A study published in ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science indicated that long-term THC treatment can initially enhance cognition by increasing the brain's synaptic protein production. This activity triggers an anti-aging effect by reducing the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity and metabolic processes. The findings corroborate other studies that have shown that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) reverses signs of age-related cognitive decline in mice.
The study involved observing two groups of mice: young mice approximately four months old and an older group roughly 18 months old. The researchers administered a daily low dose of THC across a period of 28 days to some mice in each age group. The effects on those mice given THC were compared to those of age-matched controls.
The research team examined how cannabis promotes anti-aging properties with specific attention to cognitive function. The researchers observed the effects of THC on cognition by examining a signaling pathway involving the mTOR protein, which is associated with regulating cell metabolism. The mTOR protein regulates the metabolome or the overall composition of small molecules in the body. The mice treated with THC demonstrated increased mTOR activity in the brain and production of the proteins essential in forming new synapses between neurons. New synapses support most aspects of brain function. According to study author Dr. Andras Bilkei-Gorzo, "We have now been able to show that treatment with THC has a tissue-dependent and dual effect on mTOR signaling and the metabolome." The study provides valuable insights into THC's potential anti-aging properties.
Several of the researchers had previously researched the anti-aging effects of cannabis and found that low doses of cannabis could improve memory and learning capabilities in aging mice. This recent study, along with their previous cannabis research, can inform the future direction of neurological research and geriatric treatments.
Sources: ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, Science Alert