Marijuana may benefit brain cognition

“Treatment with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the activate ingredient in marijuana, can restore cognition in old mice and induce molecular changes that make them more similar to young animals, scientists reported today (May 8) in Nature Medicine.

Previous studies have reported that as humans age, the brain’s endogenous cannabinoid system begins to decline. “What [the researchers] found here was that when we give THC, it improves these effects—which is, in my view, of major importance,” said Raphael Mechoulam, a professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem who was not involved this work. “I think [the study] is well done. I hope it will be repeated in other animals, and ultimately in humans.”

Considering the legalization of THC sometime next year in California, this treatment will be commonly available for people wanting to try this approach to improving brain function. The full article can be seen here:  https://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/49367/title/Cannabinoid-Treatment-Improves-Cognition-in-Old-Mice/&utm_campaign=NEWSLETTER_TS_The-Scientist-Daily_2016&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=51699299&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–tChXnGrf1SscrOP6eDzRBjJ27R2JCADuDTlbOWWttw1JtjeaqEF6ItiCBnDqyg388Y0fW3rcPLfyAwGndLJH_63kpXQ&_hsmi=51699300