Marijuana compound may help Alzheimer’s symptoms
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound that gives the ‘high’ to marijuana users, may also treat the symptoms and slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
The journal of Molecular Pharmaceutics reports that THC can preserve levels of a brain chemical that declines in Alzheimer’s, permitting the build up of brain-gumming amyloid plaques which are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s.
Existing Alzheimer’s drugs such as donepezeil – sold as Aricept – break down an enzyme in the brain which in turn breaks down the chemical preventing brain plaque formation. However, the THC not only acted against the enzyme, it also targeted plaque formation.
THC acts on one group of brain molecules when it triggers a buzz, and another when it fights the brain-clogging plaques.
