This is a prospective, open-label, observational study. Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) receiving licensure from Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) for using medical cannabis (MC) for PD related symptoms and pain, being followed up in the Movement Disorders Institute (MDI) at SHEBA Medical Center (SMC) will be eligible to participate. Assessment regarding patient demographic, disease characteristics (Hoehn and Yahr, disease duration, disease first symptom etc.) will be collected at baseline along with designated questionnaires to evaluate the non-motor symptoms (NMSS, PDSS, Kings PD pain scale, PDQ8) and urinary function (Bladder over activity, International prostate symptom score (IPSS) and nocturia questionnaires). after MC initiation, patients will be observed and evaluated for the impact of MC 4-8 weeks following treatment initiation. Also, for each patient, MC being used will be analyzed in order to expose relationship between phyto-cannabinoid content and efficacy or side effects.
Medical cannabis (MC) is a standard treatment in Israel to Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suffering from pain. Nevertheless, it is not known about MC effectiveness for other non-motor symptoms of the disease. Our aim is to prospectively observe patients with PD before and after initiation of MC, for non-motor symptoms effect. In specific, relying of data from multiple sclerosis patients and basic science showing cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) is abundantly expressed in the sub epithelial layer of the bladder, we will explore the impact of MC on bladder function and urinary symptoms.