5 Ways Cannabis Could Help Fight Alzheimer’s

5 Ways Cannabis Could Help Fight Alzheimer’s

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Medical marijuana may provide a number of advantages in treating Alzheimer’s disease, according to a recent paper from researchers in Spain.

The idea of using marijuana to treat Alzheimer’s is still not widely recognized. But treatment options for Alzheimer’s are currently limited, and research over the years has now led scientists to believe cannabis, or components of the plant known as cannabinoids, could be the answer.

This month, two scientists with the Spanish Biomedical Research Networking Centre (CIBER) published a review in Frontiers of Pharmacology highlighting the potential benefits of cannabis-based treatments and calling for clinical research to be conducted.

1. Combats inflammation.

Inflammation of the brain plays a major role in Alzheimer’s disease. Inflammatory activity of the brain’s immune cells is thought to contribute to the progressive loss of neurons that underlies the disorder.

As it turns out, compounds in marijuana act on targets found on immune cells called CB2 receptors. Several studies have found that activation of CB2 receptors can reduce neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease models.

Besides CB2 receptors, THC also acts on CB1 receptors. CB1 activity may also interfere with the inflammatory process, according to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

2. Protects against Alzheimer’s plaque.

(Photo: National Institutes of Health)

The accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaque in the brain is a primary hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. These plaques are highly visible in brain scans of patients, and are believed to play a role in the loss of neurons.

Studies have shown that certain cannabinoids can protect neurons against Aβ plaque and its effects. For example, researchers have found that THC can prevent memory deficits in Aβ-injected rats.

Cannabinoids may also be effective at preventing the formation of plaque, according to a 2006 study published in Molecular Pharmaceutics. The study concluded: “Compared to currently approved drugs prescribed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, THC is a considerably superior inhibitor of Aβ aggregation.”

3. Can be taken without causing a ‘high.’

The main concerns of health professionals regarding the use of marijuana-based treatments are related to the ‘high’ caused by certain cannabinoids, mainly THC. While it’s true that THC’s effect on the brain can disrupt memory and attention, this is not as big of a barrier in treating Alzheimer’s as some might think.

In fact, studies conducted so far suggest the therapeutic effects of psychoactive cannabinoids, including THC, can be achieved at low enough doses to avoid causing a high.

What’s more, cannabis contains a number of other potentially useful compounds that are not psychoactive. For example, a 2014 study published in Psychopharmacology found the non-psychoactive cannabinoid CBD to be effective at reversing memory deficits in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Promotes growth of brain cells.

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Neurogenesis is the growth of new brain cells that occurs throughout adulthood. A disruption of this process is thought to be an early event in Alzheimer’s that prevents neurons from regenerating once progressive cell loss begins.

Various cannabinoids, including CBD, have been shown to promote neurogenesis in response to disruption caused by Aβ plaque.

Also, a 2004 study published in the European Journal of Neuroscience found that cannabinoids could increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This protein is known to play a key role in promoting neurogenesis and brain plasticity.

5. Mimics current treatments.

Most drugs used for treating Alzheimer’s work by preventing the breakdown of a signalling molecule called acetycholine. Interestingly, in addition to their unique benefits, studies show cannabiniods can affect acetycholine in the same way as current medications.

THC has been found to inhibit AChE – the enzyme responsible for breaking down acetycholine – as well as the accumulation of Aβ plaque associated with AChE activity. AChE inhibitors are commonly prescribed to treat symptoms of dementia.

Cannabis May Protect The Aging Brain, Say Experts

Cannabis May Protect The Aging Brain, Say Experts

(Photo: Isabella Bello/Flickr)

New research from a pair of neurologists at the University of Dublin claims cannabis could be the key to fighting disorders of the aging brain.

As the brain gets older, it becomes more susceptible to degenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Although different areas of the brain are affected, what underlies both conditions is the progressive death of brain cells.

While a number of therapies can be prescribed, scientists have yet to develop treatments that can slow or cure these disorders. However, researchers now believe compounds that target the body’s marijuana pathways, known as the endocannabinoid system (‘endo’ stands for endogenous), could lead to the development of such treatments.

“Modulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system is emerging as a potentially viable option in the treatment of neurodegeneration,” wrote University of Dublin researchers Veronica Campbell, PhD and Steven Fagan, PhD last month in the British Journal of Pharmacology.

“The endocannabinoid system has been identified as a possible therapeutic target against neurodegeneration as a number of alterations in the endocannabinoid system have been noted in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease,” they continued.

According to the pair, studies have already demonstrated the promise of THC, the main compound in cannabis, in managing a number of Alzheimer’s related symptoms:

“Dronabinol, derived from the phytocannabinoid THC, is beneficial in reducing anorexia, increasing body weight and improving behaviour in elderly Alzheimer’s disease patients. Dronabinol has more recently been assessed in a pilot study with Alzheimer’s patients where it improved nocturnal motor activity and reduced agitation and aggression, without undesired side effects.”

What’s more, previous studies found THC could prevent the loss of dopamine neurons in animal models of Parkinson’s. “The endocannabinoid system is believed to be a promising therapeutic target for delaying disease progression and ameliorating Parkinsonian symptoms,” the researchers note.

“The endocannabinoid system is believed to be a promising therapeutic target”Likewise, Dr. Fagan and Dr. Campbell say that studies point to “the alteration of multiple components of the endocannabinoid system in the progression of Huntington’s disease,” a movement disorder that shares a number of similarities with Parkinson’s.

Although trials involving herbal cannabis as a treatment for Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s are lacking, the authors highlight research on a cannabis-based pharmaceutical, Sativex, as an example of its therapeutic promise.

“Preclinical studies have investigated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), combined with THC, in the form of the cannabis-based medicine Sativex, which is already used as a therapeutic agent for multiple sclerosis,” they wrote.

Sativex has been studied in patients with multiple sclerosis and is currently available in 25 countries for the treatment of MS-related symptoms. However, the drug’s potential to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease has been noted as well.

Previous research has suggested both the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of marijuana as key factors in its protective effects.