Marijuana 'has no discernable benefits for Alzheimer's'

The beneficial effects of using medical marijuana to treat Alzheimer's disease have been challenged in new research.

Scientists from the University of British Columbia had hoped to confirm the beneficial effect of marijuana, with previous studies having suggested that a synthetic form of compounds known as HU210 found in the drug reduce the toxicity of plaques and promote new neuron growth.

However, there were no beneficial effects found in this latest experiment involving mice, which appears in the journal Current Alzheimer Research.

Lead study author Dr Weihong Song, said: "We didn't see any benefit at all. Instead, our study pointed to some detrimental effects.

"Our study shows that HU210 has no biological or behavioural effect on the established Alzheimer's disease model."

He also suggested that further studies should be carried out to test the impact of marijuana on dementia care treatment.

The findings follow research published in December which indicated that brain plaques in health individuals are linked to an increased Alzheimer's risk.

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