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THC - the ingredient that is active marijuana - was found to lessen beta-amyloid amounts in neurological cells, a protein that is recognized as a hallmark of Alzheimer's.
Published within the log the aging process and Mechanisms of Disease, the scholarly study reveals how a compound contained in cannabis caused the removal of beta-amyloid protein from nerve cells, or neurons.
Beta-amyloid is known as a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease; the protein clumps together in the mind of people aided by the condition, developing plaques.
research reports have suggested these beta-amyloid plaques communication that is disrupt neurons within the brain, leading to signs associated with Alzheimer's, such as impaired memory.
Preventing accumulation that is beta-amyloid the brain may appear like an evident solution to tackle Alzheimer's, but because scientists remain ambiguous of this precise part the protein plays into the condition process, achieving such a feat is a lot easier said than done.
High beta-amyloid levels trigger irritation, neurological cell death
To find out more about the role of beta-amyloid in Alzheimer's, senior writer Prof. David Schubert, for the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in Los Angeles Jolla, CA, and colleagues modified nerve cells to create high levels of the protein.
Fast factual statements about Alzheimer's
- More than 5 million people within the U.S. are living with Alzheimer's
- Alzheimer's is the sixth cause that is leading of for Us citizens
- This year, Alzheimer's and other dementias will definitely cost the U.S. around $236 billion.
The team discovered that increased manufacturing that is beta-amyloid to increased phrase of pro-inflammatory proteins in nerve cells, causing swelling and nerve cell death.
"swelling inside the brain is an important element of the damage connected with Alzheimer's illness, but it is definitely thought that this response ended up being originating from immune-like cells within the brain, maybe not the neurological cells themselves," records author that is first Currais, additionally of this Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
The researchers explain that nerve cells within the brain contain receptors being triggered by lipid particles called endocannabinoids. These molecules are obviously created by neurological cells and generally are thought to help nerve cell signaling.
Marijuana contains a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is much like naturally produced endocannabinoids and activates the receptors which can be same. This got the team thinking: could prevent neurological cell THC death?
"As soon as we were able to determine the molecular foundation for the response that is inflammatory amyloid beta, it became clear that THC-like substances that the nerve cells make themselves could be associated with protecting the cells from dying," explains Currais.
Marijuana mixture prevented neurological cellular death
To test their theory, the researchers used THC to nerve cells with a high production that is beta-amyloid.
They discovered that the marijuana compound paid down beta-amyloid amounts and eradicated the inflammatory response to the protein, which prevented neurological cell death.
While clinical trials are needed to verify the role THC might play in protecting neurological cells against beta-amyloid, the scientists believe their findings shed more light on the role plays that are beta-amyloid Alzheimer's disease, that could pave the way for new remedies.
"Although other research reports have offered evidence that cannabinoids could be neuroprotective contrary to the outward indications of Alzheimer's, we believe our research is the first to demonstrate that cannabinoids affect both irritation and amyloid accumulation that is beta neurological cells."
Prof. David Schubert
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