A new review of scientific literature around CBD and its effects suggests that the cannabinoid could be useful in managing symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD) by modulating brain networks that perpetuate addiction.
To conduct the review, researchers looked at previously published neuroimaging studies involving the effects of CBD on healthy brains, examining how the cannabinoid affected brain activity as well as subjective measures like anxiety and mental sedation.
The results of the study suggested that CBD may normalize these processes through its effect on the brain and help those struggling with certain issues. “There is a well-researched link between chronic heavy alcohol use impairs reward processing, salience attribution, emotion regulation and executive functioning (including inhibition control, working memory and self-monitoring) through the perturbation of various brain networks implicated in the development and maintenance of AUD,” the study says, adding that it’s “previously been suggested that CBD may normalize this perturbed neurocircuitry and subsequently support positive behavioral changes.”
