THC Improves Memory and Reduces Alzheimer’s-Related Brain Changes, Study Finds
- Delta-9 THC improved cognitive performance and reduced Alzheimer’s-related brain changes in rats with chemically induced cognitive decline, according to a study in the Journal of Biosciences.
- Rats treated with THC showed better memory and recognition abilities, along with prevention of granule cell loss in the dentate gyrus, a brain region important for learning and memory.
- THC increased markers of neurogenesis and neuronal health while reducing levels of amyloid precursor protein and phosphorylated tau, proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
- Although the results suggest therapeutic potential for THC against Alzheimer’s, further research including human clinical trials is necessary to confirm safety and efficacy.
Delta-9 THC improved cognitive performance and reduced several brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease in rats, according to a new study published in the Journal of Biosciences.
Researchers from Universiti Putra Malaysia examined the effects of THC in male Wistar rats with chemically induced cognitive decline designed to mimic certain characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease.
The rats received D-galactose and aluminum chloride daily for 10 weeks, a combination used in animal research to cause memory impairment, neuronal damage and Alzheimer’s-like changes in the brain. They were then treated with THC at doses of 0.75, 1.5 or 3 milligrams per kilogram of body weight for 28 days.
Cognitive performance was measured using tests that assessed the animals’ ability to recognize new objects and retain learned information.
THC treatment improved performance on both cognitive tests. It also helped prevent the loss of granule cells in the dentate gyrus, a part of the hippocampus involved in learning, memory and the formation of new neurons.
Researchers found that THC increased several markers associated with neurogenesis and neuronal health, including GFAP, DCX, calbindin and NeuN. Neurogenesis is the process through which new neurons are formed in the brain.
Treatment also reduced the expression of amyloid precursor protein and phosphorylated tau at Thr231. Abnormal accumulation of amyloid and phosphorylated tau proteins are among the primary neurological features associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
“The findings imply that Δ9THC has promising therapeutic potential against AD,” researchers concluded.
The results add to previous preclinical research indicating that cannabinoids may influence cognitive function, neurogenesis and proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
However, the study involved an experimentally induced rat model rather than humans with Alzheimer’s disease. Additional research, including clinical trials, would be needed to determine whether THC can safely produce similar benefits in people.