Attacking Alzheimer’s with Red Wine and Marijuana

Attacking Alzheimer’s with Red Wine and Marijuana | DrugReporter | AlterNet
Two new studies suggest that substances usually associated with dulling the mind — marijuana and red wine — may help ward off Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of age-related memory loss. Their addition comes as another study dethrones folk remedy ginkgo biloba as proof against the disease.

At a November meeting of the Society of Neuroscience in Washington, D.C., researchers from Ohio State University reported that THC, the main psychoactive substance in the cannabis plant, may reduce inflammation in the brain and even stimulate the formation of new brain cells.

Meanwhile, in the Nov. 21 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, neurologist David Teplow of the University of California, Los Angeles reported that polyphenols — naturally occurring components of red wine — block the formation of proteins that build the toxic plaques thought to destroy brain cells. In addition, these substances can reduce the toxicity of existing plaques, thus reducing cognitive deterioration.

At Ohio State, researchers led by psychologist Gary Wenk are studying the protective effects of tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC. They found that administering a THC-like synthetic drug to older rats performed better at a memory test than a control group of non-medicated elderly rodents.

In some of the rats, the drug apparently lowered inflammation in the hippocampus — the region of the brain responsible for short-term memory. It also seems to have stimulated the generation of new brain cells.

Wenk added two cautionary notes to his report. First, to be effective, any such treatment along these lines would have to take place before memory loss is obvious. Second, the researchers still have much work to do.

“Could people smoke marijuana to prevent Alzheimer’s disease if the disease is in the family? We’re not saying that, but it might actually work,” he said. “What we are saying is it appears that a safe, legal substance the mimics those important properties of marijuana can work on receptors in the brain to prevent memory impairments in aging. So that’s really hopeful.”

I think the obvious late night comic joke would be:

Researchers have found that smoking marijuana may help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease… but how could you tell?

This is fantastic research.  Now I’m not a pothead!  I’m “staving off Alzheimer’s Disease”.  However, I really hate the taste of red wine, so I guess I’d better double-down on the THC…

But seriously, think about all the older stoners you know – Keith Stroup (age 64), Richard Cowan (age 68), Jack Herer* (age 69), Tommy Chong (age 70), Willie Nelson (age 75) – and you’ll find people whose minds are still sharp.  I can’t think of anybody who was a regular cannabis consumer in their youth and middle age who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease in the golden years, or even any appreciable level of senility.

* Jack Herer did suffer a mild stroke, but the effects of the stroke may have been much worse had he not been a regular cannabis consumer.  There is no way to prove that, but Jack’s recovery and continued improvement in speaking and language at least show that cannabis is not impeding his mental health.  While he may not communicate as well as he used to, his mind is still as active and nimble as ever.