With an ever-increasing number of adults in the United States developing Alzheimer’s disease, research is expanding into alternative methods of treatment.

A new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found something remarkable about cannabidiol’s effect on blood flow and memory. Dr. Michael Bloomfield, lead author of the study, acknowledged that CBD (oil) can “help reduce symptoms of psychosis and anxiety,” but added that there is evidence to support the belief that CBD can elevate memory function.

The goal of the study was to uncover how CBD “influences cerebral blood flow (CBF)” where the human brain processes memories. Interestingly, the team from the University College London found that not only does CBD increase CBF inside the hippocampus (located deep in the temporal lobe), but greater CBD use was associated with a reduced reaction time on memory tasks.

The study used a randomized, double-blind design of 15 individuals who were healthy prior (and showed no signs of Alzheimer’s). While some study participants were given 600 mg of CBD orally, others were given a placebo. Using MRI-technology, researchers measured the blood flow for both groups. The results found that CBD increased blood flow to the brain, and the potential for treatment of Alzheimer’s.

According to researchers, “These results identify potential mechanisms of CBD for a range of conditions associated with altered memory processing, including Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and cannabis-use disorders.”

In late summer last year, a study about cannabis and Alzheimer’s highlighted that CBD could help prevent learning impairment and cannabidiol could reduce the spread of plaques responsible for causing memory blockages, directly associated with the disease. According to the U.K.’s National Health Service, Alzheimer’s is believed to be associated with an, “abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells and the plaques they deposit.”

Paving the way to new treatments and better understanding of the brain’s inner workings on and off the leafy medicine, the team is delighted with the results. Study authors declared, “These findings suggest that CBD increases CBF to key regions involved in memory processing, particularly the hippocampus,” meaning that this research not only expands understanding about the brain, but offers deep insights to how blood flow aligns with memory health.

With an ever-increasing number of adults in the United States developing Alzheimer’s disease, research is expanding into alternative methods of treatment. More scientists than ever before are understanding CBD and marijuana’s potential treatment and disruption of the disease.