Are you battling with prion and your question that "Is CBD a Recommended Treatment for Prion"? Well, firstly, we need to know what CBD is all about.
Cannabidiol is a non-psychoactive derivative of cannabis. Unlike THC, the main "active ingredient" of marijuana, cannabidiol does not cause addiction.
But it can cross the blood-brain barrier to enter the brain, and it does appear to have other non-toxic effects on the nervous system. CBD, when prepared by a drug company, has been approved for sale in Canada as a treatment for specific symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Researchers have also tested CBD on animals and in cell culture models. The results are positive for several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
There is currently one published study on the effect of cannabidiol for treating prion disease. In a group of mice subjected to a high-dose immediately after prion infection, CBD mitigated symptoms, and death by approximately 6%. Details are unclear for administering lower dosages after the initial dose.
A letter criticized this study for failing to clarify the drug action mechanisms, especially since cannabinoid receptors were involved.
What is Prion?
Prion, also known as mad cow disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects both animals and humans. In humans, the condition is called CJD or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It occurs when healthy prion proteins on the surface of many cells become abnormal and eventually accumulate within the brain. This abnormal protein accumulation causes lesions that are characterized by personality changes, memory problems, and difficulty navigating. Scientists currently know little about it, but report that the disease is usually fatal.
Symptoms include:
- hallucinations
- fatigue
- confusion
- difficulty walking
- dementia
- muscle numbness
- speech disorders.
There is no cure for prion. Patients may use medication to control their symptoms, however, to improve their quality of life.
What Causes Prion?
Prions are small proteins in your brain that don't work as they should. They bend in the wrong direction, expand, and then mistakenly create other proteins.
These poorly formed prions accumulate and form groups in your brain. They then kill neurons or brain cells that control your memory, balance, and movement. Your immune system can't fight them, so healthier cells die.
Most people contract prion diseases like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) for no apparent reason. About 15% of people suffer from prion diseases due to their problematic gene called PRNP. It can work in families.
Current Treatment Options
Once you feel any symptoms relating to prion, try to consult your doctor for the best treatment option to be taken
Medical Treatment
The following is used to improve the symptoms of prion temporarily.
- Cholinesterase Inhibitors: donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Razadyne). These work by increasing the levels of chemical messages involved in memory recollection and mental judgement.
Although primarily used to treat Alzheimer's disease, doctors also prescribe these for other diseases. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Slow heartbeat, fainting, and sleeping problems are other possible side effects.
- Memantine: This regulates the activity of glutamate, another chemical messenger that participates in brain function, such as learning and memory. In some cases, doctors prescribe cholinesterase inhibitor memantine.
- Other medicines: Your doctor may prescribe drugs to treat symptoms of other conditions such as depression, sleep disorders, hallucinations, Parkinson's, or anxiety.
Alternative Treatment
Researchers have studied several supplements, herbs, and therapies for people with prion. But for now, there is no convincing evidence that any of these alternatives perform any better than conventional treatments.
Be careful when planning to take supplements, vitamins, or herbs, especially if you are taking other medicines. These drugs are not regulated; therefore, claims about their benefits may not always be scientifically backed up by research.
Some studies suggest vitamin E supplements may be beneficial for Alzheimer's disease. However, high doses may be harmful, so the evidence is not convincing to promote vitamin E as an effective brain supplement. Doctors do not recommend Vitamin E supplementation separate from the vitamin E that already exists in a healthy diet through foods such as nuts.
CBD Treatment
Using CBD to combat prion diseases are related to its ability to provide neuroprotection. CBD helps promote synaptic transmission and enhances neurotransmitter activity. It also prevents the entry and accumulation of misfolded anterior proteins in the brain, which increases your lifespan.
As a muscle relaxant, CBD oil helps reduce the muscle stiffness that usually results from illness. It also helps treat ataxia and movement disorders by preventing uncontrolled contractions of different muscle groups. CBD also helps fight fatigue by modulating serotonergic activity.
How CBD Can Treat Prion Symptoms
Signs of prion diseases include sudden changes in mood, memory, and movement, such as:
- Anxiety or depression
- Balance problems
- Changes in behavior or personality.
- dementia
- Memory loss
- Loss of muscle control, such as jerks.
- Seizures
- Walking unsteadily
- Vision problems
Researchers continue to examine the likelihood that cannabinoids protect the neurological association with studies that support a favorable probability of protecting nerve cells by CBD from progressive decay caused by prions.
Scientists have observed that CBD that harmoniously interacts with the peripheral nervous system reduces the production of protease-resistant prion proteins (PrPres) in the brain.
This procedure significantly increased the survival rate in scientific trials. Neuroscientists have also discovered non-psychoactive CBD compounds that limit the growth of PrPres proteins in prion-infected animal cells.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The studies highlighted above reveal that CBD has potential health benefits for prion. The conventional treatments available for this condition only help treat the symptoms. Therefore, it is reasonable to test CBD as a dietary supplement, as there are no side effects.