cannabisnews.com: Pot Helps in Fighting Alzheimer's, Study Says Pot Helps in Fighting Alzheimer's, Study Says Posted by CN Staff on October 10, 2006 at 06:22:50 PT By Ashton Shurson, The Daily Iowan Source: Daily Iowan USA -- While antidrug advertisements may plaster television screens and magazines, a new medical study may add another check to the list of marijuana's beneficial uses.A recent study by the Scripps Research Institute in California found that the active ingredient in the illegal plant - tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC - may halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease. THC helps stop the formation of amyloid plaque, which primarily causes the disease, the report stated. The institute found THC to be " 'a considerably superior inhibitor of [amyloid plaque]' to several currently approved drugs for treating the disease.""While we are certainly not advocating the use of illegal drugs, these findings offer convincing evidence that THC possesses remarkable inhibitory qualities," especially when compared with other medicines available to patients, said Kim Janda, a chemistry professor at Scripps Research, on the institute's website.Although many local doctors haven't researched this subject, some are interested in the topic, they said."I've never heard of anything like this before," said Daniel Tranel, a UI professor of neurology. "There is a lot of intrigue and promise."The report, which was published in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, a publication of the American Chemical Society, said in addition to slowing down the progression of Alzheimer's, THC can also treat symptoms of the disease.Tranel said Alzheimer's is not preventable and that current drugs are "mediocre at best at slowing symptoms in some patients.""If this is replicated and extended, it could be very helpful," he said.Roughly 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's; in 2050, experts project that the disease will afflict as many as 16 million people, according to the Alzheimer's Association.The disease - a leading cause of dementia - slowly takes over a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate, and carry out daily activities, according to the association.Currently, recreational marijuana use is illegal in all states, but medicinal marijuana is legal in 11 states (none of which are named Iowa). It can help ease pain and nausea in cancer patients, and Tranel said it can also stimulate appetite.Locally, many students use marijuana for personal reasons, and many favor legalizing the drug. UI sophomore Adam Filarski, who created the Facebook group "I Heart Blunts," supports legalizing marijuana, although he is not very active in the fight."The government spends so much money promoting illegalization of it, and it could be" spending it on other things, he said. "It has proven no reason people shouldn't be allowed to do that. The government needs to let people make certain decisions."Source: Daily Iowan, The (IA Edu)Author: Ashton Shurson, The Daily IowanPublished: October 10, 2006Copyright: 2006 The Daily IowanContact: daily-iowan uiowa.eduWebsite: http://www.dailyiowan.com/Related Articles:Marijuana May Stave Off Alzheimer's: Studyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22243.shtmlMarijuana's Key Ingredient May Fight Alzheimershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22241.shtmlMarijuana Ingredient May Help Alzheimers http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20276.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #22 posted by whig on October 12, 2006 at 03:47:17 PT ekim Also, canola oil (also known as rape seed oil) is not a useful supplement at all. It is not even preferable as a cooking oil, better choices are olive or peanut oil, though having a higher cost. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by whig on October 12, 2006 at 03:44:54 PT alpha-Linolenic acid Here's what I got:ALA is metabolized to eicosopentaenoic acid (EPA). EPA is a precursor of the series-3 prostaglandins, the series-5 leukotrienes and the series-3 thromboxanes. These eicosanoids have anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties. ALA metabolites may also inhibit the production of the pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). Incorporation of ALA and its metabolites in cell membranes can affect membrane fluidity and may play a role in anti-inflammatory activity, inhibition of platelet aggregation and possibly in anti-proliferative actions of ALA.http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/fla_0107.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by whig on October 12, 2006 at 03:42:44 PT ekim Flax seed oil is not that useful, from what I've been given to understand. It does not contain EPA or GLA, but a precursor called linolenic acid (LA) which acts as kind of a wet blanket on eicosanoid production. