EP062 Therapeutic potential of an EU-GMP certified cannabis sativa L. in neuropathic pain concurrent with alzheimer’s disease: preclinical insights

<h3>Background and Aims</h3> Chronic pain affects over 45% of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients, yet the interaction between pain and neurodegeneration remains unclear. Both conditions are multifactorial and share potential alterations in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which may provide new therapeutic targets. Persistent pain is linked to accelerated cognitive decline and increased dementia risk. However, the role of ECS in AD patients with chronic pain is unexplored, and clinical data supporting cannabinoid-based therapies is lacking. This study investigates the bidirectional relationship between pain and dementia, evaluating an EU-GMP certified Cannabis sativa L. batch in a rat model. <h3>Methods</h3> Rats were administered Cannabixir® Medium Flos (5 mg/kg) in a chronic, intermittent regimen to evaluate its effects on neurobiological changes in a scopolamine-induced AD model, combined with chronic neuropathic pain. The impact of treatment was assessed through clinical monitoring, behavioral tests and tissue analysis to examine cognitive and nociceptive changes. <h3>Results</h3> Cannabixir® Medium Flos was generally safe and yielded promising results in mechanical and thermal sensitivity tests. Tissue analysis revealed histopathological changes, consistent with improvements in nociceptive and cognitive functions, supporting the therapeutic potential of the treatment. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Neuropathic pain associated with AD may benefit from cannabinoid therapy, with preliminary results suggesting neuroprotective effects of Cannabixir® Medium Flos. These findings warrant further investigation of cannabinoids as a potential therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative conditions with comorbid pain. Funding: This research was funded by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS - UEFISCDI, project number PN-IV-P2–2.1-TE-2023–0879, within PNCDI IV and by a project under The Health Program (PS) 2021–2027, Policy Objective 1, Priority 5, project title ‘Development of translational research for vaccines, serums and other biological drugs - Acronym CANTAVAC 2.0’, SMIS code 326920.