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Do you know someone suffering from dementia? Chances are, you do (or have) because the sad statistic is that one in three seniors dies with dementia. And the incidences are expected to triple in the near future.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. The most promising research for Alzheimer’s disease? Marijuana, but sadly, cannabis is illegal in most places.
*Everyone suffers because of dementia
Dementia is expensive. The US estimates that in 2016, dementia will cost the country $236 Billion. That’s a “B”. Billion. (*Sheesh. With that much money in play, I imagine someone is profiting, somewhere?)
As a nurse, I’ve cared for countless dementia patients. I’ve watched immeasurable suffering, in both my patients and their families. The disease is tragic and moves sloth-like in pace.
US Statistics About Alzheimers Disease
- It costs $236 billion a year.
- 1 out of 3 seniors die with it.
- Someone develops it every 66 seconds.
- YOUR chances of developing it are INCREASING!
Alzheimer’s disease obliterates the personality of the patient.
- Even the most docile, proper woman can deteriorate to the point that she seems savage. Maybe once, she wouldn’t yell or curse, but now she screams vulgarities all day or bites anyone who approaches.
- Even the most distinguished man who kept his home spotless can become a hoarder. Maybe once, he wouldn’t leave home without shaving and shiny shoes, but now he refuses to shower or bathe.
An Alzheimer’s patient becomes completely trapped in their mind; they experience an altered reality. The rest of us on the outside can’t see or understand what the patient experiences. And sadly the patient can’t tell us what’s happening inside their head.
Alzheimer’s scares the crap out of me
My grandmother felt the same way. She too was a nurse and feared dementia. At the end of her life, she lived with my parents. She made my mom promise to force-wash her, if should she developed dementia and refused to shower. A stroke stole my grandmother’s independence before dementia could.
Alzheimer’s Disease & Cannabis
Marijuana and Alzheimer’s research has been a hot topic for a few years. Studies have shown that TCH (one of the active substances in cannabis) actually protects brain cells.
New Research – Simple English
New research released last week is even more promising. Here’s what they did:
The researchers grew some neurons with Alzheimer’s in a lab.
Usually, a neuron with Alzheimer’s accumulates an unusually a large amount of amyloid beta protein. The proteins clump around the neuron and form a plaque. The plaque spurs inflammation and the neurons die.
However, when researchers put THC on the neurons, the amyloid beta proteins dissipated and the neurons did not die.
Cannabinoids remove plaque-forming Alzheimer’s proteins from brain cells
What it means
The research is exciting, but of course more needs to be conducted.
I’m not recommending that you go out and get high in a bid to protect your brain. However, if you’re already using cannabis (legally and responsibly), you can be proud that you may also be actively protecting your brain. This fact brings me an odd sense of comfort.
All Alzheimer’s diagnoses are terminal. and the long-term effects of cannabis have yet to be studied. But, if cannabis could prevent Alzheimer’s and it was legal, would you take the risk?
Read more:
Forbes: Marijuana compounds show promise in protecting cells from Alzheimer’s.
Nature: Amyloid proteotoxicity initiates an inflammatory response blocked by cannabinoids
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