As we age, we unfortunately become more susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. This condition particularly affects people aged 65 and over.
Still poorly understood by the medical community, Alzheimer's disease currently has no effective treatment. However, there are some solutions to delay the onset of certain symptoms.
Is CBD, or cannabidiol, one of them? Can it help prevent the disease? We answer all your questions in this article.
What is Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease is a condition that affects approximately 200,000 new people each year in France. This disease manifests itself through various cognitive impairments such as memory loss (dementia, etc.), language difficulties, and mood disorders.
After numerous studies and scientific research, we now know that Alzheimer's disease is caused by two lesions in the brain's neural connections:
- Senile plaques: a dysfunction of the amyloid precursor protein, notably responsible for memory.
- Neurofibrillary tangles: an abnormality of the TAU protein, causing signal loss and ultimately the death of essential neurons.
We also know that these lesions occur several years before the first symptoms of the disease appear. Once a doctor has made a diagnosis, the patient's health progresses through several stages. Little by little, the sick person loses their independence and sees their mental and physical abilities decline.
Alzheimer's disease, which is incurable, is often managed with regular medication to slow or partially stabilize its inevitable progression. Research is ongoing, and numerous products are being studied worldwide.
What should you know about CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid found in hemp, a plant also known by its Latin name: Cannabis Sativa. However, CBD should not be confused with THC.
Although both are found in hemp, these two molecules have different properties. In France, the consumption of products with a high THC content is completely illegal since they are classified as psychotropic substances.
For its part, CBD is perfectly legal as long as its THC dosage is very low (0.2% maximum in France).
According to several studies, CBD can help combat stress, anxiety, and physical pain. This cannabinoid is most often used in oil form, but it can also be purchased as flowers, e-liquids , and much more.
In oil form, simply place a few drops under the tongue and leave it for a minute. It should quickly help to relax the body and mind.
These benefits may then lead us to wonder if CBD is effective in other areas, such as Alzheimer's.
Can CBD prevent or cure Alzheimer's disease?
As a reminder, there is currently no treatment that can prevent or cure Alzheimer's disease. CBD (cannabidiol) is no exception to this reality. However, it could potentially reduce some of the symptoms experienced. These include:
- Improved sleep : As with other consumers, patients with Alzheimer's disease could benefit from falling asleep faster and better sleep quality, especially because it acts on stress and anxiety.
- Reduced behavioral problems: some scientific studies tend to show that CBD could help reduce some behavioral problems caused by the disease such as aggression and agitation.
- Less chronic pain: CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, which could alleviate musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain.
Although cannabidiol cannot prevent or cure the disease, it could still improve the patient's quality of life. By acting directly on certain symptoms, the patient would feel better overall.
Which form of CBD is most effective for Alzheimer's patients?
For patients, it is recommended to consume CBD in two forms: as an oil and as an infusion. In the first case, patients and their caregivers can opt for a bottle ofCBD oil concentrated between 10 and 30%.
The higher the concentration of cannabidiol, the more noticeable the effects will be. Don't hesitate to start with a low dose to see how the patient reacts, then adjust it accordingly. You can also vary the number of drops placed under the tongue.
In the second case, for infusion, you will need to use CBD flowers derived from Cannabis Sativa. There is a relatively simple recipe to follow:
- Crumble your CBD flowers (about 0.5 grams) and mix them with water.
- Add a fat (butter, coconut oil, whole milk, etc.) to your infusion so that the CBD can be absorbed by the body.
- Infuse for 5 to 10 minutes on average.
The infusion is ideal for the elderly as it allows them to stay hydrated while enjoying the soothing effects of CBD.
If you'd like to try CBD, you'll find a wide selection of oils and flowers in our online shop. Now that you know everything, we invite you to explore our products.
Co-founder of CBD.fr
Julien Cordobes is the editor of CBD.fr. Born in 1978 in the Paris region, he first trained in e-commerce before turning to natural health approaches, a dual perspective that now structures his way of writing about cannabidiol: reading the scientific literature as it is, without hardening the conclusions, and presenting it in a language that everyone understands.
He discovered CBD at a time when the French market was developing faster than the information available to it. He acquired CBD.fr in 2022 and then took on editorial responsibility for the blog. Since then, he has published numerous articles covering the daily use of CBD, the interpretation of laboratory analyses, the evolution of the legal framework, and precautions for use.
