A single dose of cannabidiol (CBD) increases blood flow to the hippocampus, an important area of the brain, which is connected to the memory and emotions. This resulted in a new study carried out by UCL researchers.
The researchers say that the results could be an important discovery for diseases that affect the memory, such as Alzheimer's disease and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and that they could help to use therapies more specifically.
In the study published in the “Journal of Psychopharmacology”, the researchers wanted to examine how the CBD influences cerebral blood flow in various regions of the brain that are involved in memory processing.
"Cannabidiol is one of the main components of cannabis and is very interested in interest because of his therapeutic potential," said Dr. Michael Bloomfield, a UCL psychiatrist and main author of the study.
“There are indications that the CBD can help reduce the symptoms of psychoses and anxiety and improve memory function.
The CBD changes the way the brain processes emotional memories, which could help explain its therapeutic effect in PTSD and other mental disorders. However, the exact mechanisms that are based on the effects of the CBD on the memory are unclear.
For the randomized controlled study, 15 healthy young adults with little or no history of cannabis consumption were selected.
On various occasions that were at least one week apart, each participant received 600 mg CBD oral or a placebo. The doses came in identical capsules, so that the participants did not know who took on what opportunity.
DieResearchers measured blood flowTo the hippocampus using the “arterial spin mark (ASL). This MRI technique measured changes in the oxygen content of the blood.
Results
CBD significantly increased blood flow in the hippocampus, but it did not cause any significant differences in blood flow in other regions of medial temporal appens (MTL).
CBD also had an impact in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain that is used for planning and decision -making. There CBD caused a significant increase in blood flow in the orbitofrontal cortex.
"This study supports the view that the CBD has regions -specific effects on blood flow in the human brain, which has been controversial so far," added Dr. Bloomfield added.
Restrictions on the study
In this study, a single dose of CBD was used in healthy volunteers, which may not be transferred to the effects of a repeated CBD dosage.
This research was financed by the British Medical Association.
Link to the research report inJournal of Psychopharmacology
