NCT04516057 · Phase 3 · RECRUITING
Nabilone for Agitation Blinded Intervention Trial
This trial tests whether nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid already approved in Canada for chemotherapy nausea, can ease agitation in people who already have Alzheimer's dementia. Participants get nabilone or a placebo for 8 weeks. Researchers also track caregiver distress, pain, and nutrition. It is a Phase 3 trial, a large final-stage test of whether it works and is safe, not yet proven or approved for this use.
You may qualify if
- Males or females ≥55 years of age; females must be post-menopausal
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM 5) criteria for Major Neurocognitive Disorder due to AD. Patients with Major Neurocognitive Disorder due to multiple etiologies (AD and vascular) will be included
- sMMSE ≤24
- Presence of clinically significant agitation based on the IPA definition
- If treated with cognitive-enhancing medications (cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine), dosage must be stable for at least 3 months prior to study randomization
- Availability of a primary caregiver to accompany the participant to study visits and to participate in the study. The primary caregiver must be sufficiently proficient in English to complete the required study assessments, as per investigator judgement.
You're excluded if
- Change in psychotropic medications less than 1 week prior to study randomization (e.g., concomitant antidepressants)
- Contraindications to cannabinoids, e.g. allergies to cannabis and cannabis products, potential clinically important drug-drug interactions
- Current uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (e.g. uncontrolled hypertension, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia and severe heart failure), as per investigator assessment
- Current significant liver disease, as per investigator assessment
- Presence or history of other psychiatric disorders or neurological conditions (e.g. psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, stroke, epilepsy)
- Participants currently meeting DSM 5 criteria for Major Depressive Episode (MDE)
- Previous or current abuse of/dependence on marijuana
- Clinically significant delusions and/or hallucinations (NPI-NH delusion/hallucinations subscore ≥4)
- Reported recreational use of marijuana or other cannabis products within 3 months prior to study randomization
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-01-28