One of the aspects of cannabis use that has given people pause when considering its use is the potential for memory impairments. While it is possible for certain cannabis products, specifically those high in Delta 9 THC, to negatively affect short-term memory, it is not the case for all of them. In fact, researchers have shown that some cannabis products, specifically CBD, can help reverse memory impairments.

Study

A recent study looked into the belief that estrogen depletion leads to memory impairments and increases the chance of neural damage. As such, the researchers depleted the estrogen in rats. The researchers then gave them three weeks to see how they recovered. After their recovery, the researchers gave the rats daily injections of CBD for fourteen days.

The researchers tested the rats in an inhibitory avoidance task, which involved a type of emotionally-motivated memory. After they tested the rats, the researchers examined the rats’ brains. They specifically examined the hippocampus to see how CBD affected the different pathways and proteins associated with memory.

Results

The researchers found that CBD completely reversed the estrogen depletion-induced memory impairment. Additionally, the researchers found that introducing CBD improved the survival neural pathways. These are the parts of the neural network where specific information passes through. This further aids in reversing memory impairments.

Discussion

This study showed that, by using CBD, people could reverse memory impairments. However, readers should not take this as CBD reversing the effects of THC, like some believe. As was stated in a recent article, large CBD amounts can actually enhance THC’s effects. That said, past studies have shown that CBD can help treat the symptoms of mental ailments, like Alzheimer’s. As such, it is possible that CBD can be used as treatment for other mental afflictions like memory impairments.

However, researchers will need to continue to examine the effects of CBD before it can be accepted as a potential treatment.

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