Endocannabinoid System and Neuromodulation in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Focus on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Abstract

Background: Recent achievements in neurosciences have shown a growing interest in the role of endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the regulation of neuroprotection and neurodevelopment, with growing interest in the regulation of psychological processes. As well as neurotransmitters, endocannabinoids are molecules produced in our organisms and used as messengers in order to transmit signals between cells and activate responses, by interacting with several receptors. Recent studies have highlighted the involvement of the ECS in the physiopathology of several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinsons Disease (PD), Alzheimers Disease (AD) and Huntington Disease (HD). Methods: We searched the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and ScienceDirect databases on 1st September 2023, focusing on recent research regarding the role of endocannabinoids on the physiopathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases with neuropsychiatric symptoms. We explored the role of ECS in the development of neurodegenerative disorders and the link to the onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms and future therapeutic strategies that implicate ECS activity in relation to these diseases. Results: There is a strong involvement of endocannabinoids in neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric conditions, with growing evidences on efficacy of Cannabidiol (CBD)-based treatments. Conclusions: Recent ECS-mediated pathways have been found to be involved in neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric conditions. CBD-based treatments may be promising neuropsychopharmacological interventions for psychiatric symptoms on AD, PD and HD patients, worthy of being further explored.