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by ekim on October 11, 2006 at 19:51:57 PT good one whig -- flax oil good too thanks Paul; for all the great info. so how about canola oil. could you take a moment and explain how the trans fats hurt us and how they do it . something about cloging our system. the brain blood barrier acts like a filter blocking out even most viruses -- except the meningitis can get in. its all so interesting i ve heard that with this alzheimer's the little fingers of cells that are suppost to be alive and reach out like a river or roots in fact just shrivel up and do not do the job of remembering so you can remember what you did last year or 10 years ago like it was yesterday ----but you can not remember what you did this morning cause the little guy is all difigured and unable to conect to the capture circuit. [paul do you hear much from the North or South Dakotas about the hemp bill. do you hear anyone talken about the value for eating and health. do you know anyone that could show the new global warming film. http://www.thegreatwarming.comhttp://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-goldstein10oct10,1,154441.st ory?ctrack=1&cset=trueCalifornia's Campaign Against Marijuana Production (CAMP) began in 1983. It's a multiagency task force that flies helicopters all over the state looking for pot groves and chops them down. Since its inception, plant seizures have gone up almost every year. Last year's eradication of 1.1 million plants was a new record, and with about a month left to go in the 2006 season, CAMP has already set a new record with 1.6 million plants.http://cannabisnews.com/news/22/thread22141.shtmlSource: NORML 98 Percent Of All Domestically Eradicated Marijuana Is "Ditchweed," DEA Admits September 7, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA http://www.leap.cc/events [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by whig on October 11, 2006 at 12:44:38 PT Paul Peterson "1) Alcohol? 2) Trans Fatty Acids? (junk food, deep fat fried, margarine) 3) Fish oil? 4) High Saturated Fatty Acids? 5) Antioxidants like bright fruits and green tea?"Well, being as I live in Berkeley now, I get a steady supply of high quality organic meat, chicken, fish, fruits and vegetables. My dietary changes alone may account for a good part of the increased effectiveness of cannabis, and the fact that I literally wake up in the morning still feeling quite high, and never stoned.God walks with me when I go for lunch, and I am here. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by whig on October 11, 2006 at 12:41:07 PT Paul Peterson Make sure that fish oil is molecularly distilled. Lots of inexpensive fish oils have high mercury content.Is it true that cannabis is the only non-animal source of EPA (eicosopentanoic acid)? [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by paulpeterson on October 11, 2006 at 10:08:05 PT Storm Crow The question is, when "hippies" routinely take marijuana, what else are they putting in their system?1) Alcohol? 2) Trans Fatty Acids? (junk food, deep fat fried, margarine) 3) Fish oil? 4) High Saturated Fatty Acids? 5) Antioxidants like bright fruits and green tea?Stop the #1, 2, 4 items and increase the #3 & 5's and they will be just fine. Marijuana can only help block the negative effects of those dangerous drugs so far. Do pot in moderation and balance the other bad shit with good and we can all get along.Prohibition causes Alzheimer's disease. PAUL PETERSON [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by paulpeterson on October 11, 2006 at 09:44:09 PT My mom-pot tea took away Alzheimer's symptoms Greetings, citizens. After a detailed research of data online on the subject (mostly Grinspoon's articles at that time) I surmised how marijuana products could stop Alzheimer's at each of 5 steps in the development of the disease. When my mom called me and told her the doctor had opined that she had the big A, she asked if I would bring her some tea.I did, and after 20 minutes she exclaimed that the fog and cloud was gone. 20 minutes at that! All day long I would see her walking among her outbuildings and surveying what needed to be done first-as if she had not seen these things before. Three weeks of "therapy" kept her symptom free for 11 months. Then she called me and told me the fog had returned. One cup did it again for another 6 months.In 2002, a scientist proved how THC protected brain cells in a dish from glutamate poisoning (which builds up in Alzheimer's).Now, since I have researched Omega 3 for the past three years, I know that my mom is OK because she takes fish oil.The "glove" around brain cells (they call it a "raft") is made from Omega 3. When it gets holes-secretes can contact with the surface under the glove and cut off B-A particles.Yes, my mom takes fish oil and she is just fine. It appears that Alzheimer's builds up from decades of disregard for Omega 3 in the diet. Trans Fatty Acid intake blocks the absorption of Omega 3 & stops it from being utilized. Marijuana can help at the last critical step in development of the disease. But don't forget the fish oil.And please, people, stop using that margarine and Crisco product. Reefer heads will only be protected if they stop munching on fast food, as well-since all deep fat fried food has TFA's.And make sure to vote this time around. We need to ensure that the opposition party takes majority control all over the country. And that is an order. PAUL PETERSON [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by whig on October 10, 2006 at 16:07:02 PT Celaya They do offer programming via the internet.Try mininova.org. