Another study finds marijuana could help battle Alzheimer's

"Yeah man, it's the authorities. They don't wanna admit that marijuana is the future, you know? They hush up all these scientific studies, man. Got any snacks?"

Well this isn't one of those studies, dude.

Researchers from the Salk Institute labs in San Diego have been investigating the interaction of marijuana's psychoactive compounds with amyloid beta proteins - the toxic protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients and lead to various inhibiting side effects, ageing the brain with frightening speed. 

The Salk Institute's findings, recently published in Nature, suggest that not only do cannabinoids (cannabis compounds) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) help remove amyloid beta proteins, they also help to reduce cellular inflammation - another factor in the disease's onslaught.

"Although other studies have offered evidence that cannabinoids might be neuroprotective against the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, we believe our study is the first to demonstrate that cannabinoids affect both inflammation and amyloid beta accumulation in nerve cells," said Salk Professor David Schubert, lead author of the study.

It's hoped that the research might allow for cannabinoids and THC could help develop "novel therapeutics" for Alzheimer’s patients. 

No, it doesn't mean that smoking through bushes of weed is going to give your brain super powerful protection against Alzheimer's. It does mean that scientists are a step closer to overcoming this hugely debilitating disease with a naturally occurring compound.

Now, about those snacks...