A recent study conducted by researchers from University College London has provided robust evidence suggesting that cannabidiol (CBD), a key compound in cannabis, increases cerebral blood flow in memory processing regions of the brain, such as the hippocampus.
CBD is one of the many cannabinoids found in cannabis. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is known for its psychoactive effects, CBD is increasingly recognized for its potential health benefits. It has been approved by the FDA for reducing seizures in severe forms of epilepsy and has shown promise in reducing symptoms of psychosis and anxiety.
The study aimed to explore the acute effects of CBD on cerebral blood flow in brain regions associated with memory processing. Fifteen healthy participants were given either a placebo or a 600 mg capsule of CBD, after which cerebral blood flow was measured using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique called arterial spin labeling.
The results revealed significant increases in hippocampal blood flow following a single dose of CBD. Interestingly, similar blood flow increases were not observed in other nearby brain regions of the medial temporal lobe. The orbitofrontal cortex, a region involved in decision-making, also showed increased blood flow.
While the study did not find any improvements in memory task performance following the CBD dose, it highlights the potential of CBD to influence region-specific blood flow in the brain. This finding opens up new research directions for investigating CBD’s therapeutic potential in neurological conditions characterized by abnormalities in blood flow, such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The study’s lead author, Michael Bloomfield, emphasized the significance of these findings and their implications for further research: “If replicated, these results could lead to further research across a range of conditions characterized by changes in how the brain processes memories… It supports the view that CBD has region-specific blood flow effects in the human brain, which has previously been disputed.”
The study was published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.