CBD Oil for Alzheimer’s: Research Update for 2019
Alzheimer’s disease is currently the most commonly developed form of dementia and it currently affects over five million individuals in the United States. It is possibly the worst type of dementia as it affects one’s thinking, memory loss, and also behavior. The negative symptoms of this treacherous disease creep up on you slowly and then progressively worsen as time passes until you reach the point where you are no longer able to cope with daily life.
Alzheimer’s is very sadly a progressive disease that seems to have no end and, in the final stages of the disease, the patient will have lost the ability to have a conversation or react to their environment. It is one of the major causes of death in the elderly and the expected lifespan after diagnosis is between four and eight years, although this figure can increase up to 20 years, in some cases.
There is currently no proven cure for Alzheimer’s disease, yet there are some treatments available that can help manage the symptoms and with ongoing research being conducted, medical professionals are hopeful that a cure will be discovered in the near future.
Traditional Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease
The commonly used treatments for Alzheimer’s are only capable of temporarily slowing the symptoms of dementia from getting worse. The progression of the disease cannot be stopped entirely and, more than anything, it is a way to improve the quality of lives of patients and their family. Recently, there has been some hope given to members of the Alzheimer community and their caregivers as it is thought that cannabinoids play a large part in reducing the harmful symptoms of the degenerative disease.
How Is CBD Oil Used to Treat Alzheimer’s?
Cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors affect a particular part of the brain known as the endocannabinoid system. This intricate internal piece of equipment comprises two receptors: CB1 and CB2. CB1 is present in each part of the brain, including the hippocampus, which is responsible for our memory function and learning ability. CB2 receptors live in certain immune cells in our brain called microglia. The endocannabinoid system that responds to the signals sent by CBD products is largely responsible for memory and the hippocampus is the first major part of the body to be destroyed by Alzheimer’s disease.
What Is the Latest News with Regards to Treating Alzheimer’s with CBD?
Like with helping with the relief of multiple sclerosis, inflammation, cognitive impairment, and chronic pain, a recent study was conducted focusing on the use of CBD to treat Alzheimer’s disease and it found that the effects of CBD from the plant Cannabis sativa are, indeed, capable of effectively treating disorders in the nervous system, to include Alzheimer’s. Its efficacy comes as a result of cannabinoids ability to protect nerve cells against damage and deteriorating further as well as its antioxidant properties.
The same research contains new findings that CBD oil can significantly reduce the negative effects that Alzheimer’s has on a patient’s overall health as well as improving cognitive ability. It seems that cannabidiol might actually hold the key to treating and slowing the progression of the fatal disease.
CBD Can Reverse Brain Aging
Other studies like this one have also demonstrated how CBD works to reverse the aging process of the brain, which is accelerated by Alzheimer’s. It was found that CBD could reverse dementia, as well as THC, although this is the element found in cannabis responsible for getting you high. CBD is currently legal in many states and is widely used to treat many kinds of medical conditions.
It Reduces Oxidative Stress
It seems that the beneficial qualities of CBD with regards to treating dementia are never-ending. It has also been found to protect against neurotoxicity and help to minimize oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s patients. And while the need for more factual evidence is apparent, the future looks incredibly bright for CBD as a treatment for dementia.
Final Thoughts
CBD oil is making the headlines on a weekly basis as more testimonials emerge from people who have had success using cannabis-based products to treat severe medical conditions. While more research needs to be done on the specific effect of CBD on dementia, there is more than enough evidence to suggest that it could have serious potential as being the sought-after cure for this cruel disease. While there will always be skeptics opposing certain aspects of the efficacy of medical marijuana, the facts don’t lie. Neither do the thousands of people across the world that have found that their own symptoms of dementia have drastically improved since they started using CBD oil to alleviate the mental fog that is so prevalent in Alzheimer’s.
2019 is set to be a promising year for the medical marijuana industry, with more states legalizing the herb as well as more medical facilities opting to prescribe natural remedies as opposed to potentially harmful pharmaceuticals.
This article by Madeleine Taylor is originally published on SundayScaries.