Dr. Walker questions the Minister for Health about strategies to address the projected increase in dementia cases in WA, specifically inquiring about research into cannabinol (CBN) as a potential treatment.

AnsweredQoN 99Legislative Council
Asked
21 February 2023
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

DEMENTIA
99. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I
refer the minister to statistics published by Dementia Australia suggesting
that as many as 69 000 Western Australians will suffer from dementia by
2050, almost doubling the approximately 37 000 sufferers currently recorded in
just a quarter of a century.
(1) What active
work is being undertaken under the auspices of the Department of Health to
tackle, and ideally reduce, the prevalence of dementia in Western Australia?
(2) Is the
minister aware of recent research out of the Salk Institute for Biological
Studies in California that suggests that cannabinol, or CBN, a relatively
unexplored compound naturally found in cannabis, can help to protect brain
cells from ageing and could potentially treat dementia?
(3) If cannabis
and its derivatives are not being actively considered as viable treatment
options at this time, will the minister take on board this new research and
request their inclusion in any suite of potential measures going forward?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. To allow for a fulsome and accurate response, an
answer will be provided on 22 February 2023.

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