Adding to the list of numerous diseases that medical marijuana has already helped to heal – cancer, rare muscular diseases, arthritis, seizures, and more - compounds in the plant have also been shown to positively impact Alzheimer’s disease. This is important because the degenerative disease affects more than 5 million Americans.
Until now, the development of Alzheimer’s was only thought to begin in late age, where proteins known as amyloid plaques begin to develop in the brain. But recent research suggests that the development of this brain-destructive disease may start in our early 20’s – finding that these proteins start to accumulate around this time.
In the continued search for the answer to preventing cognitive decline as we age, scientists from Cambridge University have found that a naturally occurring molecule may be the answer in stopping Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages.
Recent research has given us at least one good to drink some brew. The new study has identified a compound in hops known as xanthohumol (or Xn) which has been shown to improve cognitive function and help slow dementia. In other words, the scientists suggest that people who regularly drink beer might be better able to ward off the progression of neurological diseases.
