Marijuana and Alzheimer's
How MMJ Health can help Alzheimer Patients
What is Alzheimer’s?
Symptoms of Alzheimer's
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Inability to plan or solve problems
- Trouble completing familiar tasks
- Losing track of dates, time, and/or seasons
- Finding difficulties speaking, writing, or holding a conversation
- Misplacing items and inability to retrace steps
- Experiencing drastic changes in mood and personality changes
Different Types of Alzheimer's
Early-onset Alzheimer's
Late-onset Alzheimer's
Diagnosing Alzheimer's
To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, your doctor will conduct several tests to assess your memory and critical thinking skills, and identify behavioral changes. Upon evaluation your doctor will also review your medical history, and any medication you may be taking. Your doctor will then perform a routine physical evaluation to check your health conditions.
Your physician may also order additional laboratory tests in order to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms such as a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or depression. The most common lab tests ordered to determine Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses radio waves to produce advanced imagery of your brain.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan, which uses X-rays to see cross-sectional images of the brain.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan, which uses a radioactive substance that detects clusters of plaques often associated with Alzheimer's dementia.
Diagnosing Alzheimer's
To diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, your doctor will conduct several tests to assess your memory and critical thinking skills, and identify behavioral changes. Upon evaluation your doctor will also review your medical history, and any medication you may be taking. Your doctor will then perform a routine physical evaluation to check your health conditions.
Your physician may also order additional laboratory tests in order to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms such as a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or depression. The most common lab tests ordered to determine Alzheimer’s disease include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses radio waves to produce advanced imagery of your brain.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan, which uses X-rays to see cross-sectional images of the brain.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan, which uses a radioactive substance that detects clusters of plaques often associated with Alzheimer's dementia.
What can a Florida Medical Marijuana clinic do for Alzheimer’s?
While there is ongoing research on the effects of cannabis and treatment of dementia, there is currently no evidence that cannabis is useful for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
Cannabis does however contain a variety of chemical compounds known as cannabinoids, which are known to have an effect on the brain. These cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system in your body, which regulates numerous bodily functions when the cells are exposed. When these cannabinoid receptors are activated, it affects neurochemicals in the brain, which can have an impact on the various mental processes including one’s mood, anxiety, memory and learning abilities, and appetite.
Although there is no evidence that medical cannabis is useful for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer’s, you may have questions or concerns about cannabis. If you are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia and would like to talk to our certified Florida Marijuana doctors, you can book an appointment and come to any of our 10 convenient MMJ Health locations.