Alzheimer’s
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), also called Alzheimer disease, Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type (SDAT) or simply Alzheimer’s, is the most common form of dementia. This incurable, degenerative, and terminal disease was first described by German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him. Generally it is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less-prevalent early-onset Alzheimer’s can occur much earlier. An estimated 26.6 million people worldwide had Alzheimer’s in 2006; this number may quadruple by 2050.
Marijuana Facts and Resources:
- Marijuana Slows Alzheimer’s Decline
“New Spanish and Israeli research shows that a synthetic analogue of the active component of marijuana can reduce the inflammation and prevent the mental decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Although it was conducted on human brain tissue in the lab and in a rat model — but not in living humans — the research is regarded as a major step not only in understanding how the brain reacts to Alzheimer’s disease, but also in helping to develop novel drugs for Alzheimer’s and even Parkinson’s disease.”
- Marijuana may block Alzheimer’s
“The active ingredient in marijuana may stall decline from Alzheimer’s disease, research suggests.”
- Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology by Cannabinoids
Research showing that cannabinoids act as neuroprotective agents against excitotoxicity in vitro and acute brain damage in vitro.
- Marijuana’s Active Ingredient Shown to Inhibit Primary Marker of Alzheimer’s Disease
“Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have found that the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, inhibits the formation of amyloid plaque, the primary pathological marker for Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the study said, THC is “a considerably superior inhibitor of [amyloid plaque] aggregation” to several currently approved drugs for treating the disease.” (Another source.)
- Dronabinol in the treatment of agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease with anorexia
Report of the use of marijuana in cases of Alzheimer’s patients with anorexia. Shows 65% increase in weight among other results.
- Dronabinol in the treatment of refractory agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease
Dronabinol was found to be an effective treatment for behavioral agitation in community-dwelling patients with AD.
- Effects on dronabinol on anorexia and disturbed behavior in patients with Alzheimer’s disease
Another study involving anorexic Alzheimer’s patients. This time, however, it included ‘disturbed’ individuals. The “results indicate that dronabinol is a promising novel therapeutic agent which may be useful not only for treatment of anorexia but also to improve disturbed behavior in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.”
- Cannabinoids reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in animals
“Research by scientists of Madrid’s Complutense University and the Cajal Institute published in the Journal of Neuroscience has demonstrated that cannabinoids can reduce pathological processes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers hope that cannabinoids may be used to develop new drug therapies against the disease.”
- Molecular Link between the Active Component of Marijuana and Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology
“Compared to currently approved drugs prescribed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, THC is a considerably superior inhibitor of A&bgr; aggregation, and this study provides a previously unrecognized molecular mechanism through which cannabinoid molecules may directly impact the progression of this debilitating disease.”
- Cannabinoid receptor stimulation is anti-inflammatory and improves memory in old rats
“Stimulation of cannabinoid receptors may provide clinical benefits in age-related diseases that are associated with brain inflammation, such as Alzheimer’s disease.”
- Alzheimer’s disease; taking the edge off with cannabinoids?
“Cannabinoids offer a multi-faceted approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease by providing neuroprotection and reducing neuroinflammation, whilst simultaneously supporting the brain’s intrinsic repair mechanisms by augmenting neurotrophin expression and enhancing neurogenesis.”
- US Patent 6630507 – Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants
“Cannabinoids [are] useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.”
