Cannabidiol improves blood flow to the brain in memory and decision-making areas, study says

Translated from DailyMail

Just one dose of cannabidiol (CBD) showed an improvement in blood flow in parts of the brain, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that the main non-psychoactive ingredient in Cannabis increases blood flow to the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning. It was also discovered that blood flow increased to the part of the brain responsible for decision-making.

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The team from University College London says the findings could offer better targeted therapies for those suffering from diseases that affect memory, such as Alzheimer’s and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"As far as we know, this is the first study to discover that CBD increases blood flow to important regions involved in memory processing, particularly the hippocampus," said lead author Dr. Michael Bloomfield, a psychiatry professor at UCL.

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'This supports the view that CBD has specific blood flow effects for regions in the human brain, which has been previously contested.'

CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are derivatives of Cannabis. Together, they are part of the cannabinoid group of compounds found in hashish, hash oil, and most varieties of the plant.

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THC is a psychoactive compound responsible for the euphoric feeling, and this 'high' is often associated with marijuana. This compound interacts with CB1 receptors in the central nervous system and the brain, creating feelings of euphoria and anxiety.

But CBD, which is non-psychoactive, does not fit well with these receptors and is believed to be responsible for some of the therapeutic effects of marijuana, such as pain relief.

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For the study, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, the team recruited 15 young, healthy participants with no history of Cannabis use.

Over the course of a week, the adults received 600 milligrams (mg) of oral Cannabis or a placebo. Then, seven days later, they received the capsule they had not taken. Participants did not know which capsule they were taking on each occasion.

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Next, researchers used a brain scanning technique called arterial spin labeling, which measures changes in blood oxygen levels.

The results showed that CBD significantly increased blood flow in the hippocampus and the orbitofrontal cortex, the latter of which plays a role in decision-making.

“Cannabidiol is one of the main constituents of Cannabis and is gaining interest for its therapeutic potential,” Bloomfield said. “There is evidence that CBD may help reduce symptoms of psychosis and anxiety. There is some evidence suggesting that CBD may improve memory function.”