Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of an individual’s brain tissue. It is the most common form of dementia and symptoms of the disease typically begin with memory impairment which then progress to cognitive dysfunction, difficulties with comprehension, loss of physical coordination, speech impairment, possible psychosis, severe mental decline, and ultimately death. How quickly the disease progresses varies from individual to individual and unfortunately the symptoms of the disease are often mistaken for “signs of age” in sufferers.
Although the disease mostly affects people over the age of 65, the disease is not a natural result of aging. The exact causes of Alzheimer’s Disease are still unknown, and sadly there is currently no known cure.
Using Cannabis to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease
Cannabis is a complex medicinal plant that may actually be used to treat a variety of debilitating symptoms caused by a surprisingly large number of ailments. It’s usefulness as a non-lethal medicine (you cannot die from an overdose of cannabis) cannot be overstated and it’s versatility in terms of how it can be consumed and as to how it can be useful for so many illnesses is something to be excited about. However, it is important to remember that consulting with your primary care physician should be your first priority when considering incorporating cannabis into one’s medical regiment and that cannabis is to be used as an adjunct therapy and not a replacement. It is also your responsibility to communicate with your doctor as to how your use of cannabis has affected your health and of your progress with utilizing medical cannabis.
It is exciting to know that the number of medical studies surrounding cannabis as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease has grown over the past decade. Currently, there is a lot of interest in the neuroprotective properties of both Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD), and one study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology by Campbell, et al in Jan 2009 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 neurogenesis.”
In general, scientific studies have shown that cannabis may be quite useful for treating individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the following reasons: slowing disease progression; reducing anxiety; mood enhancing for dealing with depression; preventing possible psychosis; reducing agitation and night time tossing and turning; and stimulating appetite to aid with weight gain.
Beneficial Cannabinoids and Terpenoids Useful for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease
The cannabis plant offers a plethora of therapeutic benefits and contains cannabinoids and terpenoid compounds that are useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Once again, THC and CBD have been the focus of much attention when it comes to medical research into the ailment, and it is important to remember that there are still other cannabinoids and even terpenoids that may help with treating the disease.
The following list denotes which cannabinoids and terpenoids work synergistically with each other for possible therapeutic benefit. It may be beneficial to seek out strains that contain these cannabinoids and terpenoids.
References
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Amnesia induced by ?-amyloid fragments is counteracted by cannabinoid CB1 receptor blockade.Mazzola, Carmen, et al.
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Cannabinoids ablate release of TNF? in rat microglial cells stimulated with lypopolysaccharide.Facchinetti, Fabrizio, et al.
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