I only had time to skim the paper. Notably, the effect is concentration dependent and required high concentrations of THC. The chart shows it really starting in the 0.1uM range and then taking off in the 1uM range.
I don’t know what levels are achieved during normal use but I did find some studies that successfully killed a lot of hippocampal neuronal cells after 6 days at 1uM range. So the levels of THC observed in this study appear to be in the same range where things start getting really disrupted in cells.
In other words, don’t expect to replicate these results with normal recreational use.
It's stress. I'm convinced of it. Little old lady is smoking cigars at 105 years old because she's stress-free. Willie Nelson is looking sharp for his age because he's low-stress. If it helps reduce your personal stress, perhaps...PERHAPS, it's a good thing.
In vitro is great for publication though. If I out bleach and Alzheimer's plaques in a petri dish I bet I could publish that sodium hypochlorite treats Alzheimer's
There may not be many constants in this life, especially in this day and age, but I do find it humbling that "there is always an xkcd for that" holds true.
this would require 3 joints of ~ 300 mg cannabis at ~ 30% THC content.
the legendary MTF strain regularily trumpets a 25-30% THC content.
now if bioavailability is 30% that means you need 9 or 10 joints to get a 1 micro molar total dosage. that dose is distributed across body mass.
at this point, i cant say i could conceive of anyone smoking basically an 1/8 ounce of MTA in one day, let alone at one sitting, and doing that for 6 days in a row sounds frightening, not recreational.
AIUI, all such results are because the FDA has given up since aduhelm and said "well, if it clears amyloid, that's as good as slowing Alzheimer's, right?" despite the actual results on Alzheimer's progression being largely negative.
~~yes by 4 months. If I had AD i wouldn't bother with those treatments.~~ Sorry I missed the context you are right the fact that they slow AD by 4 months is a proof that amyloid plaques are part of the pathogenesis.
Do we still think clearing beta amyloid plaques will halt the progress of Alzheimer's? My impression is we're treating marker for the disease and not the cause.
Man, too bad weed gives me bad panic attacks. Alzheimers is the scariest disease I know so maybe if the studies pan out in time and it becomes a standard preventative, I might consider trying again.
But somehow I doubt it will be found to be that effective.
I've tried everything and I still get panic attacks. I used to love smoking a small hitter about an hour before bed. I've always had insomnia and that was the one thing that actually helped me sleep. When it was illegal, I loved it. I would smoke 2 or 3 times a week just for sleep, and I was healthy and happy. . . Because sleep is important, and I never wanted to take sleeping pills because dependency.
Now that it's legal and everywhere, I just get super fun panic attacks. I'm worthless, I'm failing as a parent, everybody hates me, you know, the normal anxiety attacks. Even Charlotte's Web that's SUPER low THC gives me panic attacks.
It's like my body hates it when I'm happy? I would give anything to be able to fix this problem.
I’ve found the edible thc (gummies/drinks) you get in non-legal states are much less panic/anxiety inducing. I’m not sure why but it probably has to do with CBD or something that is missing. It’s anecdotal but I’ve noticed it a lot. They also get you very high so I’m not sure how exactly they are getting around the legality requirement.
THC is the compound that gets you high. CBD is the governor that restricts the high.
If you end up smoking high percentage THC with little to no CBD, those who with tactile brains will enter a state of negativity. Anxiety, paranoia et cetera.
Essentially just roll CBD leaf only with your main THC leaf and this should equal the balance but again this is all anecdotal and myself as experiment.
I hate being truly high, but a weed "buzz" is great for falling asleep, especially when ill (I often suffer more from severe lack of sleep than from any of the other effects of whatever common virus or bacterial infection I manage to catch). It doesn't take much for a lightweight (a status I have carefully maintained) to reach "buzz" territory, and only a little more to reach "properly high" territory (which, again, I find rather unpleasant).
I'd suggest edibles and starting at 2mg, max, for a first attempt, working up 1mg at a time (in a totally different session, on another day!) until desired effect achieved. Like I've been at this a while and a 10mg gummy, which is a common single-gummy dose size in many states, will take me past where I ever want to be. 5ish is about right for me, maybe up to 8 if I need a stronger kick for some reason (like, say, I'm sick and need to get high enough to sleep most of the night despite significant sinus discomfort or throat pain)
FWIW I also doubt the anti-Alzheimer's stuff will pan out, or if it does, it'll be some targeted therapy with specific chemicals, which won't look a lot like any products from a dispensary.
> The researchers found that high levels of amyloid beta were associated with cellular inflammation and higher rates of neuron death. They demonstrated that exposing the cells to THC reduced amyloid beta protein levels and eliminated the inflammatory response from the nerve cells caused by the protein, thereby allowing the nerve cells to survive.
Anecdotally, when I'm feeling scattered and foggy, when I take a big hit off of my vape pen, I go through a period of noticing how shaky my appendages are, and go through what feels like a physical process of the sensation of my mind "unwrinkling" or unfurling. I often wondered if something was being cleaned out in my brain because I usually feel a lot more calm and still afterward, thoughts more collected.
