Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39844123›Full record

ArticleBMC complementary medicine and therapies2025

The proof is in the pudding: patient engagement in studying cannabidiol in mild cognitive impairment.

Antonia Keck, Julia-Sophia Scheuermann, Petra Scheerbaum, Elmar Graessel, Kirsten R Müller-Vahl

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Antonia KeckCenter for Health Services Research in Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, (FAU), Erlangen, Germany. antonia.keck@uk-erlangen.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-4732-0902
Julia-Sophia ScheuermannCenter for Health Services Research in Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5764-346X
Petra ScheerbaumCenter for Health Services Research in Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7794-1165
Elmar Graessel *Center for Health Services Research in Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
Kirsten R Müller-Vahl *Clinic of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7181-7419

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatient engagement (PE) in clinical trials has gained importance yet remains uncommon, particularly in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a critical precursor to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cannabidiol (CBD) shows potential in slowing MCI progression due to its neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. In CBD research, PE is underutilized too. To design a study on CBD for MCI, we administered an online survey to individuals with MCI to better understand their preferences for trial setup and outcomes.

methodsWe asked 209 individuals with MCI to complete an online survey assessing (i) willingness to participate in a trial using CBD; (ii) importance of improvements in various domains; (iii) acceptance of adverse events (AEs); (iv) reasons for AE-related dropout; (v) willingness to undergo blood sampling and lumbar puncture to assess AD pathology; and (vi) willingness to participate in a trial with a 50% chance of receiving a placebo. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics.

resultsN = 118 agreed to participate and N = 88 completed the survey. Participants prioritized improvement in cognitive abilities (87.5%), followed by quality of life (63.6%), daily activities (55.7%), sleep (55.7%), pain (52.3%), mood (52.3%), behavior (48.9%), and anxiety (43.2%). Headache (55.7%) was the least accepted AE followed by nausea (46.6%), fatigue (35.2%), and diarrhea (35.2%). Persistent diarrhea (90.9%) and severe fatigue (84.1%) were the main reasons for potential dropout. While most would undergo blood sampling (67.0%), only a minority (21.6%) would accept lumbar puncture. One-third were ready to participate (34.1%), while 54.5% were interested pending details. Among those in favor of participation, 71.6% would participate even with a 50% chance of placebo.

conclusionsOur study identified cognitive improvement as highly relevant for patients, indicating cognitive assessment tools as primary endpoints in MCI research. Given concerns about AEs, dose titration should be carefully considered to enhance acceptance and prevent AEs. Blood sampling seems well-accepted for AD biomarker assessment. Despite potential AEs, participation in a trial using CBD for MCI is seen as attractive, even under placebo-controlled conditions. This cross-sectional study emphasizes the importance of patient engagement in designing high-quality trials for using CBD to treat MCI.

Indexed as

CannabidiolCognitive DysfunctionPatient ParticipationAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesCannabidiolAlzheimer’s diseaseCannabidiolCannabis-based medicineMild cognitive impairmentPatient and public involvementPatient engagement

Identifiers

PMID39844123
PMCPMC11755935

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.