Pubdate: Wed, 25 Jun 2014
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Victoria Colliver
Page: E2

STUDY TARGETS CANNABIS-LIKE CHEMICALS

Alzheimer's disease may develop in humans in part because of a
blockage of natural cannabis-like chemicals in the brain, Stanford
researchers believe.

Our bodies make beneficial chemical compounds known as
endocannabinoids to activate the receptors involved in mood,
pain-sensation, appetite and memory. Those happen to be the same
sensations that are activated when ingesting or smoking marijuana.

Endocannabinoids play an important role in allowing signals in the
brain to shine through while shutting out unwanted "noise." If these
chemicals are blocked, the brain becomes too inhibited, and that leads
to impaired learning and memory loss.

Researchers implicate beta-amyloid, the known culprit in forming the
hallmark clumps that dot the brains of people with Alzheimer's, as
suppressing endocannabinoids in the earliest forms of the disease.

The Stanford scientists next plan to figure out the molecular details
of how and where beta-amyloid interferes with the process in hopes of
finding a target for new drugs that could stave off Alzheimer's
symptoms and improve lives.

Meanwhile, they note the discovery doesn't mean that people should
start smoking marijuana to reactivate those receptors.

Getting high is fleeting and unfocused - basically everything is
enhanced indiscriminately, researchers said. Flooding the brain with
external cannabinoids also runs the risk of inducing tolerance and
impeding the ability of natural endocannabinoids to do their job.

The findings were published June 18 in the journal Neuron.
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MAP posted-by: Matt