ABSTRACT: This themed section of BJP arises from the 6th European Workshop on Cannabinoid Research held in Dublin, Ireland from 18–20 April 2013. The section brings together 3 reviews and 10 research articles, presenting a range of work across the cannabinoid field. The review article by Fagan et al. (2014) addresses the impact of endogenous, plant-derived and synthetic ... Continue Reading
Neurodegenerative Disorders
STUDY: The influence of cannabinoids on generic traits of neurodegeneration
ABSTRACT: In an increasingly ageing population, the incidence of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease are rising. While the aetiologies of these disorders are different, a number of common mechanisms that underlie their neurodegenerative components have been elucidated; namely neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, ... Continue Reading
STUDY: The endocannabinoid system as a target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease
ABSTRACT: The Cannabis sativa plant has been exploited for medicinal, agricultural and spiritual purposes in diverse cultures over thousands of years. Cannabis has been used recreationally for its psychotropic properties, while effects such as stimulation of appetite, analgesia and anti-emesis have lead to the medicinal application of cannabis. Indeed, reports of medicinal ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Neurodegenerative Disorders – Prospects for cannabinoid therapies in basal ganglia disorders
ABSTRACT: Cannabinoids are promising medicines to slow down disease progression in neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), two of the most important disorders affecting the basal ganglia. Two pharmacological profiles have been proposed for cannabinoids being effective in these disorders. On the one hand, cannabinoids like ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Neurodegenerative Disease – N-arachidonoyl glycine, an abundant endogenous lipid, potently drives directed cellular migration through GPR18, the putative abnormal cannabidiol receptor
ABSTRACT: Background Microglia provide continuous immune surveillance of the CNS and upon activation rapidly change phenotype to express receptors that respond to chemoattractants during CNS damage or infection. These activated microglia undergo directed migration towards affected tissue. Importantly, the molecular species of chemoattractant encountered determines if ... Continue Reading