Marijuana May Stave Off Alzheimer's: Study |
Posted by CN Staff on October 05, 2006 at 13:51:53 PT By Andy Sullivan Source: Reuters Washington, DC -- Good news for aging hippies: smoking pot may stave off Alzheimer's disease. New research shows that the active ingredient in marijuana may prevent the progression of the disease by preserving levels of an important neurotransmitter that allows the brain to function. Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in California found that marijuana's active ingredient, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, can prevent the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from breaking down more effectively than commercially marketed drugs. THC is also more effective at blocking clumps of protein that can inhibit memory and cognition in Alzheimer's patients, the researchers reported in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics. The researchers said their discovery could lead to more effective drug treatment for Alzheimer's, the leading cause of dementia among the elderly. Those afflicted with Alzheimer's suffer from memory loss, impaired decision-making, and diminished language and movement skills. The ultimate cause of the disease is unknown, though it is believed to be hereditary. Marijuana is used to relieve glaucoma and can help reduce side effects from cancer and AIDS treatment. Possessing marijuana for recreational use is illegal in many parts of the world, including the United States, though some states allow possession for medical purposes. NORML: Alzheimer's Disease: http://norml.org//index.cfm?Group_ID=7003 Source: Reuters (Wire) Related Articles: Marijuana's Key Ingredient May Fight Alzheimers Marijuana Ingredient May Help Alzheimers Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
Comment #11 posted by FoM on October 05, 2006 at 17:19:19 PT |
I believe in natural medicine. I don't trust pharmaceuticals. If something works and it's natural and it can help ward of Alzheimer's Disease there is no decision but one. That's my 2 cents. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #10 posted by charmed quark on October 05, 2006 at 17:15:43 PT |
Both of my wife's parents died from this. I wonder, should she wait until "more effective drug treatments" are developed from cannabis, by which time she will surely have the disease, or should she be proactive? What do you think? [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #9 posted by Hope on October 05, 2006 at 17:07:43 PT |
True words. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #8 posted by museman on October 05, 2006 at 17:06:38 PT |
I've suspected that this might be true. Legalize marijuana, end prohibition and war against personal choice. Freedom always works better than fascism. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #7 posted by Hope on October 05, 2006 at 16:55:48 PT |
LEGALIZE IT LEGALIZE IT How dare they deny people the benefits? [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 05, 2006 at 16:42:42 PT |
If it is that close it's a miracle. CNews has always been off for me. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #5 posted by whig on October 05, 2006 at 16:30:11 PT |
I just submitted at precisely 4:30 (by network time) and it showed up here as 4:29 and 26 seconds. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #4 posted by whig on October 05, 2006 at 16:29:26 PT |
I think the clock on CNews is 30 seconds slow. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #3 posted by whig on October 05, 2006 at 16:20:42 PT |
So take it for what it's worth. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #2 posted by whig on October 05, 2006 at 16:19:30 PT |
I think everyone has neurological disease over time, some faster than others and some fail in different ways than others. Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other diseases are associated primarily with aging, though younger people may suffer from them and tend to decline faster. Cannabis cures brain death, shhh. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 05, 2006 at 16:13:08 PT |
My mother had Alzheimer's Disease. It is usually a slow progressive wasting of the memory. One of the things that is common in an Alzheimer's patient is they become very fretful at times. I noticed a slide in my mother's memory after she had one of the many fretful times. Cannabis might help a Alzheimer's patient from having as many of those times and in turn it could slow down the progression of the disease. This is only a theory from my own mother's experience. [ Post Comment ] |
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