One of the leading causes of death in the United States might be on the precipice of a sustainable treatment (dare we say a “cure”?) as researchers dig into healing applications of THC from medical marijuana. Published in the 2016 issue of Nature, researchers at the Salk Institute (a non-profit research organization out of southern California) have potentially developed a link between Alzheimer’s Disease and the medicinal properties of THC.
Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease that begins slowly and increasingly gets worse over time. Simply stated, it causes a plaque in brain cells to develop that progressively starts to worsen brain function, causing memory loss and overall mental deterioration. The disease also causes cellular inflammation and neuron death. Most patients are left bereft of a cure, hoping only for attentive care and the presence of devoted family members they may soon forget.
All that might change according to David Schubert, the senior author of the study as well as the head of the Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory of the Salk Institute. The laboratories run by David Schubert have found that THC can actually inhibit cellular inflammation and that cannabinoids have the potential to break down amyloid beta within brain cells.
You see, the brain has a natural defense against amyloid beta by producing endocannabinoid receptors. It has been shown that physical activity and exercise can help produce these endocannabinoid receptors. However, the studies done by the Salk Institute actually show that THC from medical marijuana mimics this same natural process within the brain. This breakthrough research has produced enough evidence that the scientific community is buzzing with anticipation and the desire to dig into the possibilities of the findings. The potential to create a medicine from THC that can help the millions of people suffering from Alzheimers around the world, should have many laboratories vying for more compounded results.
In 2015, there were approximately 48 million people worldwide that were affected by Alzheimer’s. The research done by the Salk Institute could revolutionize the way we treat this neurological disease and set new precedence on the benefits of medical marijuana.
Remember that medical marijuana in Montana is in danger of being banned and made illegal, no matter if it helps a Montana patient or not. There is a chance to support medical marijuana in Montana and the potential it has to help patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and other horrible diseases and cancers. Vote YES on I-182 in the Montana ballot in November and show the state that we care for those unfortunate Montanans who are sick and looking for relief.