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Celaya on October 10, 2006 at 11:09:44 PT whig Jimmy Carter was close to ending marijuana prohibition, saying the punishment should not be worse than the [alleged] crime. Then Reagan came to office. I feel the "drug war" really began in earnest with him and the dark forces behind him. If Reagan had smoked pot, imagine how different the world would be today!Dennis Bill Maher and Weeds are the main reasons I miss having TV. I wish they would offer programming on the Internet. I'd be willing to pay a modest fee. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on October 10, 2006 at 10:50:13 PT Rev. Dennis Shields I'll be 59 in about 4 weeks. Small world. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by konagold on October 10, 2006 at 10:41:28 PT: 59's just a stitch in time AlohaI will be 59 in 3 weeks but since I have been taking g-trope [HGH secretagog] for the last 4.5 months I feel 15 years younger and have lost 65 lbs.weeds was goodBill Maher this week with Robin Williams and former anti-terror tzar Richard Clark was even better check it out if you canAlohaRev. Dennis Shields http://thereligionofjesuschurch.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by whig on October 10, 2006 at 10:40:44 PT Celaya Nancy will remember for him. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Celaya on October 10, 2006 at 10:35:06 PT IF... Ronald Reagan had only known 8^) [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by whig on October 10, 2006 at 09:15:37 PT Not with a bang, but a whimper This is the way prohibition ends. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 10, 2006 at 09:06:33 PT Seriously Since I don't like the idea of maybe being shot in the face I'll pick Jagger. LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 10, 2006 at 09:05:20 PT Hope Let's see who is Cheney or Jagger? LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Hope on October 10, 2006 at 09:03:55 PT Cheney or Jagger? Who would you rather have dinner with or even a conversation with? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 10, 2006 at 08:59:28 PT Hope and Storm Crow I'm listening to Neil Young as usual and he isn't having any memory problems. I think people who don't march to the beat of they system very well do better then those that do. Mick Jagger and Dick Chaney are close in age. Which one seems healthier? Dick Chaney's heart has been bad for a long time. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on October 10, 2006 at 08:45:24 PT Fifty eight here...as of last August In fact, I know a family that has the real...and the really bad Alzheimers that's inherited and can strike in their late thirties and early forties. So far....the members of the family who are about my age....my Generation...have not been affected. That's amazing. It's like watching everyone, waiting for the shoe to drop. It's terrible...but they have all passed into their fifties now and so far...maybe a quirk...but none of them shows any signs of degeneration. That's wonderful I think. I don't know if has to do with cannabis...but a few of them, in this generation, have been known to toke a little now and then, on occasion, and they're pushing sixty and one is pushing seventy and they are, holding my breath, all ok.I don't know a single marijuana smoker who has Alzheimers or any form of dementia that I know of, and, like I said, this family that I know, that has been afflicted with the inherited form of Alzheimers for several generations....seems to be skipping this generation.Yay! Of course...I don't know that cannabis has anything to do with it...but with these type reports...I'm wondering. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 10, 2006 at 07:25:26 PT Storm Crow I will be 59 soon and I don't know of anyone so far with any memory problems but we will know more in about 10 years since dementia sometimes doesn't start until a person is in their 60s. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Storm Crow on October 10, 2006 at 06:54:51 PT An Alzheimer's question...... OK, we all have read the article how pot may cure or prevent Alzheimer's disease. I'm 59- the age where things like this study become more important. My question is "Do hippies get Alzheimer's?" None of the older pot smokers that I know of have any symptoms that I can see. I am curious if any of the other older stoners (or young un's with toking parents or grandparents) have made the same observation? It would make an interesting study- I might just print and pass the posts on to my cannabis doctor (I'm in California and am a legal MMJ user). [ Post Comment ] Post Comment