“New evidence from animal models suggests marijuana may contain compounds that slow the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Older rats treated with a synthetic chemical similar to marijuana significantly improved their ability to navigate a maze. Researchers believe the strong anti-inflammatory effects of marijuana slow Alzheimer’s progression.”

“The link between chronic inflammation and the progression of Alzheimer’s is compelling, said Gary Wenk, a study co-author and a professor of psychology at Ohio State University.

“Inflammation in the brain is part of aging,” Wenk said. “It happens to almost all of us as we age. But in some cases, this inflammation gets out of hand and causes serious damage.”

Treatment with a synthetic compound similar to marijuana reduced inflammation in older rats in addition to making the animals “smarter,” said Wenk, who is also a professor of neuroscience and molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics.

“The compound substantially improved the memories of the older rats,” he said. “These animals were able to hold on to key details of a specific task. Untreated older rats, on the other hand, were not.”

The researchers presented their findings at the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting.

Evidence suggests that people who regularly smoked marijuana in the 1960s and 1970s rarely develop Alzheimer’s disease, said Wenk, adding that researchers are eager to develop a drug with the anti-inflammatory properties of marijuana, but without the drug’s psychoactive effects.”

Read more: http://psychcentral.com/news/2006/10/23/marijuana-may-slow-alzheimers-memory-loss/350.html