Can Marijuana Prevent Alzheimer’s?
A recent study demonstrating the preventive effects of cannabinoids on Alzheimer’s disease, was conducted by researchers at the Cajal Institute and Complutense University in Madrid. The study appears in the February 23, 2005, issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
Researchers showed that cannabinoids prevented cognitive decline through rat experiments. In these experiments, they injected either amyloid (which leads to cognitive decline), or control proteins into the brains of rats for one week. Other rats were injected with a cannabinoid and either amyloid or a control protein.
After two months, the researchers trained the rats over five days to find a platform hidden underwater. Rats treated with the control protein – with or without cannabinoids – and those treated with the amyloid protein and cannabinoid were able to find the platform. The “unstoned” Rats treated with amyloid protein alone, did not learn how to find the platform.
Rats that received the control protein alone or cannabinoid and a control protein did not show activation of microglia. “Microglia” collect near plaques in the brain and, when active, cause inflammation which can lead to Alzheimer’s. Using cell cultures, the investigators confirmed that cannabinoids counteracted the activation of microglia and thus reduced inflammation in the brains of rats.
According to scientists, these findings that cannabinoids work to both prevent inflammation and to protect the brain, may set the stage for their use as a therapeutic approach for Alzheimer’s disease. The scientists will now begin to focus their efforts on targeting one of the two main cannabinoid receptors that is not involved in producing the psychotropic effects, or high, from marijuana so that they can develop cannabinoids in a pill someday to give to baby boomers to help them prevent brain inflammation and Alzheimers.
To read more about medical discoveries effecting senior health click here.
March 11th, 2005 at 2:26 am
Alzheimer’s is a small percentage of senile dementia, but this seems to be an approach worth study. I doubt if Dubya’s new head of NIH would fund it.Hopefully, a more enlightened medical school or research institute will pick up the ball where the “politically correct” US government won’t.
April 12th, 2005 at 2:11 am
Can pot cure Alzheimer’s?
I sure hope so.
At least we know it cures being a jerk
September 1st, 2005 at 6:45 am
write…
October 1st, 2006 at 8:01 am
I am a 44 year old husben and father of two. Ive been in managment and continued to move up the (corp ladder) with three large companies over the past 25 yrs.. Smoking pot on a dailey bases ((staying stoned)) will weaken a persons drive to be all they can be, As with acahol use. as a recreational drug used moderetly marijuana can be safe and injoyable for all who choose to partake. In my younger days i abused all drugs ((vary dumb)). After becoming a father in 1984 i stoped all use of drugs except moderate use of alcohol and marijuana. I have raised a happy and productive tax paying happy familey, missed work three times in 25 yrs,own our home. I have lots more to share but no room….....