Edibles improve sleep, relieve pain and reduce «brain fog» in cancer patients, study finds

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder revealed that cancer patients who consume edibles, cannabis-infused foods such as gummies THC, As a result, pain levels, sleep quality and cognitive function improve.

The research, published in Exploration in Medicine, revealed that cancer patients who purchased cannabis-infused edibles from legal outlets not only experienced a reduction in the effects of cancer symptoms, but also an improvement in a commonly experienced chemotherapy side effect known as «brain fog» or chemo-brain.

What is brain fog?

This term is used by cancer patients to refer to problems with memory, concentration or the ability to think clearly. Symptoms can have an impact on daily life, preventing people undergoing cancer treatment from returning to work or carrying out their daily tasks. While these symptoms are common in people undergoing cancer treatment with chemotherapy, they can also occur in cancer sufferers not receiving chemotherapy.

«When you're in a lot of pain, it's hard to think,» explains lead study author Angela Bryan, professor of psychology and neuroscience at CU Boulder and a cancer survivor. «We found that when patients» pain levels decreased after consuming cannabis for a period of time, their cognition improved."

How did the study go?

This small study is one of the first to understand how cannabis purchased over the counter in retail stores, as opposed to clinically supplied cannabis, affects cancer symptoms and treatment side effects.

To carry out the study, the researchers observed 25 cancer patients over a two-week period who had consumed edibles of cannabis purchased commercially.

After a baseline appointment during which their pain levels, sleep patterns and cognition were assessed, they were invited to purchase edible products of their choice at a dispensary. Choices were varied, with patients selecting products from 18 different brands, including chocolates, candies, tinctures, pills and baked goods. The products purchased contained variable proportions of THC and CBD in a wide range of concentrations.

«It shows us that people are willing to try anything they think will help, but there's not a lot of data available to guide them on what works best,» said Bryan.

To study the impact of edibles, The research team drove a «mobile laboratory» to each patient's home. Study participants then underwent physical and cognitive assessments in the van prior to consumption. They were then tested again after consuming the edibles at home. After two weeks of regular consumption at the frequency chosen by each patient, they underwent a follow-up examination.

What did the study show?

The study showed that cannabis relieved patients' pain significantly within an hour of consumption, while altering their cognitive faculties and giving them a feeling of euphoria, the stronger the THC content.

After two weeks of sustained use, patients also reported an improvement in pain, sleep quality and cognitive functions. Some objective measures of cognitive function, such as reaction times, also improved.

«We thought we were seeing problems with cognitive function,» said Bryan, noting that cannabis and chemotherapy have previously been associated with thought disorders. «But people actually felt they were thinking more clearly.»

Those who ingested more than CBD also reported greater improvements in sleep quality and pain intensity.

The results suggest that studies conducted over longer periods of time with larger sample sizes that test the moderating effects of product type (e.g., inhaled vs. edible), cancer type/stage, and demographic characteristics are an important next step in understanding the potential benefits and harms of cannabis use for palliative care in cancer patients,» said the researchers.