The LiBBY Study results are now available!
Please go to the Study Results page and speak with your LiBBY Study site for more information.
LiBBY was 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 sought to 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 was 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 drew 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 sought 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 was an oil taken by mouth that is a THC/CBD combination versus placebo. The study treatment was 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 helped 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 worked 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.
