving properties are mediated by the endocannabinoid system
Endocannabinoid System Dysregulation from Acetaminophen Use May Lead to Autism Spectrum Disorder: Could Cannabinoid Treatment Be Efficacious?
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/7/1845
2021: In mice, lowering the activity of their DGL-α enzyme (which produces 2-AG) creates autism-type behaviors
Pharmacological inhibition of the primary endocannabinoid producing enzyme, DGL-α, induces autism spectrum disorder-like and co-morbid phenotypes in adult C57BL/J mice
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33886158/
2021: A proof-of-concept trial using cannabinoids for autism
Cannabinoid treatment for autism: a proof-of-concept randomized trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33536055/
2020: Case report of a 15 year old with autism & epilepsy using low doses of CBD
A pediatric patient with autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy using cannabinoid extracts as complementary therapy: a case report
https://jmedicalcasereports.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13256-020-02478-7
2020: In children with autism and in animal models of autism, there's less endocannabinoid signaling and this study suggests boosting 2-AG levels
The Alternations of Endocannabinoid System and its Therapeutic Potential in Autism Spectrum Disorder
https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-35222/v1/f221f1ce-1452-4213-82b0-64da7a084052.pdf
2020: In a study looking at children with autism, help was seen by the addition of CBD, melatonin and oxytocin (30 patients)
A Neuroendocrine Therapeutic Approach with the Pineal Hormone Melatonin, Cannabidiol and Oxytocin (MCO regimen) in the Treatment of the Autism Spectrum disorders
2020: A brain imaging study of autistics looks at how 600 mg of CBD causes effects via the GABA & glutamate pathways
Effects of cannabidiol on brain excitation and inhibition systems; a randomised placebo-controlled single dose trial during magnetic resonance spectroscopy in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30758329
2019: In humans, 600 mg of CBD altered brain connectivity in those with autism (34 participants)
The effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on low-frequency activity and functional connectivity in the brain of adults with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31237191/
2019: In humans with autism, 600 mg of CBDV modulated the GABA & glutamate systems (34 men in a repeated-measures, double-blind, randomized-order, cross-over design)
Effects of cannabidivarin (CBDV) on brain excitation and inhibition systems in adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): a single dose trial during magnetic resonance spectroscopy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31748505/
2019: In children with autism, CBD improved many behaviors (53 participants)
Oral Cannabidiol Use in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder to Treat Related Symptoms and Co-morbidities
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30687090
2019: In rats, CBDV ameliorates autism-like behaviors
Cannabidivarin Treatment Ameliorates Autism-Like Behaviors and Restores Hippocampal Endocannabinoid System and Glia Alterations Induced by Prenatal Valproic Acid Exposure in Rats
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31447649
2019: In patients with autism, high CBD/low THC oil found helpful (188 ASD patients)
Real life Experience of Medical Cannabis Treatment in Autism: Analysis of Safety and Efficacy
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-37570-y
Popular article: Israeli study finds help for autism with a 30% CBD / 1.5% THC mix
https://www.timesofisrael.com/cannabis-may-help-relieve-autism-symptoms-israeli-study-shows/
2019: CBD found helpful for autistic children (60 children in a retrospective feasibility study)
Brief Report: Cannabidiol-Rich Cannabis in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Severe Behavioral Problems-A Retrospective Feasibility Study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30382443
2019: Children with autism tend to have lower endocannabinoid levels circulating in their blood
Lower circulating endocannabinoid levels in children with autism spectrum disorder
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30728928
2019: Out of 15 autism patients using CBD-rich cannabis extracts, only one failed to show improvements (18 person observational study)
Effects of CBD-Enriched Cannabis sativa Extract on Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms: An Observational Study of 18 Participants Undergoing Compassionate Use
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31736860/