Oral CBD slowed disease progression and improved cognitive deficits in ALS mice differently by sex
Chronic oral CBD treatment delayed weight loss in female ALS mice and improved specific cognitive and social deficits in a sex-dependent manner, but did not improve motor function.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CBD (36 mg/kg/day oral) ameliorated weight loss in female SOD1G93A mice, tended to restore sociability in males, strengthened social recognition memory in females, and improved prepulse inhibition in younger females. CBD did not improve motor impairments in either sex.
Key Numbers
36 mg/kg/day oral CBD. Treatment from 10 weeks. Weight loss ameliorated in females. Social recognition improved in females. PPI improved in younger females. No motor improvement in either sex.
How They Did This
Male and female SOD1G93A and wild-type mice fed control or CBD-enriched chow (36 mg/kg/day) from 10 weeks of age. Behavioral testing included rotarod, open field, prepulse inhibition, social behavior, and fear-associated memory from 11-19 weeks.
Why This Research Matters
ALS affects cognition and behavior in addition to motor function, but these aspects are often overlooked. This study shows CBD may address some non-motor ALS symptoms even when motor decline continues, and that effects differ meaningfully between sexes.
The Bigger Picture
Combined with the CBDA study (RTHC-06508), this suggests different cannabinoid forms may target different ALS symptoms. CBDA showed motor benefits while CBD here improved cognitive/social domains, raising the possibility of complementary cannabinoid approaches.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only one dose tested. Motor benefits observed with CBDA in another study were not seen with CBD, possibly due to different model (SOD1 vs TDP-43), route, or dose. Sex-specific effects were not always consistent across measures.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would combining CBD with CBDA address both motor and non-motor ALS symptoms?
- ?Why does CBD improve non-motor but not motor symptoms in this ALS model?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CBD improved social cognition, prepulse inhibition, and delayed weight loss in ALS mice without affecting motor decline
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-designed study with both sexes, multiple behavioral domains, and chronic oral dosing, though limited to one dose and one ALS model.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication.
- Original Title:
- Behavioural effects of oral cannabidiol (CBD) treatment in the superoxide dismutase 1 G93 A (SOD1G93 A) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- Published In:
- Psychopharmacology, 242(9), 2077-2095 (2025)
- Authors:
- Ghimire, Sandip, Kreilaus, Fabian, Rosa Porto, Rossana(2), Anderson, Lyndsey L, Yerbury, Justin J, Arnold, Jonathon C, Karl, Tim
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06534
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn't CBD improve motor function in ALS mice?
The SOD1G93A model may respond differently than the TDP-43 model where CBDA showed motor benefits. Different cannabinoid forms, doses, and ALS subtypes may require different approaches. Motor neuron protection may need earlier intervention or different compounds.
What cognitive problems occur in ALS?
Up to 50% of ALS patients develop cognitive and behavioral changes, including problems with social cognition, executive function, and emotional processing. These non-motor symptoms significantly impact quality of life but receive less research attention than motor decline.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06534APA
Ghimire, Sandip; Kreilaus, Fabian; Rosa Porto, Rossana; Anderson, Lyndsey L; Yerbury, Justin J; Arnold, Jonathon C; Karl, Tim. (2025). Behavioural effects of oral cannabidiol (CBD) treatment in the superoxide dismutase 1 G93 A (SOD1G93 A) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. Psychopharmacology, 242(9), 2077-2095. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-025-06785-z
MLA
Ghimire, Sandip, et al. "Behavioural effects of oral cannabidiol (CBD) treatment in the superoxide dismutase 1 G93 A (SOD1G93 A) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.." Psychopharmacology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-025-06785-z
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Behavioural effects of oral cannabidiol (CBD) treatment in t..." RTHC-06534. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ghimire-2025-behavioural-effects-of-oral
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.