Data Suggests CBD Mitigates Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Cognitive decline, in which a person experiences a gradual decrease in their thinking abilities, is a natural and unfortunate part of the human aging process. It impacts people’s ability to make decisions by slowing down their mental processing speed and working memory as they get older.

Some people experience cognitive decline earlier in life than other people, and/or at a more rapid pace compared to others. Mitigating age-related cognitive decline is a growing area of scientific research around the globe, including in Canada where a team of researchers analyzed preclinical data focusing on cognitive decline and cannabidiol (CBD).

Canadian scientists affiliated with the University of Lethbridge and McGill University examined preclinical data involving the use of CBD and aging mice. Their findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.

“Aging is associated with cognitive decline, and currently, there are no approved medications that can prevent these impairments. Recently, cannabinoids derived from Cannabis sativa have emerged as promising therapeutic compounds with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and cognitive-enhancing properties.” the researchers wrote about their investigation. “This study investigates the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on memory impairment and brain inflammation in aging mice.”

“Fourteen-month-old C57 mice were administered CBD orally for 7 months and subsequently evaluated between 19 and 21 months of age using behavioral tasks that are sensitive to dysfunction of the perirhinal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and various brain regions that are crucial for motor control and coordination.” the researchers stated about their methodology.

“The findings of this study indicate that CBD reduces inflammatory response in the brain and improves cognitive decline associated with aging.” the scientists concluded.

As with all scientific studies focusing on cannabinoids, the results of this study need to be kept in proper context. Further research, particularly research involving human subjects, needs to be conducted until a final determination can be made regarding CBD’s effectiveness at mitigating age-related cognitive decline. With that being said, the results of this study are encouraging.