At the recent Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2026, Dr Jacobo Mintzer (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA) discussed the phase II LiBBY study that evaluated a combination of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for agitation in hospice-eligible patients with dementia. touchNEUROLOGY spoke to Dr Mintzer, publishing an interview with him about his presentation and the trial results, on its website, on 7 September.
The LiBBY study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted across nine sites. It assessed two main outcomes. The first was the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), which measures the frequency of behaviours associated with agitation, such as aggression, shouting, grabbing, inappropriate movements and other signs of distress. Secondly, it aimed to understand whether any reduction in agitation translated into a meaningful clinical benefit.
Topline results showed significant reduction in agitation in people with late-stage Alzheimer’s and other dementias, who were eligible to receive or received hospice care, with benefits seen in two weeks. Nearly 9 in 10 study participants who received the treatment showed overall improvement in target symptoms at study end at week 12. The LiBBY study also demonstrated that dementia patients at late stages of their illness can participate in clinical trials, helping expand much needed clinical research.
Dr Mintzer shared the personal story that inspired the study, the key findings, and what they could mean for future palliative care.
Read more on the touchNEUROLOGY website: https://touchneurology.com/insight/addressing-agitation-in-end-of-life-dementia-insights-from-the-libby-study/
Check out the AAIC press release: https://aaic.alz.org/releases-2026/libby-trial-thc-cbd-agitation-late-stage-dementia.asp
