This chronic neurodegenerative disorder leads to progressive symptoms including dementia, memory loss, emotional issues, and speech problems, among others. Few treatments exist and available therapies only address some symptoms, but not the progression of the disease itself.
The search for new therapeutic options has led to significant interest in cannabis-based treatments and researchers are currently working to advance our understanding of the possible roles medical cannabis could play in the future of Alzheimer’s treatment.
Additional synthetic cannabinoids were also found to reduce the inflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease in human brain tissue in culture.
-Israeli researchers in 2017 reported that THC administration can reverse age-related memory impairment in rats, and may offer a potential treatment option in patients with dementia and other neurodegenerative illnesses.
Preclinical studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids can prevent neuronal cell death and some experts believe that these neuroprotective properties could play a role in moderating AD.
Preclinical data shows the potential of cannabinoids to moderate the progression of AD while clinical data demonstrates that these compounds can provide symptom relief, but lets take a look in what 10 studies says about it...
-Studies...
-In a 2019 review on Studies of Marijuana for Alzheimer’s Disease by NCBI, Focusing on CBD & THC, researchers concluded that results implied that the CBD components of cannabis might be useful to treat and prevent AD because CBD components could suppress the main causal factors of AD. Moreover, it was suggested that using CBD and THC together could be more useful than using CBD or THC alone.
-In a 2019 review on Studies of Marijuana for Alzheimer’s Disease by NCBI, Focusing on CBD & THC, researchers concluded that results implied that the CBD components of cannabis might be useful to treat and prevent AD because CBD components could suppress the main causal factors of AD. Moreover, it was suggested that using CBD and THC together could be more useful than using CBD or THC alone.
-In Alzheimers.org.uk Some studies suggest cannabis could help to manage a few behavioural symptoms of dementia, such as agitation and aggression but more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of taking cannabis, and whether it is an effective and safe way to tackle dementia symptoms.
-In the Journal of Neuroscience, investigators at Madrid's Complutense University and the Cajal Institute in Spain reported that the intracerebroventricular administration of the synthetic cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 prevented cognitive impairment and decreased neurotoxicity in rats injected with amyloid-beta peptide (a protein believed to induce Alzheimer's).
Additional synthetic cannabinoids were also found to reduce the inflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease in human brain tissue in culture.
"Our results indicate that ... cannabinoids succeed in preventing the neurodegenerative process occurring in the disease," investigators concluded.
-Investigators at The Scripps Research Institute in California have reported that THC administration inhibits the enzyme responsible for the aggregation of amyloid plaque — the primary marker for Alzheimer's disease — in a manner "considerably superior" to approved AD drugs such as donepezil and tacrine.
-Investigators at The Scripps Research Institute in California have reported that THC administration inhibits the enzyme responsible for the aggregation of amyloid plaque — the primary marker for Alzheimer's disease — in a manner "considerably superior" to approved AD drugs such as donepezil and tacrine.
Researchers concluded results provide a mechanism whereby the THC molecule can directly impact Alzheimer's disease pathology. "THC and its analogues may provide an improved therapeutic [option] for Alzheimer's disease [by]... simultaneously treating both the symptoms and the progression of [the] disease."
-In LA JOLLA–Salk Institute scientists have found preliminary evidence that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other compounds found in marijuana can promote the cellular removal of amyloid beta, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
While these exploratory studies were conducted in neurons grown in the laboratory, they may offer insight into the role of inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease and could provide clues to developing novel therapeutics for the disorder.
“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,” says Salk Professor David Schubert, the senior author of the paper.
-Israeli researchers in 2017 reported that THC administration can reverse age-related memory impairment in rats, and may offer a potential treatment option in patients with dementia and other neurodegenerative illnesses.
Preclinical studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids can prevent neuronal cell death and some experts believe that these neuroprotective properties could play a role in moderating AD.
-In the British Journal of Pharmacology, investigators at Ireland's Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience concluded that "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.
Manipulation of the cannabinoid pathway offers a pharmacological approach for the treatment of AD that may be efficacious than current treatment regimens."
-In a 2006 clinical trial that published in Pubmed The aim of a study was to measure the effect of the cannabinoid Dronabinol on nocturnal motor activity. In an open-label pilot study, s6 consecutive patients in the late stages of dementia and suffering from circadian and behavioral disturbances-five patients with Alzheimer's disease and one patient with vascular dementia-were treated with 2.5 mg dronabinol daily for 2 weeks. Motor activity was measured objectively using actigraphy.
-Also a placebo‐controlled crossover design, was used to investigate effects of dronabinol in patients with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease who were refusing food. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Dronabinol on anorexia and disturbed behavior in patients with Alzheimer's disease
-In a 2006 clinical trial that published in Pubmed The aim of a study was to measure the effect of the cannabinoid Dronabinol on nocturnal motor activity. In an open-label pilot study, s6 consecutive patients in the late stages of dementia and suffering from circadian and behavioral disturbances-five patients with Alzheimer's disease and one patient with vascular dementia-were treated with 2.5 mg dronabinol daily for 2 weeks. Motor activity was measured objectively using actigraphy.
-Also a placebo‐controlled crossover design, was used to investigate effects of dronabinol in patients with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease who were refusing food. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Dronabinol on anorexia and disturbed behavior in patients with Alzheimer's disease
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
-In a 2016 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, Israeli researchers assessed the safety and efficacy of THC-infused oil in Alzheimer's patients in a four-week trial. Participants experienced decreased incidences of delusions, agitation, irritability, and apathy following treatment. Their quality of sleep also improved.
Investigators concluded that "Adding medical cannabis oil to AD patients' pharmacotherapy is safe and a promising treatment option"
-Conclusions...
All these findings are very encouraging and we’re eager to learn more as new data become available. It’s also important to note that researchers focusing on cannabis-based treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
Due to the complexity of Alzheimer’s symptoms, we encourage patients and caregivers considering medical cannabis to thoroughly discuss your treatment plan with your physician and carefully document outcomes to help evaluate the patient’s response.
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