Enrollment has been completed for the LiBBY Study
Study results are expected near the end of 2026.
For more information on dementia trials please visit the Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch service at trialmatch.alz.org.
Providing hope for a safe and effective treatment at the end of life for people with dementia and agitation.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the LiBBY Study seeks to discover an alternative to commonly prescribed medications that often cause undesirable side effects.
Seeking the discovery of a safe and effective treatment for agitation that may help to improve the quality of the late stages of life of a loved one dying with dementia.
End-of-life stages for people with dementia are unpredictable but agitation is a common symptom. The final stages of dementia may last days, weeks, or months. The grieving process can be more difficult when the person who is dying experiences significant agitation.
LiBBY is a national study funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the NIH and conducted by a network of Alzheimer’s disease experts.
The LiBBY Study will help researchers find a way to:
Ease pain & suffering
Reduce caregiver burden and patient suffering
Discover a safe and effective treatment option for agitation at the end-of-life in dementia
Increase confidence in end-of-life decisions
Help future generations
Why the LiBBY Study
The LiBBY (Life’s-end Benefits of cannaBidiol and tetrahYdrocannabinol) Study is the first of its kind to examine the possible benefits of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) as a safe treatment option for agitation in hospice-eligible people with dementia.
The LiBBY Study draws inspiration from Libby Soffar, who suffered with agitation at the end of her life, and the challenges her family and friends faced in assisting her to die peacefully. Libby’s story speaks to the limited treatment options for agitation at the end of life and the unpleasant side effects of commonly prescribed medications.
The LiBBY Study seeks to offer new options to alleviate the suffering of people with dementia experiencing agitation at the end-of-life.
Why THC & CBD?
The study treatment is an oil taken by mouth that is a THC/CBD combination versus placebo. The study treatment is being evaluated for possible benefit in reducing agitation, a common symptom during the end-of-life stages in dementia.
Groundbreaking Research
It is common for people to receive hospice care as they near the end of their life, but treatment options are often limited and have uncomfortable side effects. Participation in this research study will help in determining if treatment with THC and CBD is a safe option for treatment of agitation at the end-of-life in dementia. The study’s outcomes may contribute to improving the quality of life at end-of-life stages in people with dementia.
Enrolled participants, their families, and caregivers work closely with experts in dementia research and medical providers located in cities across the United States.
Lead by a team of experts with decades of experience in the field of Alzheimer’s disease research and care.
