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   Marijuana Compound May Offer Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease   
      
       
   Neuroscience News     
   August 27, 2014     
   Featured, Neurology   
      
      
   Extremely low levels of the compound in marijuana known as delta   
   9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, may slow or halt the progression of   
   Alzheimer's disease, a recent study from neuroscientists at the University of   
   South Florida shows.   
      
   Findings from the experiments, using a cellular model of Alzheimer's disease,   
   were reported online in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.   
      
   Researchers from the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute showed that   
   extremely low doses of THC reduce the production of amyloid beta, found in a   
   soluble form in most aging brains, and prevent abnormal accumulation of this   
   protein -- a process    
   considered one of the pathological hallmarks evident early in the   
   memory-robbing disease. These low concentrations of THC also selectively   
   enhanced mitochondrial function, which is needed to help supply energy,   
   transmit signals, and maintain a healthy    
   brain.   
      
   "THC is known to be a potent antioxidant with neuroprotective properties, but   
   this is the first report that the compound directly affects Alzheimer's   
   pathology by decreasing amyloid beta levels, inhibiting its aggregation, and   
   enhancing mitochondrial    
   function," said study lead author Chuanhai Cao, PhD and a neuroscientist at   
   the Byrd Alzheimer's Institute and the USF College of Pharmacy.   
      
   "Decreased levels of amyloid beta means less aggregation, which may protect   
   against the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Since THC is a natural and   
   relatively safe amyloid inhibitor, THC or its analogs may help us develop an   
   effective treatment in the    
   future."   
      
   This image shows a shows a plastinated brain of an Alzheimer's patient.   
   Researchers point out that at the low doses studied, the therapeutic benefits   
   of THC appear to prevail over the associated risks of THC toxicity and memory   
   impairment. This image is for illustrative purposes only and shows a   
   plastinated brain of an    
   Alzheimer's patient. Credit SunOfErat.   
   The researchers point out that at the low doses studied, the therapeutic   
   benefits of THC appear to prevail over the associated risks of THC toxicity   
   and memory impairment.   
      
   Neel Nabar, a study co-author and MD/PhD candidate, recognized the rapidly   
   changing political climate surrounding the debate over medical marijuana.   
      
   "While we are still far from a consensus, this study indicates that THC and   
   THC-related compounds may be of therapeutic value in Alzheimer's disease,"   
   Nabar said. "Are we advocating that people use illicit drugs to prevent the   
   disease? No. It's important    
   to keep in mind that just because a drug may be effective doesn't mean it can   
   be safely used by anyone. However, these findings may lead to the development   
   of related compounds that are safe, legal, and useful in the treatment of   
   Alzheimer's disease."   
      
   The body's own system of cannabinoid receptors interacts with na   
   urally-occurring cannabinoid molecules, and these molecules function similarly   
   to the THC isolated from the cannabis (marijuana) plant.   
      
   Dr. Cao's laboratory at the Byrd Alzheimer's Institute is currently   
   investigating the effects of a drug cocktail that includes THC, caffeine as   
   well as other natural compounds in a cellular model of Alzheimer's disease,   
   and will advance to a genetically-   
   engineered mouse model of Alzheimer's shortly.   
      
   "The dose and target population are critically important for any drug, so   
   careful monitoring and control of drug levels in the blood and system are very   
   important for therapeutic use, especially for a compound such as THC," Dr. Cao   
   said.   
      
   Notes about this neurology research   
   Contact: Anne DeLotto Baier - USF   
   Source: USF press release   
   Image Source: The image is credited to SunOfErat and is in the public domain   
   Original Research: Abstract for "The Potential Therapeutic Effects of THC on   
   Alzheimer's Disease" by Chuanhai Cao, Yaqiong Li, Hui Liu, Ge Bai, Jonathan   
   Mayl, Xiaoyang Lin, Kyle Sutherland, Neel Nabar, and Jianfeng Cai in Journal   
   of Alzheimer's Disease.    
   Published online July 7 2014 doi:10.3233/JAD-140093   
      
      
   http://neurosciencenews.com/alzheimers-progression-thc-neuropharmacology-1274/   
      
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