Cannabis and its Effect on Alzheimer's Disease

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Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 4.5 million Americans. Studies have shown cannabis can limit the progression of the disease.

OVERVIEW OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive type of dementia that destroys memory, behavior and thinking. The disease causes brain cells degenerate and die, leading to a steady decline in memory, intellectual and social skills. As brain cells die, the brain shrinks.

Scientists believe Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Age seems to play a role, as risk increases significantly at and beyond the age of 65. The disease affects nearly half of people over the age of 85.

Hallmarks of the disease include plaques, which are clumps of protein fragments called amyloid-beta, and tangles, which are twisted fibers of the protein tau. Plaques and tangles build up in the brain and interfere with cell communication and nutrient transport, thus contributing to brain cell death.

Alzheimer’s typically begins with mild confusion or forgetfulness, but progresses over time at a rate that varies person to person. Memory loss persists and worsens, causing individuals to repeat statements or questions, forget conversations or appointments, routinely misplace possessions and eventually forget names of family members, friends, and everyday objects. Alzheimer’s will also cause a person to lose their sense of day, have difficulty finding the right words, have problems concentrating and thinking, and to experience depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, mood swings and irritability.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and medications and other management strategies may only temporarily improve symptoms.

FINDINGS: EFFECTS OF CANNABIS ON ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Studies have determined that the major cannabinoids found in cannabis, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), reduce the buildup of plaques and tangles, and therefore show viable potential as treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease. Cannabis’ potential efficacy for Alzheimer’s disease has been linked to its interaction with the endocannabinoid system, which modulates several pathological processes associated with the neurodegenerative disorder, including neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. The endocannabinoid system’s CB1 receptors have shown to regulate the neurotransmitters involved in excitotoxic neurodegenerative processes, while its CB2 receptors have shown to reduce the inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s disease,.

THC has been shown to be effective at lowering amyloid-beta levels and enhancing mitochondrial function, therefore causing the researchers to conclude “that THC could be a potential therapeutic treatment option for Alzheimer’s through multiple functions and pathways”,. An earlier study also found THC to be effective at preventing amyloid beta aggregation, indicating it could impact the progression of the disease. Another showed THC to reduce nocturnal motor activity and agitation in patients with dementia, suggesting it could be beneficial for treating behavioral and circadian disturbances.

A lack of glucose uptake has been linked to a worsening of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, and findings in a 2016 animal trial suggest that cannabis could promote an increased glucose uptake in the brain, suggesting that cannabis could be beneficial for treating Alzheimer’s disease through multiple methods.

One study found that early deficits in Alzheimer’s could be caused by a blockage or deficiency of cannabinoids, suggesting that supplementing with cannabinoids found in cannabis could reduce the risk of developing the disease.

Cannabinoids provide a multi-faceted approach in the treatment of Alzheimer’s. In addition to reducing amyloid-beta levels, modulating microglial function and increasing glucose uptake, they protect brain cells from the deleterious effects of amyloid-beta, reduce inflammation, and support the brain’s repair process by enhancing neurogenesis (birth of new cells) and providing neuroprotective effects. They’ve shown to improve psychomotor agitation, aggression and communication in those diagnosed with dementia2.

STATES THAT HAVE APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Currently, 11 states have approved medical marijuana specifically for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. These states include Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Ohio and Rhode Island.

In Washington D.C., any condition can be approved for medical marijuana as long as a DC-licensed physician recommends the treatment.

Four other states will consider allowing medical marijuana to be used for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with the recommendation from a physician. These states include: California(any debilitating illness where the medical use of marijuana has been recommended by a physician), Connecticut(other medical conditions may be approved by the Department of Consumer Protection), Massachusetts (other conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient’s physician), Nevada(other conditions subject to approval), and Washington (any “terminal or debilitating condition”).

RECENT STUDIES ON CANNABIS’ EFFECT ON ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

THC found to reduce amyloid-beta levels and enhance mitochondria function, thus demonstrating potential as an Alzheimer’s disease treatment option.

The potential therapeutic effects of THC on Alzheimer’s disease.

http://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad140093

THC prevented amyloid-beta aggregation, the key pathological marker of Alzheimer’s disease.

A molecular link between the active component of marijuana and Alzheimer’s disease pathology.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2562334/

Cannabinoids stimulate the removal of beta amyloid, block the inflammatory response, and provide neuroprotective effects.

Amyloid proteotoxicity initiates an inflammatory response blocked by cannabinoids.

http://www.nature.com/articles/npjamd201612–

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