Marijuana compound may help prevent dementia when paired with common drug

Researchers at the University of Texas (UT) at San Antonio, Long School of Medicine, recently discovered that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana) could prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease - but only when paired with an anti-inflammatory drug called celecoxib.

While THC has previously been shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, it's also been linked to negative effects on the brain, particularly in learning and memory, according to a UT Health press release.

Combining THC with an anti-inflammatory drug, however, could provide the same benefits with fewer negative side effects.

The mice received the treatments before the development of memory symptoms to measure the impact on preventing or delaying Alzheimer's.

Although THC alone had the same results, it also increased inflammatory signals, while the combination dosage did not.

Years of research led Chen to connect the dots on how THC can manipulate the brain and why it's difficult to use safely for neurological conditions, according to UT Health.

"When THC is given, it unexpectedly increases COX-2 in the brain. That increase is closely associated with learning and memory impairment," Chen said.

Future studies will investigate whether the drug combination can slow disease progression or reverse deficits after symptoms have appeared.

"This work has taken many years. But now we're at a point where basic neuroscience discoveries are pointing toward something that could realistically move into the clinic," Chen said.

Dr. Paul Saphier, a neurosurgeon and founder of Coaxial Neurosurgical Specialists in New Jersey, called this research an "exciting breakthrough with a huge potential impact for patients and their families."

"So, it makes sense that this combination therapy [might] help limit the production of this amyloid and thereby reduce the progression of the disease."

Saphier said the drugs' FDA approval status is "encouraging," as it may "ultimately ease the availability for patients, if the trial proves successful."