Does Alzheimer's Qualify for Medical Marijuana in Ohio?
Alzheimer’s is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Ohio Individuals experiencing symptoms related to Alzheimer’s can schedule their appointment now. Recent studies have shown that medical marijuana may have many more uses than we knew. From PTSD to chronic pain disorders, studies are being performed in all sorts of medical areas to explore the uses of cannabis. One of those areas is in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, and the controversy surrounding this research may surprise many – after all, medical marijuana has been used to treat many diseases for thousands of years. Here’s what you need to know about using medical marijuana for Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects the brain. At any given time, there are roughly 5 million people living in the United States with Alzheimer's, and about 175,000 people in the State of Ohio. While it is most commonly found in elderly people, it is not a normal part of aging.
Those affected by this disease lose the cognitive ability, memory, and the ability to care for themselves on a daily basis in many cases. It is a progressive disease that gets worse the longer a person has it, which means that a person who suffers only mild symptoms at first can eventually lose the ability to converse or even recognize their environment at all. Most people with Alzheimer’s eventually die due to the disease, with an average survival span of about eight to 20 years, depending on the person’s health. There are several ways to treat Alzheimer’s, but there is no known cure.
How Could Medical Marijuana Help Alzheimer’s?
A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease showed that small doses of THC slow the production of certain proteins that are linked to the progression of Alzheimer’s. Another study from the Salk Institute showed that medical marijuana helped to reduce the amount of a specific compound that is a trademark of Alzheimer’s. These proteins and compounds have been shown to create an inflammatory response in the brain which adds to the progression of the disease.
What the studies are showing is that the inflammatory response, which was previously thought to be caused by immune cells in the brain, is actually caused by the brain’s nerve cells. Because THC specifically affects nerve cells, it can help prevent this inflammatory response that is such a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
The symptoms that medical marijuana can help alleviate in Alzheimer’s include aggression, insomnia, hallucinations, anxiety, and depression. That means that sufferers could have a much better quality of life when on medical marijuana and that their life could be lengthened due to the decrease in inflammation. However, there is no evidence that medical marijuana offers a cure or a considerably lengthened life.
Learn More About Medical Marijuana in Ohio
While marijuana is still not a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, it can help make people with the condition much more comfortable. As with any medication, you should always discuss cannabis with a physician before initial use. If you are interested in using cannabis to help manage your symptoms, schedule an evaluation with an Ohio Marijuana Card doctor today!