The use of cannabinoids in the elderly and in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is neurodegenerative disease characterised by β amyloid aggregation, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress, and neurotoxicity. Being the most common cause of dementia, AD is becoming more common due to the increasing age of the population. Epidemiological studies predict more than 100 million individuals with AD in 2050. AD typically starts from mild impairment of short-term memory, communication, learning, and spatial orientation. In moderate stage the disease influences daily activity and emotion control. In late AD cognitive functions are deeply impaired leading to disability and need for 24-hour assistance. Contemporary therapies do not stop progression of the disease. This creates the need for new therapeutic options including medical marijuana. Despite the negative health consequences of long-term marijuana recreational use and addiction, there is a rationale to continue research on medical marijuana in AD. Research is done on cannabinoids (THC and CBD) in ameliorating symptoms of AD. CBD and THC can influence factors contributing to the pathophysiology of AD. Studies have provided ambiguous results, but the efficacy of cannabinoids in neurodegenerative diseases cannot be excluded.