A new study by the Augusta University of Georgia School of Medicine has linked high-dose CBD to several benefits associated with early onset of familial Alzheimer’s disease, including improved cognition and restored function in proteins responsible for clearing brain plaque. In addition, CBD was found to reduce levels of a protein linked to the excessive inflammation found in Alzheimer’s patients.
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health problem that is expected to become a major problem as the world’s population lives to older ages. The disease is linked to the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques and other ‘waste’ in patients’ brains, the reasons for which may be due to a variety of genetic factors, lifestyle and more.
Two proteins in particular play a key role in eliminating plaque and dead brain cells; they are called IL-33 and TREM2, both found at lower levels in the case of Alzheimer’s disease. The new study found that high doses of CBD can normalize the level of the IL-33 protein in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, while reducing the levels of the IL-6 protein that promotes inflammation.
In addition, CBD has been associated with benefits associated with TREM2, which is found at lower levels in Alzheimer’s patients. Overall, the CBD protocol has been associated with a seven- and ten-fold increase in IL-33 and TREM2 protein levels – at least in mice. In addition, the mice exhibited improvements in their mobility when administered with CBD.
More research is needed, including work to determine the optimal dosage and evaluate the effects on CBD when administered in the early stages of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The findings pave the way for a potential future new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, which may help address the underlying changes that lead to the development of the disease.