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Alzheimer's Awareness Month
Alzheimer and CBD
November marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, one of the most common types of dementia.
Alzheimer’s is a mentally debilitating illness, which is incredibly tough for the sufferer and their loved ones due to memory loss and further symptoms.
Although the exact cause of Alzheimer’s is not currently clear, and there is no certain way to prevent the condition, there are things you can do which may reduce the risk or delay the onset of dementia.
The steps to preventing dementia involve making your lifestyle as healthy as possible, and protecting your nervous system from early on. There are the obvious ways to look after yourself and treat your body well, such as stopping smoking, cutting down on alcohol, including regular physical exercise and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. Additionally you can look after your nervous system with certain natural supplements, like CBD.
CBD works by interacting with receptors in the body which make up the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is largely responsible for memory and protects neurons in the hippocampus, which happens to be the first major part of the body which is attacked by Alzheimer’s disease. CBD also has the ability to protect cells against damage due to its antioxidant properties.
There is also sufficient research to show that CBD may help alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s symptoms include:
- Confusion and disorientation
- Difficulty making decisions
- Problems with speech
- Problems moving
- Personality changes, which can often lead to aggression
- Low mood and anxiety
King’s College London is currently carrying out a study to look into whether a cannabinoid mouth spray could be used to reduce symptoms of aggression and agitation in people with Alzheimer’s.[1] Whilst we await the conclusive scientific results, there have been mounting personal accounts on how CBD has helped in this area. A woman in Yorkshire actually set up a shop selling CBD with her business partner after her dad had such an overwhelmingly positive experience in using CBD to manage his Alzheimer’s symptoms, in particular aggression.[2]
This month is a time to highlight the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and listen to how people cope with it. If a member of your family has suffered from Alzheimer’s, looking out for the signs early on is key. In the meantime we will work together to fight against it.