Is cannabis the new solution to ageing?

There are many theories of how to prevent your brain from ageing.

Crossword puzzles and brain games have always been said to help. So too has been an active lifestyle, to encourage an active mind. Even a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes is said to be beneficial. 

Now a report has been published on released findings in new research that shows cannabis might also help turn back the clock.

Studies of mice at the University of Bonn in Germany has shown that for teenagers smoking cannabis they perform less well on memory and attention tasks while under the influence. However the same research shows that low doses of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, might have the opposite effect on the elderly, according to New Scientist.

The university’s studies on the mammalian endocannabinoid system have suggested it could lead to reversing brain ageing and restoring memory and learning. Team leader at the university Andreas Zimmer said they had repeated the experiments many times. “It’s a quite striking finding,” Zimmer says.

Zimmer’s team is now planning human trials.  They also need to work out at what age does it start to be beneficial. “There is no formula to translate mouse months into human years.”

How do you try to maintain your brain?