Alzheimer and Cannabis Treatment (Study, Research and News 2018)
- Alzheimers disease is a serious neurodegenerative disease that affects more and more people around the world
- Medical cannabisis currently being investigated as a potential drug or therapeutic that can treat or at least slow the course of the disease
Alzheimer currently affects more than 30 million people worldwide. This is by far the most common cause of dementia development. In addition, current surveys count on the fact that if the situation continues to develop in the same direction, the number of people affected by Alzheimers can even quadruple by 2050.
Along with increasing sWith the number of patients at risk, the much-needed cadence of research seeking to find a functioning therapy or a straight drug rises. One of the most promising drugs currently under the researchers eye is medical cannabis. How far did current science advance in understanding cannabis? Is it possible that medical marijuana against Alzheimers really helps?
What is Alzheimer? How does it manifest?
Alzheimer typically affects a critical area of the brain called the hippocampus, whose primary role is to mediate the proper functioning of memory. This explains the typical initial symptoms that signal the start of the disease - problems with both short and long term memory. Anxiety is also added to this, depression, agitation, and overall poor mental state of the patient.
"The observation of the effect of plant cannabinoids on Alzheimer's treatment has so far only been devoted to a thorough investigation. Hope is unique here."
Patients subsequently experience problems such as coughing, swallowing and breathing problems. Furthermore, the disease reaches a very problematic stage, when the patient is very susceptible to ASPIRACI food, pneumonia and other infections. All this makes Alzheimer's life a dangerous life. Indeed, only in the US is Alzheimer's disease the sixth most common cause of death.
The course of the disease is divided into three critical stages:
- Increase in the incidence of amyloid plaques in the brain
- Tissue tissue in parts of brain tissue called neurofibrillary nodes
- Activation of brain support cells called microglia
In addition, abnormal amounts of free radicals occur in Alzheimer's patients. The combination of the occurrence of amyloid plaques with neurofibrillary nodes subsequently increases the number of free radicals, which over time significantly worsens the condition of the patient and the course of the disease. Along with the whole process, the brain substance called glutamate begins to be released in the body. Glutamate consequently achieves toxic levels that result in neuronal death - the major brain busome responsible for proper signaling and brain-linking. In addition, by reducing the production of a substance called acetylcholine, memory functions are further impaired. This whole process is a very negative spiral for the patients brain and psyche.
MomentThe methods of treatment are far from being effective medicine, and in the vast majority of cases it is merely masking or slowing down symptoms. For example, one of the currently used therapeutic methods is capable of increasing acetylcholine production, which in turn slows down the damage to memory functions. However, Alzheimers negative spiral continues. Therefore, we cannot even talk about the complete reversal of the disease with regard to todays medicine.
The main focus of todays studies is find out how you can:
- Reduce the number of free radicals in the patients body
- Reduce the number of brain nodes and amyloid plaques
- Reduce inflammation and the number of microglia that cause toxic neuron-killing glutamate
Of course, it has been a matter of interest to researchers for decades to find the right way to treat Alzheimers and other neurodegenerative diseases. Surprisingly, scientists are turning to plant cannabinoids today. In the cannabinoids, there is literally unique hope as a potential herbal remedy.
How it workscannabinoids from cannabis to Alzheimer?
To date, researchers have focused on finding ways to completely stop the growth of amyloid plaques. The general consensus here is that if we stop the formation of these plaques, we stop the course of Alzheimer's. Unfortunately, however, it has been found that if the formation of a certain type of protein that is indispensable to the formation of amyloid plaques is discontinued, other very serious consequences will occur. This is not the way this way.
"One of the most important therapeutic properties of cannabinoids THC and CBD is the ability to suppress inflammation. Of course, this is a very important property in relation to Alzheimer's disease, as inflammation is considered a critical factor in Alzheimer's development."
Thus, an alternative method of treatment could be to suppress the overall inflammation in the patient's body, which is a direct consequence of amyloid plaque formation. THC and CBD are here to help safely. The reduction of inflammation and the number of free radicals in the human body is generally regarded as a precursor to reducing the chances of occurrence of Alzheimer's. Thus, a classic drug such as the over-the-counter ibuprofen can also help. The hook here is that frequent ibuprofen-type medication is liver and kidney damage. In contrast, CBD and many other cannabinoids are currently considered to be non-toxic substances with minimal negative side effects for the adult human body and brain.even in relatively high dosages.
Important goals in CBD research against Alzheimer's disease
Several studies have already demonstrated the ability of CBD to blunt the antioxidant effects of amyloid plaques and thus limit their toxic effects on brain cells. However, CBD is also able to reduce the formation of amyloid plaques directly by acting on PPAR-γ receptors that promote the survival of healthy cells. Overall, PPAR-γ receptors are considered an important part of effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease. One of the Phase II clinical trials. has shown that activation of PPAR-γ receptors indeed improves memory function during Alzheimer's. This is in contrast to CBD and THC that act on CB2 receptors, resulting in suppression of amyloid plaques, but do not increase cognitive function or suppress the formation of neurofibrillary nodes.
CBD acts neuroprotectively - protects brain cells
If the CBD is favorably cognitiveThis function is mainly due to its ability to protect the brain from toxins and diseases. Trial therapies and experiments in mice that were exposed to the combined action of CBD and THC demonstrated efficacy in reducing the number of microglia produced and improved overall condition during Alzheimer's.
Mikroglie jsocells that make up about 10% of the cells in the brain. They are cells that are very similar to "classical" neurons, and their activation is causal, such as injury or disease, and one of the most important factors in CBD action in this situation is to reduce the activation of this type of brain cell. against disease and damage, their chronic activation leads to the opposite - excessive production of glutamate, cytokines and other harmful substances that gradually damage the brain.
The fact that chronic activation of microglia is one of the fawhich contribute to the deterioration of Alzheimer's, of course, is no surprise. For the time being, however, it seems that hemp cannabis substances are able to reduce the frequency of this chronic activation. An important feature is also the high body tolerance of such a treatment strategy (minimal negative impact on the human body during administration of medicine).