Marijuana Lowers Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

The scientific community has provided empirical data that cannabis consumption has neuroprotective benefits, acting as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Cannabis has been used by cancer, HIV, and glaucoma patients for quite some time now. It can increase appetite, fight nausea, and lower the pressure of the viscous liquid in the eye to help glaucoma patients from going blind.

Although this information can perpetuate an ever-growing population of recreational pot users, citing its positive side effects as an excuse for their unhealthy dependence on the psychoactive plant, it is important to understand the natural, low-cost remedies that are available for those on the brink of developing the debilitating disorder known as Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative and terminal disease which starts off as memory loss, confusion and irritability, to complete and utter dementia and loss of bodily functions, and finally death. The onset of this disease is typically identified around age 50-65 and 5.4 million Americans suffer today. This figure is said to reach 11 million by the year 2040.

Stats retrieved from here.

The good news:

While stem cell treatments can potentially pave the way for a cure once-and-for-all, it’s going to be at least another 10 years before the FDA approves of any such remedy. Fortunately, research has shown that marijuana has a very powerful effect on the development of the amyloid peptides that cause this disease. We found some scientific sources with great information and thought it’d be worth-while to summarize, cite, and share with our readers.

Read on, enjoy, and spread the word.

Cannabinoids can fight Alzheimer’s

It seems that some of the chemicals found in marijuana inhibit a particular enzyme in the brain that forms the bio-chemical known as beta-amyloid. The notorious beta-amyloid plaques are what initiate and perpetuate the neuro-degeneration of Alzheimer’s.

Furthermore, the beta-amyloid plaques are toxic to brain tissue, and it seems that cannabis acts as a protective sheath against this toxicity.

Finally, the research suggests that cannabis introduction to brain tissue prior to beta-amyloid plaque formation is more powerful and effective than consumption after the onset of the disease. Since the enzyme that produces these plaques is inhibitied, cannabis is potentially a powerful natural remedy to prevent the development of Alzhiemer’s disease. Even after the onset, cannabis can act as a natural and relatively effective means for reducing further plaque buildup and possibly even neutralizing existing plaque formation.

The science behind all this is somewhat complicated to articulate in simple terms, but we’ve provided some of the sources if you’re interested in the neuroscience of all this.

Some of the Sources we used

“Treatment of the cells with cannabidiol prior to β-amyloid peptide exposure significantly elevated cell survival”

– From the Journal of Neurochemistry by Luvone T., et. al

“Our results indicate that cannabidiol exerts a combination of neuroprotective, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects against β-amyloid peptide toxicity”

– From the Journal of Neurochemistry by Luvone T., et. al

“Here, we demonstrate that the active component of marijuana, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), competitively inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as well as prevents AChE-induced amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) aggregation, the key pathological marker of Alzheimer’s disease.”

– From the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics by Eubanks, L, et. al

“The propensity of cannabinoids to reduce β-amyloid-evoked oxidative stress and neurodegeneration, whilst stimulating neurotrophin expression neurogenesis, are interesting properties that may be beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. “

– From the British Journal of Pharmacology by Campbell V. A. and Gowran A.

A thought to consider:

While we DO NOT condone the consumption of marijuana, we want to leave you with this thought to consider;

If these sources suggest that the consumption of marijuana inhibits the development of beta-amyloid plaques, and the consequential development of Alzhiermer’s disease, especially when consumed BEFORE the brain is completely plagued with these neural-peptieds, would it be wise to regularly (once a month?) consume various strains of cannabis to prevent the development of this disease?

Please consult with your doctor or shaman before attempting to self medicate. 🙂