Low-Dose THC Reverses Brain Aging in Mice, Study Finds

For most people, cognitive decline may be the most frightening part of the aging process. Those who have cared for elderly loved ones know the pain and heartbreak of watching a vibrant and loving family member decline mentally. Anti-aging treatments have been the holy grail of the medical and research communities for decades. Could the answer to reversing brain aging be found in the common cannabis plant?

That is the question some scientists are posing, and now their research shows that the long-term administration of a cannabis compound may reverse the signs of brain aging in mice. Mice might now be in the same order as humans. Still, the groundbreaking research may be the first step in understanding how cannabis compounds interact with the endocannabinoid system in the brain, leading to therapeutic physical and mental effects.

How and Why Does the Brain Age?

We age every day, often without even realizing it. One day, we wake up and can’t do the same things we once did in our youth. But why? There is no comprehensive answer, and no single process can explain all the physical and mental changes that occur with age. Studies suggest that after 40, the volume of the brain decreases and continues its slow decline until accelerating after the age of 70. As certain brain areas shrink and blood flow changes, learning, and other complex mental activities can be compromised. Blood flow can decrease, and communication between neurons in the brain may be less effective. Inflammation caused by injury or disease can also impact cognitive function later in life, mainly because the immune system weakens with age.

Studies also show that these changes in the aging brain cause changes in cognition, and overall health can also impact the brain. One study suggests that individuals who engage in at least four or five healthy behaviors, such as not smoking, not drinking heavily, engaging in mentally stimulating activities, exercising, or following a Mediterranean diet, have a 60 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The key to stalling, reversing, and preventing cognitive decline remains elusive because researchers still don’t understand the how and why of brain aging. However, new cannabis-based research is showing promising results that hint at a connection between the endocannabinoid system and how the brain talks to the rest of the body.

Cannabis and Reversing Brain Aging

Again, although not well understood, brain aging may relate to the deterioration of brain cells and shrinkage of brain tissue. These processes can impact the connections between neurons in the brain, making communicating more challenging for cells. Enter the new research into cannabis and the endocannabinoid system in the brain. So far, science knows that the endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in learning and memory. The ECS is a complicated network of cellular receptors and chemical messengers packed throughout the brain and body. Cannabinoid receptors in the brain control the activity of nearly all neurotransmitters. Stimulating these receptors requires the body to produce molecules called endocannabinoids. These chemicals are structurally similar to the molecules in cannabis plants.

THC and Its Effect on CB1

A study from teams at the University Hospital Bonn and the University of Bonn, in collaboration with Hebrew University in Israel, suggests that THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, may rejuvenate cognitive function in older mice. They speculate that cannabinoid receptor type-1 or CB1 may have something to do with brain aging and cognitive decline. Loss of CB1 activity in mice has been shown to lead to age-related issues with learning and memory. The researchers wanted to explore whether stimulating CB1 Activity with low doses of THC could produce the opposite effect, reducing some aspects of brain aging.

They found that in the brains of older mice, THC treatments made a temporary but significant impact on brain activity, especially in the hippocampus region of the brain, an area vital for learning and memory functions. THC treatments also boost metabolic activity in the hippocampus significantly. Researchers also noted that the adipose, or fatty tissue, of the THC-treated mice showed a decrease in mTOR, a protein that acts as a regulator of cell growth, metabolism, and aging. The decrease appeared similar to what scientists observe during intense physical activity, something known to have an anti-aging effect on the body and mind.

Understanding the Findings

The team concludes that THC treatment may enhance cognitive function by increasing specific protein production in the brain and decreasing mTOR activity in the body. Is it the smoking gun to the anti-aging mystery? No. The findings are promising, but the study has limitations. For example, while mice are commonly used for medical research, there are significant physiological differences between them and humans. No data indicates that the same effects would occur in older humans.

This new research may be a step in the right direction. Still, the authors acknowledge that more studies are needed to explore the complete therapeutic applications of THC in the aging process. They also note that long-term THC treatment could yield different positive and negative results.

A previous study found that seniors consuming therapeutic cannabis reported significant improvements in their well-being, mood, and sleep. The study authors focused on the health effects associated with marijuana consumption and older adults. This is important, because of a lack of high-quality research focusing on individuals over 65. They noted that marijuana clinical research trials often exclude those 65 and older. As such, it is challenging to figure out how the chemical compounds in cannabis affect the older population.

Studies like these are crucial because more and more seniors are turning to cannabis as a treatment option for chronic pain, insomnia, and other health concerns. Yet, little research indicates how this age group responds positively and negatively to the substance.

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