The role of cannabinoids in neurodevelopmental disorders of children and adolescents

INTRODUCTION. Neurodevelopmental disorders have a multifactorial etiology that results from the interaction between biological and environmental factors. The biological basis of many of these disorders is only partially understood, which makes therapeutic interventions, especially pharmacological ones, particularly difficult. The impact of medical cannabis on neurological and psychiatric disorders has been studied for a long time. This study aimed to review the currently available clinical and pre-clinical studies regarding the use of cannabinoids in pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders and to draw attention to the potential therapeutic role of cannabidiol in this field. DEVELOPMENT. Cannabidiol is an endocannabinoid system modulator and exerts its effects on both developing and mature brains through numerous mechanisms. Cannabidiol holds a relatively high toxicity limit and current literature suggests that it may have anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and neuroprotective properties. Clinical evidence suggests that early treatment with cannabidiol might be a promising therapy for neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, tics, and attention/deficit hyperactivity disorder. CONCLUSIONS. This review hopefully draws attention to an emerging body of evidence concerning cannabidiol’s significant potential to safely improve many of the common symptoms affecting children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially autism spectrum disorder.