The disease Alzheimer's, which manifests itself mainly after the age of 65, but can also present itself early between the ages of forty and fifty, is a serious form of dementia, which degrades the subject's mnemonic abilities, compromising their memories, comprehension skills, thinking and behavior.
Although the causes are still unknown, from tests performed on patients and related clinical examinations, with the onset of Alzheimer's, the presence of amyloid plaques is usually recorded in the brain. Plaques whose formation is due to the accumulation of a particular protein, called Beta amyloid (Aβ), which takes on an anomalous structure and is deposited between neurons as a sort of glue, making communications difficult.
While there is not yet a definitive cure for the cognitive deterioration typical of the disease, they do exist treatments which attempt to slow down its progression, such as continuous mental stimulation to encourage constant brain training, a balanced diet and physical exercise.
Recent studies have also shown that THC manages to break down Aß agglomerates, destroying this very toxic protein, and therefore proving particularly effective for the treatment of this pathology.
Alzheimer's: the Beta amyloid protein and the role of THC
Beta amyloid protein is formed from a major protein present in the cell membrane, called Amyloid Progenitor Protein (APP), which is cut by some enzymes called secretases. From the cut, Aβ 1-42 and Aβ 1-40 are born, of which the first is particularly toxic, because it generates very stable and neurotoxic aggregates which in turn cause a alteration of cellular homeostasis.
Recently, pharmacological science has identified Aβ as target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
It is precisely in this direction that it moves a very recent scientific work , entitled “Destabilization of the Alzheimer's amyloid-β protofibrils by THC: A molecular dynamics simulation study”, published in Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modeling, which shows us how the THC manage to disintegrate Aβ agglomerates.
The THC binds to a carbonaceous subunit of the Aß protein. This bond modifies the very structure of the Aß, triggering physical forces that cause junction points, called salt bridges, to explode. Once the Aβ molecule is broken, the residues are attacked by the cell's defense systems are eliminated.
An exceptional discovery, since there are various molecules that chemistry is developing to destroy Aß, but most of these present side effects which contraindicate its use.
To the action of THC is also added that of CBD, which has an anxiolytic and antidepressant action, necessary for patients suffering from Alzheimer's. In fact, the introduction of therapeutic cannabis with THC-CBD in a 1:1 ratio, because it is generally well tolerated by elderly people, aims to contain the state of agitation, improve sleep, stimulate appetite and improve balance.
