High Times with Alzheimer"s

As we all know there is no cure for the degenerative Alzheimer's. But there is evidence according to Spanish studies that marijuana helps. The drug's active ingredients, cannabinoids have been shown to help prevent inflammation and protect the brain. No tests have been performed on people living with the disease, but researchers have studied human brain tissue, of normal and Alzheimer's, and conducted cannibinoid experiments on rats.

The rats were injected with beta-amyloid, a protein which simulated Alzheimer-like effects on their brain. They were also injected with the marijuana ingredient--cannibinoid. For comparison, other rats were injected with another protein along with the cannibinoid. Then they were tested for memory, learning, and mental function. The cannibinoid was shown to prevent the trigger of inflammation in the cells around the Alzheimer "plaque" which is believed to be involved in development. "Our results indicate that cannabinoid receptors are important in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease and that cannabinoids succeed in preventing the neurodegenerative process occurring in the disease," write the researchers in the journal.

SOURCES: Ramirez, B. The Journal of Neuroscience, Feb. 23, 2005; vol 25: pp 1904-1913. WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise: "Alzheimer's Disease: Topic Overview." News release, Society for Neuroscience.