Inflammation and aging: can endocannabinoids help?
Aging often leads to cognitive decline due to neurodegenerative process in the brain. As people live longer, there exists a growing concern linked to long-term, slowly debilitating diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease for which a cure has not yet been found. Recently, the role of neuroinflammation has attracted attention due to its slow onset, chronic nature and its possible role in the development of many different neurodegenerative diseases. In the future, treatment of chronic neuroinflammation may help counteract aspects of neurodegenerative disease. Our recent studies have focused upon the endocannabinoid system for its unique effects on the expression of neuroinflammation. The basis for the manipulation of the endocannabinoid system in the brain in combination with existing treatments for Alzheimer's disease will be discussed in this review.
Marchalant
Yannick
Y
Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. marchalant.1@osu.edu
Brothers
Holly M
HM
Wenk
Gary L
GL
D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate