Clinical Trials
Brain injury recovery promoted by THC, says study
Traumatic brain injury recovery (TBI) aided with the use of THC has been the focus of a new study published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research in August.
Working memory and locomotor function in mice was treated with Δ9-THC by researchers from the University of South Florida.
The researchers said these mice showed “marked improvement”, indicating that the pytocannabinoid had the potential to actually reverse memory loss following a TBI.
Certain proteins in the brain known as G-CSF, BDNF and GDNF help to mediate self-repair of the brain, and are up-regulated when Δ9-THC is introduced.
Traumatic brain injuries can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects.
Some signs or symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later.
Always see your doctor if you or someone you know has received a blow to the head or body that concerns you or causes behavioral changes. Seek emergency medical care if there are any signs or symptoms of traumatic brain injury following a recent blow or other traumatic injury to the head.
Brain injury and endocannibinoid system definitely linked
Controlled Cortical Impact is a model used by scientists to induce a reproducible injury and study these effects in mice, which these three proteins have been shown to affect.
The study also found that the same mice then experienced an increase in the endocannabinoid known as 2-AG, that helps keep the body in homeostasis, promoting regular body temperature and fluid control to keep the body functioning efficiently by ativating CB-1 receptors abundant in the brain.
The 2-AG ligand increased and appeared to be involved in the function of repairing the brain as their activity increased in all three major brain regions after one and two weeks.
In the conclusion to the study the researchers wrote, “Improvement in working memory was associated with upregulation of BDNF, GDNF, and G-CSF in the cerebral cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. In addition, levels of the most abundant endocannabinoid ligand, 2-AG, were increased in the Δ9-THC-treated mice compared with controls. Increased brain levels of 2-AG, produced by inhibiting its breakdown, are reported to mediate recovery of working memory and fine motor function in a mouse model of TBI.
Treatment of mice with Δ9-THC following CCI resulted in time-dependent recovery of short-term spatial working memory. Further research is required to elucidate the role of the [endocannabinoid system] in mediating the recovery from injury.”
