By Angelica Stabile Fox News
THC shown to keep Alzheimer's at bay when combined with pain medicationAs marijuana's potential health benefits are under debate, new research has found that THC could have a powerful and positive effect on the brain.
Researchers at the University of Texas (UT) at San Antonio, Long School of Medicine, recently discovered that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana) could prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease – but only when paired with an anti-inflammatory drug called celecoxib.
Celecoxib is a selective COX-2 inhibitor that is commonly prescribed for arthritis and pain.
While THC has previously been shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, it’s also been linked to negative effects on the brain, particularly in learning and memory, according to a UT Health press release.
Combining THC with an anti-inflammatory drug, however, could provide the same benefits with fewer negative side effects.
The study, which was published in the journal Aging and Disease, paired low-dose THC extract with celecoxib, which was administered to mice daily for 30 days.
The mice received the treatments before the development of memory symptoms to measure the impact on preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s.
The results showed improved cognition, learning and memory, as well as decreased markers of neuroinflammation and reduced Alzheimer’s-related brain pathology, the release stated.
More:
https://www.foxnews.com/health/marijuana-compound-may-help-prevent-dementia-when-paired-common-drug
