There is ample evidence in animal models that the full spectrum of phytocannabinoids are effective in treating and reducing traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, and age-related cognitive decline. In addition, our understanding of the role of the endogenous cannabinoids anandamide and 2AG in the control of inflammation and blood flow in the brain. This research channel makes the endocannabinoid system a target for the treatment of degenerative conditions.
While much more research is needed, especially on human issues, the amount of evidence supporting cannabinoids to be used to treat degenerative disorders continues to grow. The mechanisms of action by which cannabinoids exert protective properties on nerve cells are extensive, complex, and warrant further study.
Researchers believe they can use the “environmental effect” that occurs when different cannabinoids are consumed at the same time to create an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Nearly 6 million Americans are now living with Alzheimer’s, and that number could rise to nearly 14 million by 2050 .. Pharmaceutical companies have worked hard to create drugs that can treat the symptoms of the disorder, but without much success. There are currently four FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of AD-related memory loss, but none of these drugs have proven to be effective ..
As the pharmaceutical industry continues to explore traditional medicines, other researchers seek natural remedies to tackle this problem, and Dr. Ethan Russo, neuroscience researcher and director of research and development at the International Cannabis and Cannabinoid Institute, has spearheaded a new wave. researchers studying how cannabis can treat a wide range of diseases, including Alzheimer’s.
The cannabis plant contains 167 different chemical compounds called cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, as well as many lesser known compounds. When taken orally, cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which regulates most of the body’s physiological systems, including those responsible for the immune response, pain, and sleep. Researchers have found that the endocannabinoid system is dysfunctional in patients with Alzheimer’s and related disorders.
Like CBD, THC also offers a number of unique medical benefits, but access to this cannabinoid remains very limited as this compound is largely responsible for the “HIGH” levels associated with rashes. Many researchers have been reluctant to study THC-based therapy due to concerns about the psychoactive effects of this cannabinoid, but Dr. Russo believes that the “environmental effect” created by the combined use of THC and CBD may help alleviate those concerns.
In an interview with the CBD project, Russo described the entourage effect as a symphony, “in which you can think of THC as the lead singer with an important part provided by the entire orchestra, but you also have other elements that create a harmony that really enhances the overall effect and makes cannabis is the best. possibly a medicine. When CBD Combines With THC [возникает] numbness of the feeling of intoxication (sotol), ”explained Rousseau. “If someone smokes a substance that contains both THC and CBD, they will no longer be stoned as they did with THC alone. But, more importantly, the effect is prolonged. “Because of this effect, you can take an oral medication containing these two cannabinoids two or three times a day, as opposed to smoking cannabis, which may be required less frequently due to the intoxication feeling caused by higher THC concentrations.
Russo believes it’s time to start clinical trials to study how these cannabinoids might treat Alzheimer’s disease. “Both THC and CBD have been shown to interfere with the production of toxic substances in the brains of these patients, which is quite interesting, since synthetic drugs intended for similar purposes have not yet received medical use. THC and especially CBD are also protective factors for known nerve cells that can slow down or perhaps even stop the degenerative process. ”
