Neurodegenerative Conditions

Neurodegenerative disease affects nearly 1 in 6 of the world’s population (approximately one billion people) every year. Despite this, as per the 2021 report, the Alzheimers Disease Assoc. estimates that 6.2 million people in the USA suffer from neurodegenerative diseases, and 1.2 million Americans could be experiencing Parkinson’s illness by 2030.

  • But what are Neurodegenerative diseases?
  • How do these diseases affect people’s lives?
  • Is it possible that medical marijuana can help to treat Neurodegenerative diseases?
  • If yes, then how Cannabis can help to ease patients from neurodegenerative diseases?

What is Neurodegenerative Disease?

Neurodegenerative disease is an umbrella term for many health conditions that mainly attack the human brain’s neurons. Neurons are blocks of the central nervous system that are responsible for all brain’s neurological functionality. Neurons usually can’t reproduce, so the body will not be able to replace them when they get broken or die. That is why neurodegenerative diseases are severe and debilitating ailments affecting progressive degeneration or the destruction of nerve cells.

How Do Neurodegenerative Diseases Affect People’s Lives?

As you know, degenerative nerve diseases (Neurodegenerative diseases) affect a patient’s body movement, posture balance, thinking, talking, heart functionality, and even breathing. Many of these diseases are genetic. The hazard of being influenced by a neurodegenerative disease progresses dramatically with age. Sometimes, degenerative nerve diseases can be triggered by other issues, such as drug or alcohol addiction, tumors, or a stroke. Other problems may involve chemicals, toxins, and viruses as well.

Types of Major Neurodegenerative Diseases

  • Alzheimers Disease – It is a gradual disorder that damages memory and other significant mental functionality.
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder– It is a behavior ailment identified by distraction, impulsivity, and, in some cases, hyperactivity.
  • Dementias – It is a combination of diseases, such as the disability of at least two brain functions. For example, memory loss and lack of judgment can be part of Dementia.
  • Huntingtons Disease – HD is a genetic health disease that causes the breakdown of the brain’s nerve cells over time. As a result, the person has to suffer from cognitive (thinking), progressive movement, and psychiatric indications.
  • Motor neuron diseases (MND) – It is an unusual ailment that attacks the nervous system and brain tissues. It makes the person weak that grows severe over time.
  • Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PD-related disorders – If a person is affected by Parkinson’s disease, the patient will have various signs, including rigidity (body stiffness), bradykinesia (slowness), trembling, and postural imbalance.
  • Prion disease – In this health condition, a prion protein can activate natural proteins in the brain to overlap abnormally. It can harm both humans and animals.
  • Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) – It is an acquired neuromuscular sickness that hits the body tissues. People with SMA waste a specific type of nerve cell in the spinal cord known as motor neurons, become sick, and lose stamina.
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA) – This health issue refers to a group of genetic ataxias identified by degenerative variations in the section of the brain linked to the cerebellum and sometimes in the spinal cord.

Can Medical Cannabis Help To Treat Neurodegenerative Diseases?

Yes, An overwhelming number of patients and caregivers report that cannabis–especially CBD and low-dose THC–can have a significant impact on patients suffering from these diseases. Medical Cannabis can improve the quality of life for both patients and their caregivers! Cannabis can ease the patients from Neurodegenerative Diseases (or Degenerative Nerve Diseases); here is why:

  • Antioxidant Effects
    Medical cannabis includes antioxidants which help protect against Neurodegenerative Diseases (ND). THC and CBD can be beneficial to prevent the degeneration of neurons and tissues in the human brain.
  • Anti-Inflammatory Effects
    Inflammation of neurons is a common indication with neurodegenerative diseases. Cannabis has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties and it effectively resists these diseases.

Other symptoms Cannabis helps with are:

  • Anxiety/Irritability
  • Aggression, Agitation and Psychological Outburts
  • Depression/Apathy
  • Improved Sleep
  • Fights memory loss
  • Delusions
  • Reduction of pain and Rigidity
  • Improves Appetite

Medical cannabis can help enhance and sustain the ElectroConvulsive Shock (ECS) concentration, which can block or lessen the progress of neurological disorders (ND).

Bottom Line

Neurodegenerative diseases can severely affect the human brain, and these disorders can not be healed. But with the help of medical marijuana and cannabis products, they can be controlled, and the consequences of neurodegenerative diseases can be slowed down.