Posted on 07/01/2016 6:11:28 AM PDT by Wolfie
Marijuana compound removes toxic Alzheimer's protein from the brain
An active compound in marijuana called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been found to promote the removal of toxic clumps of amyloid beta protein in the brain, which are thought to kickstart the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
The finding supports the results of previous studies that found evidence of the protective effects of cannabinoids, including THC, on patients with neurodegenerative disease.
"Although other studies have offered evidence that cannabinoids might be neuroprotective against the symptoms of Alzheimer's, we believe our study is the first to demonstrate that cannabinoids affect both inflammation and amyloid beta accumulation in nerve cells," says one of the team, David Schubert from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California.
Schubert and his colleagues tested the effects of THC on human neurons grown in the lab that mimic the effects of Alzheimer's disease.
If you're not familiar with this special little compound, it’s not only responsible for the majority of marijuana's psychological effects - including the high - thanks to its natural pain-relieving properties, it’s also been touted as an effective treatment for the symptoms of everything from HIV and chemotherapy to chronic pain, post traumatic stress disorder, and stroke.
In fact, THC appears to be such an amazing medical agent, researchers are working on breeding genetically modified yeast that can produce it way more efficiently than it would be to make synthetic versions.
The compound works by passing from the lungs to the bloodstream, where it attaches to two types of receptors, cannabinoid receptor (CB) 1 and 2, which are found on cell surfaces all over the body.
In the brain, these receptors are most concentrated in neurons associated with pleasure, memory, thinking, coordination and time perception, and usually bind with a class of lipid molecules called endocannabinoids that are produced by the body during physical activity to promote cell-to-cell signalling in the brain.
But THC can also bind to them in much the same way, and when they do, they start messing with your brain's ability to communicate with itself. The can be a good and a bad thing, because while you might forget something important or suddenly be incapable of swinging a baseball bat, you'll probably feel amazing, and want to eat all the snacks.
Over the years, research has suggested that by binding to these receptors, THC could be having another effect on ageing brains, because it appears to helps the body clear out the toxic accumulations - or 'plaques' - of amyloid beta.
No one's entirely sure what causes Alzheimer's disease, but it’s thought to result from a build-up of two types of lesions: amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Amyloid plaques sit between the neurons as dense clusters of beta-amyloid molecules - a sticky type of protein that easily clumps together - and neurofibrillary tangles are caused by defective tau proteins that clump up into a thick, insoluble mass in the neurons.
It’s not clear why these lesions begin to appear in the brain, but studies have linked inflammation in the brain tissue to the proliferation of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. So if we can find something that eases brain inflammation while at the same time encourages the body to clear out these lesions, we could be on the way to finding the first effective treatment for Alzheimer's ever.
Back in 2006, researchers at the Scripps Research Institute found that THC inhibits the formation of amyloid plaques by blocking the enzyme in the brain that produces them, and now Schubert and his team have demonstrated that it can also eliminate a dangerous inflammatory response from the nerve cells, ensuring their survival.
"Inflammation within the brain is a major component of the damage associated with Alzheimer's disease, but it has always been assumed that this response was coming from immune-like cells in the brain, not the nerve cells themselves," says one of the team, Antonio Currais.
"When we were able to identify the molecular basis of the inflammatory response to amyloid beta, it became clear that THC-like compounds that the nerve cells make themselves may be involved in protecting the cells from dying."
It's exciting stuff, but it's so far only been demonstrated in neurons in the lab, so the next step will be for Schubert and his team to observe the link between THC and reduced inflammation and plaque build-up in a clinical trial. And they've reportedly already found a drug candidate called J147 that appears to have the same effects as THC, so this might be the way they can test the effects of THC without the government getting in the way.
The results have been published in Aging and Mechanisms of Disease.
“Where did you get your M.D. degree?”
It doesn’t take a mental heavy weight to recognize self inflicted idiocy.
“It doesn’t take a mental heavy weight to recognize self inflicted idiocy.”
Or to dismiss empirical data from the Salk Institute because your good time comes out of a bottle.
As usual, the meter gets pegged on both sides, with advocates latching onto every possible medical benefit and opponents calling them all stoners. There are established, legitimate medical uses for THC. Eye pressure relief for glaucoma sufferers, help with nausea and inappetence for cancer patients, and no doubt others. If there is legitimate benefit for people suffering dementia from Alzheimers, then it’s a good thing. Alzheimers is an awful disease. But, that doesn’t provide a rationale for recreational use merely to get a high. Some people will always abuse otherwise beneficial substances, if a high can be achieved from doing so. A glass of red wine a day is good for heart health, a bottle a day is substance abuse. Same with “medical” marijuana.
I have never smoked pot in my life. Although I wasn’t raised in the sex drugs and rock n roll era you did. Baby Boomers destroyed this country and still are doing so.
They would cure too many things & put themselves out of business, or at least as much business!
Your supposition is that everyone relies on “substances” for a good time. It will most likely come as a great surprise or a complete disbelief to you that some people derive the same pleasures and even greater “highs” on sunsets, birds singing, and any number of other blessings free for the taking by everyone, no “substances” required. Poor you if you aren’t so blessed.
“Your supposition is that everyone relies on “substances” for a good time.”
Sorry, but your psychic information is a bit off as I’m drug free. But thanks for clueing me in on one more self-righteous SOB to avoid in the future.
I’m with you regarding terminal folks, but the recreational drug users should all die quickly to be less of a burden IMO.
Yeah, I'm not going to violate anyone's privacy for you, but I'm known quite a few highly successful, reliable, responsible folks who were extreme users, some of whom were definitely doing it for self-medication purposes, eg incapacitating Vietnam-era PSTD. However I'm sure we've also met plenty of folks who indulge in recreational use just because, just like 3-martini lunches used to be the thing, or doing a couple of lines to perk up the mid-afternoon used to be popular in the 80s...Executives who do this truly annoy me.
I agree.
I think both can be good for a person. Coconut oil is the only one I can use if I want to keep my job.
Although we have one girl using illegal steroids to bulk up. Pot would be safer for sure.
coconut oil has many health benefits.
Been there, done that, then I forgot where I put my stash.
No way in hell does the stuff help your memory.
This is weed industry propaganda.
I have bad memory issues and they have nothing to do with pot. It’s called 60 years old and having to take ASDs for the rest of my life.
It sucks. I’m glad I work alone and can cover some of my mistakes.
True dat! Free hemlock and poppy plants for all!!!!!
You’re right, many people only use occasionally. I smoked some many years ago after a tooth extraction because I got up with a dry socket and was in horrible pain.
Even when you only use it once every few years it isn’t hard to find. Just ask a couple Vietnam vets and you can usually find someone willing to help.
Why stop there? Why not alcohol drinkers? Cigarette smokers? Anyone with a chronic disease regardless whether self induced or not?
Recreational drug users are the worst problem and will get business owners in trouble with liability.
Drunk on the job is rare, but easy to stop.
Smoking in their own homes or in well ventilated areas would not be an issue.
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