this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2024
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Initially, THC boosted brain metabolism and synaptic protein levels, indicative of heightened cognitive processes. Subsequently, it shifted towards reducing metabolic activities in the body akin to the effects seen with caloric restriction or intensive exercise, known for their anti-aging benefits.

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[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 101 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

The publication itself, which seems to be legit, and well done.

Haven't had a chance to read all of it, but it isn't badly executed by a quick scan.

Edit: I've had a chance to read it in full.

About half of it is over my head. Just don't have the biochemical background to be able to interpret much of the metabolites they were measuring.

That being said, that stuff isn't actually important for casual interest.

Here's the key points I found:

First, the study was mice only. While mice are excellent for this kind of work, you can't guarantee things will be a 1:1 result in Holland p.

Second, the study was for low dose levels, and only delta-9 thc, with no other cannabinoids being used at all.

Third, the study was relatively short, with 42 days being the longer end.

Fourth, and this is the cool part, changes in the relevant metabolites and brain samples had benefit at the 14 day mark. So, if this does translate to human effects, short term, low dose use of delta-9 may be a valuable option. That's years away before this could be confirmed as valid for humans, but the effects were significant.

All of that means that just smoking weed, you aren't going to duplicate the conditions of the study. If you're taking in enough to get high, you're at a higher dose than the study, and that may cause an opposite effect long term.

This is a very focused experiment, with well defined limits and goals. The information gained can not be used as an indicator that smoking herb as an adult human will give any benefit, much less what is in the title of the article.

Think of this study as step one in maybe ten steps you get to the point where it would be useful for indicating benefits in humans, assuming everything went right along the way.

[–] Icalasari@fedia.io 26 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I am glad you linked that, because the article and site itself did not inspire confidence

[–] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Why wouldn't you look for the study itself in ANY article like this? It's literally linked 1/3 of the way down the actual article.

[–] Icalasari@fedia.io 4 points 3 months ago (6 children)

The very opening basically repeating the name of the college twice and the stocks at the top had me immediately back out of the article as it came across as effectively trash. I then looked at the comments here and was surprised there was an actual publication linked

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[–] pbbananaman@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Maybe I’m misreading the only plot that mentions dosing numbers anywhere. It looks like the largest dosing group is getting 3mg/kg/day. That’s a lot scaled up to a 100kg person (like 10x a normal gummy for example).

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It was three different doses, 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg per day

It was also delivered via subcutaneous pump, which is usually done with a mind towards a gradual dosing rather than a single push of the total amount all at once.

The kind of pump listed in the article previously linked was an osmotic pump.

Here's an excerpt from a different paper describing the various methods for substance delivery:

Osmotic pumps are internally implanted devices that use an osmotic displacement system to infuse a preloaded substance into an animal. Use of these pumps permits constant dosing without the need to handle an animal after the initial implant surgery. Extracellular fluid is absorbed at a constant rate by an osmotic salt layer immediately beneath the permeable outer membrane. As the osmotic layer absorbs fluid, it swells and puts pressure on an impermeable reservoir in the center of the pump. The reservoir then expels the loaded substance from the pump at a constant rate through a flow moderator. The outflow can pass directly into the tissue surrounding the pump, or a cannula can be attached to the pump to direct the flow into a blood vessel or specific tissue.

Osmotic pumps are cylindrical in shape and come in sizes small enough for mice. These devices are surgically implanted either subcutaneously or intraperitoneally. The flow rate is fixed, and the duration of action varies from 3 d to 6 wk, depending on the size of the pump and the delivery rate selected. Pumps cannot be refilled but can be implanted sequentially to prolong dosing.

I'm not up on the dosing levels in humans, So I I don't have the ability to know offhand if 3mg/kg spread over the day is unusually high (pun partially intended) or not. There's a section I can't find easily (I'm actually dyslexic so it takes me a while to get through this kind of dense and complicated writing) where they mentioned having a higher dose as a point of comparison.

[–] pbbananaman@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Thanks this is a lot of great detail on the dosing mechanism that I think is really interesting. I love reading up on the experimental details and the actually components used to make these experiments work.

300mg of orally ingested THC spread out over 24 hours is about equivalent to consuming 1 typical candy/gummy every hour for 24 hours of the day. A reasonable or average or normal person would be uncomfortably high at these dosages. I also imagine the bioavailability of oral ingestion is less than the dosing mechanism you described although I’m not sure (is that getting taken up through the lymphatic system? How does it differ from oral ingestion or injection into the bloodstream?).