Not really sure what you mean, I saw people on 10mg THC wring crazy code in a crazy speed. Some of them need it to be able to focus and think clear. Drugs never work "one way" for everybody. And its not only people its many things that affect how they work (setting, culture, education etc.). And if you think man kind does not need any drugs (including alcohol), if you look at it from a historic perspective we might even need it.
I would like to see the "crazy code" in question to take this seriously. Were you high on THC at the time as well? That would be a more plausible explanation of the perspective.
No, it has not improved my memory. Though, I am not really certain anything does. At least, not permanently. Though, I will say the effects on memory are rather complex. Some diminished abilities in some domains, but oddly some enhancements in a select few domains.
I am 'neurodivergent' apparently, so my experiences might not be worth much.
In my defense, it may have been a stupid joke but it's not as stupid as trying to prevent brain damage by taking cannabinoids at levels known to cause brain damage.
I only had time to skim the paper. Notably, the effect is concentration dependent and required high concentrations of THC. The chart shows it really starting in the 0.1uM range and then taking off in the 1uM range.
I don’t know what levels are achieved during normal use but I did find some studies that successfully killed a lot of hippocampal neuronal cells after 6 days at 1uM range. So the levels of THC observed in this study appear to be in the same range where things start getting really disrupted in cells.
In other words, don’t expect to replicate these results with normal recreational use.
I suppose this might be why Willie Nelson is still doing pretty good these days...
It's stress. I'm convinced of it. Little old lady is smoking cigars at 105 years old because she's stress-free. Willie Nelson is looking sharp for his age because he's low-stress. If it helps reduce your personal stress, perhaps...PERHAPS, it's a good thing.
You might have replied to the wrong comment. OP implied it would have no impact
3 replies →
In vitro studies are not so great for establishing threshold doses surely?
In vitro is great for publication though. If I out bleach and Alzheimer's plaques in a petri dish I bet I could publish that sodium hypochlorite treats Alzheimer's
Reminds me of this classic: https://xkcd.com/1217/
New studies show that research is a leading cause of cancer in rats.
1 reply →
There may not be many constants in this life, especially in this day and age, but I do find it humbling that "there is always an xkcd for that" holds true.
2 replies →
quick back of the envelope:
this would require 3 joints of ~ 300 mg cannabis at ~ 30% THC content.
the legendary MTF strain regularily trumpets a 25-30% THC content.
now if bioavailability is 30% that means you need 9 or 10 joints to get a 1 micro molar total dosage. that dose is distributed across body mass.
at this point, i cant say i could conceive of anyone smoking basically an 1/8 ounce of MTA in one day, let alone at one sitting, and doing that for 6 days in a row sounds frightening, not recreational.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol
[dead]
I'm pretty sure 0.1 µmol per liter and such absolutely does happen in recreational use. (Recreational use is toxic, destroys memory, etc.)
Can't have Alzheimer's if you don't have much of a brain left.
Can you explain the joke?
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Too bad we've had like a half-dozen putative Alzheimer's drugs that clear amyloid beta that turn out to do nothing to slow or prevent Alzheimer's.
Actually, I think even by 2016 we already had enough phase 3 drug failures that the amyloid hypothesis was severely called into question?
That's not true. Monoclonal antibodies are on the market right now which slow the progression of the disease (by removing amyloid).
AIUI, all such results are because the FDA has given up since aduhelm and said "well, if it clears amyloid, that's as good as slowing Alzheimer's, right?" despite the actual results on Alzheimer's progression being largely negative.
4 replies →
~~yes by 4 months. If I had AD i wouldn't bother with those treatments.~~ Sorry I missed the context you are right the fact that they slow AD by 4 months is a proof that amyloid plaques are part of the pathogenesis.
2 replies →
Zunveyl
This appears to be dated 2016. Did the preliminary results amount to anything?
Human trial in 2025 looks promising?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41160460/#:~:text=ResultsAt%...
Do we still think clearing beta amyloid plaques will halt the progress of Alzheimer's? My impression is we're treating marker for the disease and not the cause.
Not halt, but slow the progression.
https://www.nebraskamed.com/health/conditions-and-services/n...
Correct they don’t. It’s like removing the gravestones from the graveyard.
Man, too bad weed gives me bad panic attacks. Alzheimers is the scariest disease I know so maybe if the studies pan out in time and it becomes a standard preventative, I might consider trying again.
But somehow I doubt it will be found to be that effective.
Have you tried L-theanine? I also get panic attacks with weed, but L-theanine seems to help keep them at bay.
I have tried l-theanine, didn't do anything that I could tell.
But fortunately there's a much better solution for those of us who get anxiety from weed, it's called "don't smoke weed".
2 replies →
I've tried everything and I still get panic attacks. I used to love smoking a small hitter about an hour before bed. I've always had insomnia and that was the one thing that actually helped me sleep. When it was illegal, I loved it. I would smoke 2 or 3 times a week just for sleep, and I was healthy and happy. . . Because sleep is important, and I never wanted to take sleeping pills because dependency.
Now that it's legal and everywhere, I just get super fun panic attacks. I'm worthless, I'm failing as a parent, everybody hates me, you know, the normal anxiety attacks. Even Charlotte's Web that's SUPER low THC gives me panic attacks.
