Cannabis has been legal in Germany under certain conditions since April 2024. While cannabis still carries risks, researchers increasingly see medical potential – for example in pain therapy, for depressive moods or even in the fight against ageing.
A new study on mice now suggests that THC – the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis – could have positive effects on the brain and the ageing process.
THC as the key to youth for the brain?
A German-Israeli research team led by Prof. Andras Bilkei-Gorzo from the University of Bonn has investigated the effects of low-dose, long-term administration of THC on ageing mice. The results were published in the journal ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science.
The protein m-TOR, a so-called “metabolic switch” that influences ageing processes and cognitive performance, plays a central role in this.
The findings:
In the brain: THC activated m-TOR, promoted the formation of new synapses and increased cognitive performance.
In the body: At the same time, THC reduced m-TOR activity in fatty tissue, which slowed down cell ageing.
THC could therefore have a double anti-ageing effect: mental performance enhancement and physical cell rejuvenation.
Anti-ageing effect of THC – what does that mean?
Previous studies had already shown that a low-calorie diet or exercise trigger similar processes by reducing m-TOR activity. THC now appears to trigger comparable mechanisms – but with the added bonus that it also promotes synapse formation in the brain.
Prof. Bilkei-Gorzo summarizes:
“Long-term THC treatment initially has a cognition-enhancing effect, followed by an anti-ageing effect.”
Looking to the future: a drug instead of a joint?
The results are still limited to animal models. Whether the positive effects can also be confirmed in humans – and whether they can outweigh the known risks of cannabis – still needs to be clarified.
Nevertheless, researchers see potential: based on these findings, new drugs could be developed in the future that protect the brain and body from ageing processes at the same time – without the typical side effects of “smoking pot”.
✅ Conclusion:
The study provides exciting evidence that THC can do more than intoxicate. In future, it could become a building block in anti-ageing and neuroprotective therapies. Until then, research is ongoing – but cannabis is far from being the miracle pill against ageing.
Source: https://www.brisant.de/gesundheit/drogen/cannabis-anti-aging-102.html