A study from the University of Haifa, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, has found that cannabidiol (CBD) reduced both cognitive decline and neuroinflammation in an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease.
For the study, researchers worked with rats bred to mimic Alzheimer’s disease, which caused memory loss, reduced social interaction, and brain changes linked to the condition—such as a buildup of amyloid plaques, tangled tau proteins, and higher levels of inflammation. They also found shifts in the brain’s cannabinoid system, with both CB1 and CB2 receptors behaving differently in key memory regions.
Researchers found that chronic CBD treatment reversed many of these effects. The rats regained function in memory and recognition tasks, showed improvements in social interactions, and exhibited reduced levels of inflammation and Alzheimer’s-related markers.
Importantly, the study found that blocking the CB1 receptor—but not CB2—prevented CBD’s benefits, suggesting CB1 activation plays a central role in its therapeutic effects.
“These findings suggest that CBD holds promise as a therapeutic agent for inflammation-induced AD, with the potential to ameliorate cognitive deficits and prevent disease onset through mechanisms involving CB1 receptor activation and modulation of neuroinflammation”, concludes the study.
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