BENGALURU: An active compound in marijuana, called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been found to promote the removal of toxic clumps of amyloid beta protein in the brain, which are found to kickstart the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Neurologists in the city say though they are aware of studies that prove this, they cannot legally prescribe marijuana as it is illegal in India.
Dr Sanjeev Chamaraj, neurologist, who consults at both Apollo Hospital and Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, said, “THC can be used in mild to moderate cases. But only preliminary studies have been done so far and a lot more studies have to be done. In a few patients, certain symptoms like anger, agitation, restless behaviour and other forms of violent behaviour have been reduced.
“There are a lot of legal problems surrounding it. Since it can be abused by students or drug addicts, it has to be streamlined carefully,” he said. “Government rules need to be properly framed and there should be strict monitoring, and also dispensing at the pharmacy level needs to be supervised. It should not be easily accessible to youngsters,” he added.
In the past 27 years of practice, he has seen thousands of Alzheimer’s patients. “Drugs like Rivastigmine and Donepezil are mostly used. Medical marijuana mainly controls agitation, confusion and aggressive behaviour; but it can be used only as an add-on therapy, not as the primary treatment. Alzheimer’s can’t be cured but its symptoms can be reduced with this under medical supervision,” he said.
Dr Aravinda R V, neurologist, Brains Neuro Spine Centre, said, “Most of the trials are pre-clinical. The problem with Alzheimer’s is, we know that there is amyloid deposition. But it is not very clear if that is the cause of the disease or if that is the effect of something. Is amyloid deposition a byproduct? We don’t know.”
He said, “What is proposed in marijuana studies is that there is reduced amyloid deposition in the brain and another study showed that the inflammation or the toxicity of the protein is reduced due to Alzheimer’s. Since marijuana is highly addictive, one should be careful. Medical marijuana is not used as of now but maybe there is scope.”
Researchers from Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California tested the effects of THC on human neurons grown in the lab that mimic the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. The results have been published in journal Aging and Mechanisms of Disease.