Cannabinoids and Neurodegenerative Disorders
Cannabinoids and Neurodegenerative Disorders
Cannabinoids play a neuroprotective function in the brain by reducing the release of excitatory glutamate release and by their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. THC acts on both CB1 and CB2 receptors, both of which have been shown to be important in the neuroprotective effects of the endocannabinoid system, such as reducing the damage produced by stroke. The best human clinical trial evidence for the effectiveness of cannabis as a medicine is in the treatment of painful spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Preclinical research suggests that the endocannabinoid system is also involved in symptomatology of Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease and Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis, suggesting that treatments with activate this system, may be useful treatments for a range of neurogenerative disorders of the nervous system.
Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis, Neuroprotection, CB2 receptor, Alzheimers Disease, Ischemia, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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