Fascinating stuff, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

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[–] Thorny_Insight@lemm.ee 64 points 3 months ago (12 children)

I like hearing this so it must be true

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Found the basis for CNN and Fox News retaining viewership!

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[–] ThePantser@lemmy.world 40 points 3 months ago (4 children)

Idk, I'm high right now and my memory is shit.

[–] Phenomephrene@thebrainbin.org 25 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Younger brains have fewer memories. This checks out.

[–] voracitude@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I didn't know you can monkeys paw science

[–] Drunemeton@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

The monkey was equally surprised.

[–] CaptainSpaceman@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Short term vs long term

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[–] Laborer3652@reddthat.com 32 points 3 months ago (6 children)

THC definitely makes me a complete fucking moron

[–] Plopp@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago

Have you tried modulating your intake? Too much will most definitely make you a moron. Small amounts have a positive effect on me.

[–] ashok36@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

I'm a moron when I'm stoned but a little bit makes my brain slow the fuck down enough that I can actually concentrate on things and get them done.

[–] FunnyUsername@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Not me. I'm pretty normal. I call it sober #2.

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[–] fsxylo@sh.itjust.works 32 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Same energy as "wine is good for you!" As it turns out, no. Wine is absolutely poisonous to you.

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

But taking 30 minutes out of your day to relax and unwind? That's good for you.

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[–] sinceasdf@lemmy.world 28 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Lmao benzinga the pinnacle of science news

There is a real study it's referencing at least but these fucks are probably just trying to pump weed stocks

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 3 months ago
[–] AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works 20 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It's amazing to me that they misspelled "reaserch" in the first bullet item.

[–] tyrant@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

It's turning back to the time before they knew how to spell

[–] sumguyonline@lemmy.world 15 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I've been stoned consistently since covid started. The only "sober" time is when I sleep. I don't think younger, but most things don't bother me. Want to improve your brain? Find consistent ways to reduce stress and perform them daily(like an hour walk outside). That will make you feel and think like a younger you.

[–] ShepherdPie@midwest.social 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

You're definitely not sober when you sleep or you'd be talking about the wild ass/sometimes horrific dreams you get when you cut your intake.

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[–] LustyArgonianMana@lemmy.world 13 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

No wonder Cheech&Chong, Willie Nelson, Snoop, and Lily Tomlin seem pretty young at heart/mind for their age

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I voted for this because I want it to be true. Yay, science!

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[–] Matriks404@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Well, I don't know if we'll be able to reverse brain aging anytime soon, but we at least know some ways of slowing it down, like by language learning or some other mental tasks.

I personally recommend at least giving a try for learning a new foreign language, it's fascinating journey and even it might be hard at first it's very satisfying in the end. And some people might say that it's not worth it because of AI, but come on, you can still do it for fun, and bigger cultural understanding.

[–] workerONE@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

When I was 17 I really turned back the clock. Almost every day we were reversing brain aging and boosting mental capacity.

[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It would explain the poor memory I get when I smoke. You can't remember something that hasn't happened yet, so it naturally increases your ability to remember more. (Taps forehead...)

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[–] weariedfae@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago (3 children)

I wonder if micro dosing can give the same effects? I am a control freak and don't like to be high but worry about cognitive decline. Especially since I got long covid and fucked up my olfactory system. Brain damage sucks.

[–] Angry_Autist@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Most days I microdose by diluting extract in glycerine, roughly 1/4 of a joint paced out thru the day.

Works wonders for my EDS, and I don't feel high at all and have a ton more executive control.

Can't really reply on the cognitive decline but I'm pushing 50 and still in the top .5%

Long Covid did drop me a bit tho, but I guess when you start with a straight eight, losing two cylinders isn't so bad.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago

The actual paper published is about smaller doses.

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[–] TSG_Asmodeus@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago
[–] Grass@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'm not convinced. Unless the idiot stoners in my area are so fucking stupid that even when you work some science magic to make them smarter, they are still about as intelligent as a sack of dirt.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 5 points 3 months ago

Maybe it de-aged their brain too far?

[–] Boomkop3@reddthat.com 3 points 3 months ago

Another drug that increases metabolism, protein, etc is cocaine. I have hunch these researchers already know what answer they want and are making crappy arguments to confirm themselves

[–] JoMomma@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago

That's why I'm so smrt

[–] Kintarian@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Generally any headline that is that is phrased as a question can be answered with "no".

This is a decent truism.

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