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Marijuana may stave off Alzheimer's: study
By Andy Sullivan
Thu Oct 5, 2006

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Good news for aging hippies: smoking pot
may stave off Alzheimer's disease.

New research shows that the active ingredient in marijuana may
prevent the progression of the disease by preserving levels of
an important neurotransmitter that allows the brain to function.

Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in California
found that marijuana's active ingredient, delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, can prevent the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine from breaking down more effectively than
commercially marketed drugs.

THC is also more effective at blocking clumps of protein that
can inhibit memory and cognition in Alzheimer's patients, the
researchers reported in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics.

The researchers said their discovery could lead to more
effective drug treatment for Alzheimer's, the leading cause of
dementia among the elderly.

Those afflicted with Alzheimer's suffer from memory loss,
impaired decision-making, and diminished language and movement
skills. The ultimate cause of the disease is unknown, though it
is believed to be hereditary.

Marijuana is used to relieve glaucoma and can help reduce side
effects from cancer and AIDS treatment.

Possessing marijuana for recreational use is illegal in many
parts of the world, including the United States, though some
states allow possession for medical purposes

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