Research shows marijuana can protect brain cells from Azheimer's

A potentially good news for Alzheimer’s patients emerge from the results of a new study that found marijuana can protect the brain from damaging effects of this age-related disorder.

Researchers from Salk Institute have shown that compounds found in marijuana can contribute to removal of toxic proteins, known as amyloid beta, which have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The compound is also found effective against inflammation, an underlying factor in disease’s progression.

Over time, studies have shown that compounds of marijuana might play a role in battling Alzheimer’s disease, but this study is first to demonstrate that marijuana affect both inflammation amyloid beta accumulation in nerve cells.

“Although other studies have offered evidence that cannabinoids might be neuroprotective against the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, we believe our study is the first to demonstrate that cannabinoids affect both inflammation and amyloid beta accumulation in nerve cells,” said Professor David Schubert, senior author of the study, in a Salk Institute press release.

The brain produces endocannabinoids which along with playing a signaling role between cells also protect nerve cells from inflammatory amyloid damage. The main psychoactive compound in marijuana—tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — activates the same receptors as the body’s endocannabinoids.

“Inflammation within the brain is a major component of the damage associated with Alzheimer’s disease, but it has always been assumed that this response was coming from immune-like cells in the brain, not the nerve cells themselves,” said Antonio Currais, a postdoctoral researcher in Schubert’s laboratory and first author of the paper. “When we were able to identify the molecular basis of the inflammatory response to amyloid beta, it became clear that THC-like compounds that the nerve cells make themselves may be involved in protecting the cells from dying.”

The onset of Alzheimer’s is followed by accumulation of amyloid beta over the years. Then taking steps to reduce its accumulation may significantly reduce the risk of this disease. This study suggests active compounds found in marijuana may help reduce the accumulation of fatal amyloid beta from neuron cells, similar to the protective function of body’s own-grown endocannabinoids.   

“It is likely that the accumulation of intracellular aggregated protein in the brain occurs throughout life, contributes to cognitive aging, and may also be involved in the initiation of many old age-associated diseases,” said the researchers in the study.

The researchers advised a caution regarding the results of this study. The findings of the study are preliminary and haven’t been tested outside the lab, yet. Like other research works this study demonstrated a link between Alzheimer’s and cannabis but results are far from conclusive. Therefore it would be premature to advise using pot as a way to reduce the risk of having this brain disorder.