Many people with dementia have behavioral issues. Traditionally, those behaviors have been treated with medications that have side effects.

Dr. Walt Nieri is with the University Of Arizona College Of Medicine. He is leading a study on the effects of marijuana on people with dementia, and he spoke at a Dementia Friendly event at the Tempe Public Library on Wednesday.

"So, I’m looking for another alternative and if that would be marijuana then that would be good. So some preliminary studies are showing that marijuana and the use of marijuana may be a benefit in treating some of the behavioral problems," he said.

Nieri says the drugs being used to treat behaviors include antipsychotics like Risperdal and Seroquel, as well as SSRIs like Zoloft. An AARP study from 2018 found that many nursing homes in the U-S over-use antipsychotic drugs.