The molecular mechanisms responsible for the learning and memory problems induced by marijuana, used for centuries for medicinal purposes – as well as recreational ones -, and that these can be prevented by taking an over-the-counter pain relieversuch as ibuprofen, a study published in the prestigious magazine ‘Cell’.
“Our studies have solved the long-term mystery of how marijuana causes neural and memory impairment,” says study lead author Chu Chen, of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. This expert adds that the findings suggest that the use of medical marijuana could be expanded if patients take at the same time a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsuch as ibuprofen.
The main active ingredient in marijuana is delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) and some drugs based on this compound have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy. However, these drugs have not been licensed for a broader range of conditions, in part due to side effects induced by delta9-THC.
Furthermore, there are no effective FDA-approved treatments for these side effects, since, until now, little was known about the molecular mechanisms underlying these deficiencies. In the new study, Chen and his team found that treatment with delta9-THC caused increased levels of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the mouse hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in learning and memory.
Drugs or genetic techniques that reduce COX-2 levels in mice prevent memory problems and neural impairment caused by repeated exposure to delta9-THC. Since COX-2 is inhibited by over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, the results propose an easy strategy for prevent side effects of marijuana.
The researchers also found that treatment with delta9-THC reduced neuronal damage in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, a beneficial effect that persisted when the animals were simultaneously treated with a COX-2 inhibitor.
“There are no effective drugs to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease or stop its progression – Chen remarks -. Our results suggest that the unwanted side effects of cannabis could be eliminated or reducedwhile retaining its beneficial effects, by administering a COX-2 inhibitor, along with delta9-THC, for the treatment of medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.”