Active Ingredient in Marijuana Reduced Alzheimer's-Like Effects in Mice

Scientists noted a synthetic form of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administered for six weeks to mice engineered to develop Alzheimer's-like symptoms appeared to mitigate the symptoms, reports NPR . The treated mice performed as well as healthy mice on a memory test. In addition, the treated mice lost fewer brain cells and their brains contained 20 percent less of the plaques associated with Alzheimer's. Although the implication is that "cannabis could be beneficial for Alzheimer's disease," Yvonne Bouter of the University Medical Center Goettingen said an identical experiment in healthy mice showed the specimens developed learning difficulties. The Scripps Research Institute's Michael Taffe advised practicing caution when considering prescribing cannabis for seniors. "You could have something that is detrimental, if this does not translate to humans, or the person did not have the disorder," he said.