Researchers at Augusta University in the US have found that a high-dose, two-week course of CBD can help restore brain function in Alzheimer’s sufferers.

According to Knowridge Science Report, the team discovered the treatment regime helped restore the function of two proteins key to reducing the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaque, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, and improves cognition.

The proteins TREM2 and IL-33 help the brain’s immune cells consume dead cells and the beta-amyloid plaque that build up in patients’ brains. Levels of both are decreased in Alzheimer’s.

The team found CBD treatment increased levels of IL-33 by sevenfold and TREM2 by tenfold. Next steps include determining optimal doses and giving CBD earlier in the disease process.

They also reported that CBD normalises function and improves cognition by reducing levels of the immune protein IL-6, which is linked to the high inflammation found in Alzheimer’s patients’ brains.

The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Prior to launching Cannabiz, Martin was co-founder and CEO of Asia-Pac’s leading B2B media and marketing information brand Mumbrella, overseeing its sale to Diversified Communications in 2017. A journalist...

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  1. Hi Conrad, I can’t find that information on the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease website (https://www.j-alz.com/). The research was conducted on mice – see the abstract below.

    Cheers, Martin

    Cannabidiol Ameliorates Cognitive Function via Regulation of IL-33 and TREM2 Upregulation in a Murine Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

    Abstract: There is a dire need for due innovative therapeutic modalities to improve outcomes of AD patients. In this study, we tested whether cannabidiol (CBD) improves outcomes in a translational model of familial AD and to investigate if CBD regulates interleukin (IL)-33 and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), which are associated with improved cognitive function. CBD was administered to 5xFAD mice, which recapitulate early onset, familial AD. Behavioral tests and immunoassays were used to evaluate cognitive and motor outcomes. Our findings suggest that CBD treatment enhanced IL-33 and TREM2 expression, ameliorated the symptoms of AD, and retarded cognitive decline.