A recent study reports that in an experimental model of early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease, a two-week course of high-dose cannabidiol (CBD) helped restore the function of two proteins that are essential for reducing the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques (a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease) and improving cognitive performance.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the predominant manifestation of the disease is cognitive impairment. 50-75% of dementia is caused by Alzheimer's disease (which encompasses several types of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Parkinson's dementia).

The first case of Alzheimer's disease was discovered in 1906 by the German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer. After more than 100 years of research, two major pathological features of Alzheimer's disease are now known - extracellular age spots formed by beta amyloid deposits and intracellular neurogenic fibrillary tangles formed by tau protein hyperphosphorylation - but the cause and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease have not yet been elucidated.

CBD and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Medical practitioners have never given up the search for solutions to incurable neurodegenerative diseases.In recent years, the discovery of the medical benefits of cannabinoids has led to a large number of studies on their effects on such diseases.

Combining the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of CBD, results obtained through intensive preclinical studies in a large number of neurodegenerative diseases have shown that CBD is neuroprotective, including studies in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, neonatal ischaemia, Huntington's disease (HD), in addition to the management and therapeutic potential of CBD in certain other neurodegenerative diseases, such as stroke and multiple sclerosis, also Some positive results have been achieved.

CBD offers New Possibilities for Curing Alzheimer's Disease

The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) and interleukin-33 (IL-33) proteins are important for the ability of brain immune cells to engulf dead cells and other debris (such as beta-amyloid plaques that accumulate in the patient's brain). The ability to do so is important, and levels of both proteins are reduced in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers report for the first time that CBD maintains normal levels and function of both proteins and improves cognition because it also lowers levels of the immune protein interleukin 6 (IL-6), which is associated with high levels of inflammation in Alzheimer's disease, said Dr Babak Baban, associate dean of the Augusta Babak Baban, PhD, is associate dean of the Dental College of Georgia (DCG) at Augusta University, an immunologist and corresponding author of the study.


The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease on February 17, 2021.

The researchers found that CBD normalises levels of IL-33, whose highest expression in humans is usually in the brain, and that it helps ring alarm bells about the accumulation of an invader, such as beta-amyloid. baban said there is growing evidence that it also plays a role as a regulatory protein whose function of regulating immune responses depends on the environment. In Alzheimer's disease, he says, this includes reducing inflammation and trying to restore balance to the immune system.

Researchers say that up and down expression of IL-33 in health and disease could make it a good biomarker and target for disease treatment.

CBD also improves the expression of the trigger receptor on TREM2, a receptor located on the cell surface that binds to another protein that transmits signals to activate cells (including immune cells).

The researchers found that CBD increased the levels of IL-33 and TREM2 by 7-fold and 10-fold respectively.

Familial disease is a genetic form of Alzheimer's disease and about 10-15% of patients usually develop symptoms in their 30s - 40s.

Baban notes that CBD is at least as effective in the more common non-familial Alzheimer's disease, which may have more targets for CBD. They are already investigating the potential of this more common type and will begin further clinical trials.