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Marijuana's Key Ingredient Might Fight Alzheimer's
Charles Q. Choi | LiveScience.com | 10/05/2006

The active ingredient of marijuana could be considerably better at suppressing the abnormal clumping of malformed proteins that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's than any currently approved drugs prescribed for the treatment of the disease.

Scientists report the finding in the Oct. 2 issue of the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics.

About 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, which gradually destroys memory. As more people survive into old age, cases of Alzheimer’s disease are expected to triple over the next 50 years. There is no known cure.

The researchers looked at THC, the compound inside marijuana responsible for its action on the brain. Computer models suggested THC might inhibit an enzyme with the tongue-twisting name of acetylcholinesterase (also called AChE) that is linked with Alzheimer's.

AChE is known to help accelerate the formation of abnormal protein clumps in the brain known as amyloid plaques during Alzheimer's. This enzyme also helps break down the brain chemical acetylcholine, which is linked to memory and learning. Acetylcholine levels are reduced during Alzheimer's.

In lab experiments, the scientists found THC was significantly better at disrupting the abnormal clumping of malformed proteins. THC could completely prevent AChE from forming amyloid plaques, while two drugs approved for use against Alzheimer's, donepezil and tacrine, reduced clumping by only 22 and 7 percent, respectively, at twice the concentration of THC used in the tests.

"We're not advocating smoking dope, but if we can make analogues of THC, it could play a role in treating Alzheimer's," researcher Kim Janda, a chemist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., told LiveScience. "It would be nice to do more animal studies along these lines."

Past research on human brain tissues and experiments with rats have suggested that synthetic analogues of THC can reduce the inflammation and prevent the mental decline associated with Alzheimer's disease.

However, marijuana is not necessarily good for the mind. Prior investigations have shown that years of heavy marijuana use, consisting of four or more joints a week, can impair memory, decision making, and the ability to pay attention to more than one thing at a time.

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Buzzby

Other studies have shown that people who have been smoking pot every day for 20 years have no difference in cognitive abilities after a month of abstinence.

Yes, being high affects the mind. Why else would you bother getting high? No. Smoking marijuana doesn't damage the brain. That's the result of believing Drug War propaganda.

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thechronic

Thank goodness I'm a head then, my family has a history of Alzheimers. Buzzby, I read a post Sunday night I think it was that you were resigning, was that a joke?

Buzzby

I resigned from my posts as head of the news department and moderator. I made a thread talking about why I did so, but the Powers That Be decided to delete it, as it was critical of some of the changes around here.

dedbr

you've had the "Panana Amendment" invoked against you my friend......

Glad you stayed tho.........


Some Where In Ded Land........

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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

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Happy New Year.......

 

Buzzby

I have to ask: what's the "Panana Amendment"? I've never heard of it.

Buzzby

Even if marijuana doesn't prevent Alzheimer's, it'll prepare you for what it's like to have no short-term memory. Last night I walked into the kitchen and back to the living room three times before I remembered what I was looking for. In the last week I've lost my watch and a new shirt.

Hmmm... I'm 57. Maybe it is Alzheimer's!

dedbr

was head Admin., his way to handle anything was simple. No discussion.

That's what I call the "Panama Amendment". The final word, no comment. The aloofness, as it were.

Threads deleted.....ya know......


Some Where In Ded Land.........

Buzzby

Ah! What threw me off was "Panana". I was looking for something to do with bread (Latin: panis) or bananas. Mmmm... I haven't made banana bread in a long time.

Remi

So put down the bong and pick up the New York Times!