Alzheimer’s disease is an illness of the brain that destroys nerve cells in the memory area of the brain. Without the nerve cells, the nervous system can permanently lose some of its abilities. The first signs of decline in mental abilities are confusion, impaired thinking, judgment and behavior, and progressive memory loss.
According to the National Institutes of Health, Alzheimer’s disease affects more than five million Americans and it is the most common cause of dementia.
There has been no cure for Alzheimer’s yet, but scientists search for effective ways to fight it. Currently, there are medicines that can treat the symptoms but not the actual cell loss. Halting or even reversing the cell destruction is what researches are curious about.
There is some interesting evidence that certain compounds in cannabis may be able to target the underlying processes behind dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. These promising studies have shown that medical marijuana, among its other benefits, could be an effective treatment for the progression of this neurodegenerative disease.
There is still much to learn about Alzheimer’s, about the effects of cannabis, and about the brain itself. People are already turning to weed dispensaries in Orange County CA in search of an adequate treatment for their health condition.
Cannabis could protect the brain from degeneration, alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and enhance the patients’ quality of life. Here’s how.
Inhibition of neural plaques buildup
Studies have shown that low doses of a chemical found in marijuana called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can prevent and inhibit the protein buildup known as amyloid plaques. It can even decrease the levels of beta-amyloid proteins in the brain.
Plaques are abnormal clusters of chemically “sticky” proteins called beta-amyloids that build up between nerve cells. This protein is believed to be a hallmark characteristic and a key contributor to the progression of Alzheimer’s.
When beta-amyloid proteins in the brain clump together and continue to build up, they disrupt the communication between cells and eventually cause nerve cells and neural pathways in the brain to die.
Anti-inflammatory effect
Cannabinoids in marijuana have the ability to stop the inflammatory response from the nerve cells caused by beta amyloid. Inflammation makes it difficult for neurons to communicate among themselves correctly. Researchers found that high levels of amyloid beta were associated with cellular inflammation and higher rates of neuron death.
Reduction in inflammation allows the nerve cells to survive. Being a natural and relatively safe amyloid inhibitor that affects inflammation and beta-amyloid accumulation, THC has the potential to both prevent and treat Alzheimer’s.
Cell death prevention
Another cannabinoid in marijuana is found to be beneficial in combating Alzheimer’s by preventing cell death. The non-psychoactive substance cannabidiol, known as CBD, has neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. A combination of THC and CBD may have a great potential to fight neurodegenerative disorders.
Cell growth stimulation
Cannabinoids may play a significant role in the growth of neural tissue in the hippocampus, which is a small region in the brain associated primarily with memory. Along with the promising neuroprotective properties, this possibility to stimulate and enhance neurogenesis contribute to the overall findings that cannabinoids offer a multi-faceted approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s.
Alleviation of Alzheimer’s symptoms
Medical marijuana can relieve other symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s by stimulating appetite, controlling weight, improving motor functioning and reducing agitation. It ultimately leads to an improved quality of life of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Best among weed dispensaries in Orange County CA
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