Dr. Betty Murray describes a study where CBD and estradiol both reversed memory loss in ovariectomized rats. CBD improved object recognition as much as estradiol did by raising hippocampal endocannabinoid levels. Both compounds equally protected hippocampal function and restored memory in the menopause model.
Memory was tested via, uh, object recognition and fear conditioning tasks. So rats are actually really smart and they will recognize things. So they looked inside the brain at the cannabinoid activity, and then they looked at the actions that the, the rats were able to do. And what they found was CBD produced memory improvements on the objective recognition task comparable to those seen with estradiol. Wow. Right? So estradiol protective to hippocampal function. CBD also protective to memory and memory improvements and memory function. So both equally helpful. Both CBD and estradiol reversed memory impairment caused by the ovariectomy. So when they removed the ovaries, guess what? The ones with the removed ovaries that weren't getting CBD or estradiol, they performed more poorly on all cognitive tests. The rats, right? But both CBD and estradiol treatment actually reversed those memory impairments. And CBD reversed the expression of several genes, the FFAH and MGLL enzymes that break down e-cannabinoids and the endocannabinoids as a whole, raising the hippocampal endocannabinoid levels in a pattern similar to hormone therapy.
