They found that the THC reduced beta-amyloid levels and
eradicated the cells' inflammatory response to the protein,
which prevented nerve cell death.
The researchers believe their findings shed more light on the
role beta-amyloid plays in Alzheimer’s disease, which could pave
the way for new treatments.
Could Marijuana Hold Key to Alzheimer's Treatment?
(Copyright DCP)Monday, 04 Jul 2016
Marijuana may hold the key to a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests.
The research, published in the journal Aging and Mechanisms of Disease, identified a compound present in marijuana that triggered the removal of beta-amyloid protein from nerve cells in the brain, Huffington Post reports. Beta-amyloid is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, forming clumps in the brain that disrupt communication between neurons.
For the new study, David Schubert, of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies , and colleagues modified nerve cells to produce high levels of the protein in the lab. They then applied a chemical in marijuana, called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), to nerve cells with high beta-amyloid production.
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