The therapeutic potential of cannabidiol in reducing symptoms of Amiotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A bibliographic review

Introduction: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that results in the gradual loss of muscle control. There is currently no cure for ALS and treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and improve patients' quality of life. In this context, cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in the cannabis plant, has been studied as a complementary therapy for ALS.
Objectives: This study consists of a literature review that aims to analyze the scientific evidence available on the use of CBD in the treatment of ALS.
Methodology: This is a bibliographic review based on the PubMed, LILACS, SciELO and Google Scholar platforms. The descriptors used were “treatment” AND “cannabidiol” AND “amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”. Studies in Portuguese, Spanish and English were included, from 2000 to 2024.
Results: With progress in neuroscience, cannabidiol emerges as a potential treatment for ALS, presenting anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, in addition to benefits against anxiety and depression.
Conclusion: Therefore, the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis highlights that CBD has promising properties in relieving ALS symptoms and improving patients' quality of life. However, more research is essential to establish it as a standard treatment for ALS, including its interaction with other medications and safety as a therapeutic.