CBD Associated With Improved Memory In Preclinical Models
Worldwide, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause or type of dementia, with an estimated 60-70% of global dementia cases involving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. That works out to roughly 34.2 million to 39.9 million cases. The condition is characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline.
A team of researchers affiliated with several health and academic institutions in Spain recently conducted a study examining the use of cannabidiol (CBD) and its potential as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The study’s findings were published in the academic journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy.
“This study employs in vitro and in vivo methodologies to validate CBD’s potential as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by addressing key hallmarks of the condition and promoting neuroprotective effects on spatial memory.” the researchers stated about their methodology.
“Our findings demonstrate CBD’s ability to decrease pTau and Aβ aggregation and to mitigate their axonal transport between cortical and hippocampal neurons.” the researchers wrote. “Moreover, CBD treatment was shown to reduce neuroinflammation, as CBD was able to skew microglia towards a neuroprotective M2 phenotype while attenuating proinflammatory cytokine release in the 5xFAD AD mouse model.”
“Notably, daily CBD injections (10 mg/Kg) for 28 days in 5xFAD mice resulted in significant improvements in both short- and long-term spatial memory. The study also reveals CBD’s capacity to partially revert neurite formation loss induced by Aβ, Tau, and pTau proteins, suggesting a potential role in promoting neuronal plasticity.” the researchers added. “Additionally, CBD treatment led to a reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and increased neuronal viability in the presence of AD-associated protein aggregates.”
The full structure of cannabidiol was first identified in 1964 by Raphael Mechoulam and his colleagues in Israel. Since that time, cannabis prohibition policies have largely hindered CBD research, however, the cannabinoid has become the focus of investigations at an increasing rate in recent years.
“These multifaceted effects of CBD, ranging from molecular-level modulation to behavioral improvements, underscore its potential as a comprehensive therapeutic approach for AD.” the Spanish researchers concluded about their study. “The findings not only support CBD’s neuroprotective properties but also highlight its ability to target multiple pathological processes simultaneously, offering a promising avenue for future AD treatment strategies.”
According to a recent CBD industry analysis by Grand View Research, “the global cannabidiol market size is expected to reach USD 22.05 billion by 2030,” which is “a CAGR of 15.8% from 2025 to 2030.”