A promising new study just added another piece to the cannabis puzzle – and this one’s all about memory, brain plaques, and the surprising role of glycine receptors.
What If CBD Could Slow Down Cognitive Decline?
That’s exactly what researchers explored in a recent Molecular Psychiatry study. They found that daily doses of cannabidiol (CBD) improved memory and reduced toxic brain plaque buildup in mice bred to develop Alzheimer’s-like symptoms.
While the study is in mice, the findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that CBD has potential as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (see further reading at bottom of the article).
In fact, it hints at cannabis might not just be a source of symptom relief, it could be a source of protection against the disease.
What Did the Study Test?
The study used 5×FAD mice, which are a common model in Alzheimer’s research because these mice develop the same cognitive symptoms and brain changes seen in human Alzheimer’s patients, including:
- Memory loss
- Build-up of amyloid-beta plaques (a key marker of the disease, although not the cause)
- Hyperactive neurons in parts of the brain tied to learning and memory
Researchers gave the mice low daily doses of CBD for just over a month. They then tested their memory, checked their brain activity, and looked at what was physically going on inside their brains.
What They Found: CBD’s Brain Boosting Effects
1. CBD Improved Memory
In behavioural tests, the CBD-treated mice performed significantly better.
They remembered objects more effectively. They navigated mazes quicker and with greater accuracy. And, importantly, they didn’t show signs of sedation or changes in anxiety, meaning the benefits were specific to memory and cognition.
🧠 Conclusion: CBD sharpened memory without dulling the mind.
2. CBD Reduced Alzheimer’s Brain Plaques
CBD-treated mice had fewer amyloid-beta plaques in a part of the brain called the dentate gyrus – a crucial region for memory formation.
The biggest reductions were in newer, smaller plaques, suggesting CBD might slow plaque formation at early stages.
🧩 Conclusion: CBD slows plaque build-up, suggesting a protective effect.
3. CBD Calmed Overactive Brain Cells
One standout finding was that CBD reduced excessive electrical activity in the brain, which is a common issue in Alzheimer’s.
In untreated mice, neurons were hyperactive, firing too often and too fast. But after CBD treatment, this activity dropped, with neurons behaving more normally again.
📉 Conclusion: CBD reduces neuronal hyperactivity, leading to more stability in the brain’s memory circuits.
How Does CBD Do This? It’s All About Glycine Receptors
The researchers found that glycine receptors played an important role in how CBD produces these beneficial effects.
It’s already known that glycine receptors help regulate neuron activity and prevent brain overstimulation. And it seems that CBD enhances glycine receptor function.
These receptors are especially abundant in the dentate gyrus, where much of the improvement was seen.
And when the researchers blocked these receptors, CBD stopped working, suggesting glycine receptors are likely key to how CBD helps the brain.
But Wait — It’s Still Early Days
As exciting as this is, we’ve got to be clear-eyed:
- 🐭 The research was done in mice, not humans.
- ♂️ Only male mice were tested.
- 🧬 CBD interacts with many systems in the brain (glycine receptors are just one part of the picture).
Still, the science is piling up. CBD is showing real, measurable effects on neurodegenerative processes in the lab.
What This Means for Cannabis and Brain Health
At High & Polite, we’re obsessed with how cannabis affects the human brain and body. And this study fits a growing pattern:
Cannabis does more than ease symptoms. It can have profound effects on our metabolism, mitochondria and our cells. When used with maturity, it can help us stay healthier for longer.
This is especially relevant as the UK’s population ages, dementia rates rise, and many are looking for safe, natural, preventative approaches.
And while new pharmaceuticals usually get the spotlight, cannabis might be nature’s protector – offering a safe and effective way to keep our neurons calm, our circuits clean, and our memories sharp.
Final Word
This new study doesn’t claim CBD cures Alzheimer’s.
But it shows something powerful: CBD can reduce toxic brain activity, shrink dangerous plaques, and sharpen memory (in mice, at least).
That’s more than enough to warrant further research, and maybe a little more respect for the humble plant.
📚 Study Reference
Jin J. et al. (2024). Cannabidiol ameliorates cognitive decline in 5×FAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease through potentiating the function of extrasynaptic glycine receptors. Molecular Psychiatry.
Read the study here (link placeholder)
Further reading:
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