It's like my body hates it when I'm happy? I would give anything to be able to fix this problem.
20 replies →
I’ve found the edible thc (gummies/drinks) you get in non-legal states are much less panic/anxiety inducing. I’m not sure why but it probably has to do with CBD or something that is missing. It’s anecdotal but I’ve noticed it a lot. They also get you very high so I’m not sure how exactly they are getting around the legality requirement.
THC is the compound that gets you high. CBD is the governor that restricts the high.
If you end up smoking high percentage THC with little to no CBD, those who with tactile brains will enter a state of negativity. Anxiety, paranoia et cetera.
Essentially just roll CBD leaf only with your main THC leaf and this should equal the balance but again this is all anecdotal and myself as experiment.
Try really low doses.
I hate being truly high, but a weed "buzz" is great for falling asleep, especially when ill (I often suffer more from severe lack of sleep than from any of the other effects of whatever common virus or bacterial infection I manage to catch). It doesn't take much for a lightweight (a status I have carefully maintained) to reach "buzz" territory, and only a little more to reach "properly high" territory (which, again, I find rather unpleasant).
I'd suggest edibles and starting at 2mg, max, for a first attempt, working up 1mg at a time (in a totally different session, on another day!) until desired effect achieved. Like I've been at this a while and a 10mg gummy, which is a common single-gummy dose size in many states, will take me past where I ever want to be. 5ish is about right for me, maybe up to 8 if I need a stronger kick for some reason (like, say, I'm sick and need to get high enough to sleep most of the night despite significant sinus discomfort or throat pain)
FWIW I also doubt the anti-Alzheimer's stuff will pan out, or if it does, it'll be some targeted therapy with specific chemicals, which won't look a lot like any products from a dispensary.
Yes but.. Amyloid-beta may be part of the innate immune system
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2010/03/alzheimers-as...
Pro: Salk Institute Con: Preliminary Research, In Vitro
Con: from 2016 w. no followup?
Salk? You mean the vaccine guy? /s
And also, apparently, the registered trademark?
> The researchers found that high levels of amyloid beta were associated with cellular inflammation and higher rates of neuron death. They demonstrated that exposing the cells to THC reduced amyloid beta protein levels and eliminated the inflammatory response from the nerve cells caused by the protein, thereby allowing the nerve cells to survive.
Anecdotally, when I'm feeling scattered and foggy, when I take a big hit off of my vape pen, I go through a period of noticing how shaky my appendages are, and go through what feels like a physical process of the sensation of my mind "unwrinkling" or unfurling. I often wondered if something was being cleaned out in my brain because I usually feel a lot more calm and still afterward, thoughts more collected.
Acetylcholine receptors, at minimum.
For those interested in this and preventative measures, there's been reports about lithium helping prevent Alzheimer's: https://hms.harvard.edu/news/could-lithium-explain-treat-alz...
Standard disclaimers apply.
There are easily hundreds of compounds that can reduce beta-amyloid in vitro. This is a decade-old nothingburger.
I have more trust on 40 hz ultrasound therapies.
Why not both, get high while listening to 40 hz ultrasound.
There was another recent study showing that THC was creating false short term memories - like "I swear I told you that" - but never did.
Cannabis really needs a lot more study.
There was another recent study showing that THC was creating false short term memories - like "I swear I told you that" - but never did.
I see what you did there posting this comment twice. Well played
Mistake, too late to delete
...which is offset by typical dementia-like effects, other cognitive impairments in chronic weedos.
"reefer madness" has put legitimate research of that plant back immeasurably
Get stupid now to avoid cognitive decline later? Not sure I like that tradeoff...
As opposed to getting stupid now and getting cognitive decline later?
One adapts to it over time like any other state. Homeostasis is a blessing and a curse.
Not really sure what you mean, I saw people on 10mg THC wring crazy code in a crazy speed. Some of them need it to be able to focus and think clear. Drugs never work "one way" for everybody. And its not only people its many things that affect how they work (setting, culture, education etc.). And if you think man kind does not need any drugs (including alcohol), if you look at it from a historic perspective we might even need it.
I would like to see the "crazy code" in question to take this seriously. Were you high on THC at the time as well? That would be a more plausible explanation of the perspective.
Unfortunately I know how THC works on me and it's not very desirable.
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And yet, has anyone ever claimed regular marijuana use improved their memory?
Ok fine, I'll chime in.
No, it has not improved my memory. Though, I am not really certain anything does. At least, not permanently. Though, I will say the effects on memory are rather complex. Some diminished abilities in some domains, but oddly some enhancements in a select few domains.
I am 'neurodivergent' apparently, so my experiences might not be worth much.
[dead]
[flagged]
“Don't post generated comments or AI-edited comments. HN is for conversation between humans.”
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html#generated
Remove them and replace them with...Doritos?
I seem to have touched a nerve.
In my defense, it may have been a stupid joke but it's not as stupid as trying to prevent brain damage by taking cannabinoids at levels known to cause brain damage.
They can’t all be winners, right?
Here. Take my upvotes to balance it out a smidge.