THX-130: Ultra-Low Dose THC to Improve Cognitive Abilities
Mild cognitive impairment (“MCI”) is an intermediate stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more-serious decline of dementia. It can involve problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment that are greater than normal age-related changes. MCI causes cognitive changes that are serious enough to be noticed by the individuals experiencing them, or to other people, but the changes are not severe enough to interfere with daily life or independent function. People with MCI, especially those involving memory problems, are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias than people without MCI. There is currently no FDA approved treatment for MCI.
A pre-clinical study was designed and conducted by Professor Yosef Sarne of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University. In the study, mice were injected with an ultra low dose of THC. These mice performed significantly better than vehicle-treated old mice, and performed similarly to naive young mice aged two months, in different assays assessing various aspects of memory and learning. The model demonstrated a relatively long-lasting increase in neuroprotection and neuroplasticity, as well as a larger volume and higher tissue density in various regions of the brain of THC-treated old mice as measured by MRI. The data from this study suggest that ultra low doses of THC could potentially provide a safe and effective treatment for cognitive decline in aging humans.
Cognitive impairments due to traumatic brain injury (TBI) are substantial sources of morbidity and mortality. Disturbances of attention, memory, and executive functioning are the most common neurocognitive consequences of TBI at all levels of severity. There is no pharmacological treatment for cognitive impairments due to TBI.
Therapix is currently running an animal study in the model of cognitive impairments due to repeated TBI in collaboration with Professor Alon Friedman from Dalhousie University, Halifax Canada.