Study Shows THC May Be More Effective Than CBD for Autism in Animal Models

Most people with autism who seek unofficial treatments often use non-intoxicating CBD oil. This oil is also commonly featured in related research. However, scientists at Tel Aviv University in Israel have recently discovered that another compound, THC, may be much more effective.

This finding came from a study examining the effects of cannabis oils containing either THC or CBD on mice with a mutation in the Shank3 gene. In both humans and mice, this gene is responsible for forming connections between brain neurons during development. When the gene is turned off, obsessive behaviors, avoidance of social contact, and increased anxiety are observed—in other words, some of the symptoms associated with autism.

“In our study, we looked at the details and came to surprising and interesting conclusions,” said Shani Poleg, one of the study’s authors. “THC was more effective. The main difference was that THC treatment also improved social behavior, not just repetitive compulsive behavior.”

She also noted that although THC itself causes intoxication, the researchers achieved positive results with only a small amount of the compound. Moreover, they did not find any significant changes in cognitive or emotional tests conducted one and a half months after the start of the study.

“In addition, we saw a significant decrease in the concentration of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate in the spinal fluid, which may explain the reduction in behavioral symptoms,” Poleg added. According to her, this is one of the advantages of cannabis compared to other medications prescribed for autism.

The researcher emphasized that the Shank3 gene mutation accounts for only a small number of autism cases in humans. “But we hope this can both stimulate further research into the use of medical cannabis and lead to more appropriate use of cannabis,” she said.