Cannabis can potentially reverse the aging process
Marijuana consumption has been shown to improve memory and learning abilities in many cases, although there is still a debate on how it impacts the brain during adolescence. Studies have already been able to prove that the plant has many positive effects, but it is now being postulated that it could actually reverse the aging process, as well.
A group of scientists from Germany and Israel recently conducted a test on a certain type of mice. Specifically, they chose the Methuselah mouse, which has been engineered to live to be 180 in human years. While many may believe that studies on mice don’t carry over to humans, it’s important to note that we share 97.5% of working DNA with them – only 1% less than we do with chimpanzees.
As humans get older, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) begins to work less efficiently. There is less connectivity between proteins and CB1 receptors, part of the ECS, in the body, which leads to characteristics such as memory loss and retention.
In the study, the mice were administered a low dose of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the scientists discovered that the THC resulted in a decline of cognitive performance. The chemical profiles in DNA samples proved to be almost an exact match to those found in very young mice. Even more remarkable, there was an increase in nerve connectivity in the mice’s brain, which is the opposite of what we know happens during the aging process.
Cannabis has already been shown to help the skin appear younger, longer. It is also being considered for a number of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Mother Nature’s wonder drug truly could be the fountain of youth.
