Cannabidiol Tested as a Potential Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease

A recent study from researchers at China Pharmaceutical University examined the potential of cannabidiol (CBD) as both a prevention against and a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (1). The study, “Assessing Cannabidiol as a Therapeutic Agent for Preventing and Alleviating Alzheimer’s Disease Neurodegeneration,” was published in November 2023 in the journal Cells (1). CBD, the authors noted in the Abstract, has been known to have neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, which is important when addressing the neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease (1). Though there are treatments for the symptoms, there currently is no cure for the disease (2).

The researchers used mice to model the CBD treatment and tests in both in vitro and in vivo experiments (1). The in vitro tests confirmed CBD’s potential in reducing inflammation (2). In the in vivo models, mice were treated with Aβ1–42 to replicate cognitive impairment and then placed in experiments to test their memory function (1). Some of these mice were also treated with CBD (1).

Overall, the researchers concluded that CBD was effective in protecting and improving memory function (1). “This study used in vitro methodologies to validate CBD’s safety profile and neuroprotective attributes,” the authors explain in the Discussion section (1). “In vivo experiments further showcased CBD’s capacity to repair cognitive deficits and rejuvenate the learning and memory capabilities which had been compromised by Aβ in mice. Our analyses illuminated CBD’s ability to mitigate synaptic damage, neuronal attrition, and the hyperactivation of microglia and astrocytes while concurrently decreasing neuroinflammatory markers.”

The authors called for more research into CBD’s capabilities in order for it be used as an accepted therapeutic treatment for AD (1).

For a deeper dive into this subject see our coverage of a webinar presenting medical professionals’ firsthand experience using cannabis to treat dementia symptoms. Also check out our onsite coverage of a Cannabis Science Conference Fall 2023 presentation titled “Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Agitation in Dementia.”

References

1. Chen, L.; Sun, Y.; Li, J.; Liu, S.; Ding, H.; Wang, G.; Li, X. Assessing cannabidiol as a therapeutic agent for preventing and alleviating alzheimer’s disease neurodegeneration. Cells 2023, 12 (23), 2672 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232672.
2. Sabaghi, D. CBD may help prevent and alleviate alzheimer’s disease, study finds https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2023/11/30/cbd-may-help-prevent-and-alleviate-alzheimers-disease-study-finds/?sh=c49d26f1da57 (accessed Jan 17, 2024).