Memory and cognitive performance decreases with age. Scientists have long been looking for ways to slow down this process. THC can reverse ageing processes. Treatment with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can restore cognition functions in old mice and induce molecular changes that make them more similar to young animals. The researchers administered THC through an implanted minipump to three mice groups: young, mature, old and then conducted standard tests for cognition. Research revealed that THC treatment abolished the performance deficits found in mature and old mice.
Attention, in the young mice, the treatment had the opposite effect—
THC actually impaired their performance!
To discover precisely what effect the THC treatment has in old mice, the researchers examined the brain tissue and gene activity of the treated mice. The findings were surprising: the molecular signature no longer corresponded to that of old animals, but was instead very similar to that of young animals. The number of links between the nerve cells in the brain also increased again, which is an important prerequisite for learning ability.
