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CBD and Alzheimer’s Disease: Recent Study Finds Potential

We know using CBD may come with physical and mental benefits, but it turns out there’s potentially more! In this blog, we’re going to go over a recent study on CBD. We want to be clear that we are not making any claims about our products. We simply wish to share information with the hemp & cannabis community. A recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that CBD in high doses may help restore the function of two proteins that are crucial for reducing beta-amyloid plaque. Beta-amyloid plaque is one of the main factors that leads to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. 

While there are currently two classes of drugs available to treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s, they aren’t perfect. No medications have been proven to be 100% effective in curing Alzheimer’s and dementia. This recent clinical trial suggests that one supplement may be helpful – CBD. To learn more about CBD and Alzheimer’s, keep reading!

How does Alzheimer’s disease occur? 

To put it simply, Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that affects the brain and its neurons. When the brain can’t process information in a healthy way, its cells (the neurons) cannot carry through their biological processes. That leads to cell death – hence why Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease. 

When Alzheimer’s disease occurs, it causes a slow, progressive deterioration of the brain and its neurons. The leading cause of this disease is thought to be the buildup of two critical proteins in brain cells: beta-amyloid and tau

Beta-amyloid causes plaques to form around the brain cells;

Tau causes buildups in the form of tangles in the brain cells.

There are two main proteins in a healthy brain that help clear away these plaques: TREM2 and IL-33. However, with Alzheimer’s, these proteins that normally break down protein plaques in the brain fail to do so. The study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found something incredible – CBD may actually help with this. 

How might CBD help with Alzheimer’s?

The clinical trial was on mice with the disease and lasted for two weeks. In the trial, the mice were given very high doses of CBD. They got “10 mg/kg intraperitoneally every other day for 8 doses over 2 weeks”. According to a publication on ResearchGate, 10 mg/kg of CBD in mice translates to 341 mg/kg of CBD for a 130lb individual, which, both theoretically and in practice, is A LOT of CBD for humans. 

What the researchers found was that these high doses of CBD increased the levels of those two essential proteins key to breaking down plaques in the neurons: TREM2 and IL-33. In the mice, the levels of TREM2 increased by ten times, while those of the protein IL-33 increased sevenfold. That’s an auspicious effect that could be important for the treatment of Alzheimer’s in humans in the future. 

Movement problems due to neuron degeneration is a common problem in patients with Alzheimer’s. The researchers also found that the mice were moving in ‘an endless tight circle’ prior to receiving CBD treatment. This movement stopped when they were given high doses of CBD – another important point from this clinical trial.

Main takeaway

While CBD can’t help with everything, the results from the study give a solid base for further research on CBD & Alzheimer’s.

Beta-amyloid and tau plaque is not an instant process; it takes years for them to build up to an irreversible level. What this study aims to achieve is not to present CBD as a magical cure for Alzheimer’s but simply to suggest that long-term CBD consumption might potentially help prevent the onset of this disease. 

We’ll also mention that other studies and clinical trials have cleared plaque in rodents with Alzheimer’s before, without other benefits. This is why, even though this study is fantastic and highly encouraging, it might take years to know if CBD (or any other supplement or drug on the market) can really benefit diseases like Alzheimer’s.

*The points made in this article are only the authors’ best information on the subject and must not be taken as a form of medical advice. Consult a medical professional for any questions regarding the use of CBD supplements. 

Read more about recent studies on CBD here!

Sources:

– JagWire | CBD reduces plaque, improves cognition in model of familial Alzheimer’s– National Institute on Aging | What Happens to the Brain in Alzheimer’s Disease?

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