{"id":3009,"date":"2016-07-29T21:46:03","date_gmt":"2016-07-29T21:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.medicalmarijuanainc.com\/?p=16768"},"modified":"2016-07-29T21:46:03","modified_gmt":"2016-07-29T21:46:03","slug":"dr-titus-insights-follow-nfl-cte-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medicalmarijuanainc.com\/2016\/07\/29\/dr-titus-insights-follow-nfl-cte-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Titus’ Insights: Follow Up on NFL & CTE News"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week, our CEO Dr. Stuart Titus brings perspective to the recent media coverage of cannabis’ potential as a treatment for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, the brain disorder caused by repeated head trauma that has afflicted many football players.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

A\u00a0killer article entitled appeared in Forbes this week, by journalist Deborah Borchardt. \u00a0A link to the article is here<\/a> and is required reading for anyone wanting more knowledge on potential treatments\u00a0for CTE.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Deborah Borchardt really knocked it out of the ballpark with her tremendous coverage of the relevant issues affecting the NFL in regards to CTE. \u00a0I thought my readers may enjoy some further research which may have relevance to the treatment of\u00a0CTE issue. \u00a0This treatment may well have implications for Alzheimer’s Disease<\/a> as well as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)<\/a> patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

NFL Seeks New Medical Director<\/b><\/p>\n

We did see this week a potential change in NFL CTE policy as the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodall announced the \u201cearly retirement\u201d of the NFL\u2019s Chief Medical officer, Dr. Elliott Pellman. \u00a0Basically many players (and presumably many NFL Owners, NFL Management) criticized Dr. Pellman for his lack of knowledge and grasp of the CTE situation. \u00a0Dr. Pellman once, famously, downplayed the risks of head injury and football. \u00a0A search is now on for a new, presumably more CTE progressive Medical Director. \u00a0Story: <\/span>http:\/\/www.foxsports.com\/nfl\/story\/roger-goodell-hire-new-chief-medical-officer-eliot-pellman-retire-concussions-brain-trauma-cte-072016<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Alzheimer\u2019s Research and Possible CTE Implications<\/b><\/p>\n

Going into the science just a bit further, I have noted a recent early stage clinical study performed locally here in San Diego by the Salk Institute and Dr. David Schubert. \u00a0The research study, published in late June 2016 titled: <\/span>Cannabinoids Remove Plaque Forming Alzheimer’s Proteins From Brain Cells<\/span><\/i> and subtitled: Preliminary Lab Studies at The Salk Institute Find THC Reduces Beta Amyloid Proteins in Human Neurons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Link:\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/www.salk.edu\/news-release\/cannabinoids-remove-plaque-forming-alzheimers-proteins-from-brain-cells\/<\/span><\/a> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beta amyloid is a toxic protein accumulation that occurs in brain cells and similar to a roadblock on a main interstate highway – these accumulations, over time interfere with and potentially destroy nerve communication cells and cell lines of communication. \u00a0Beta amyloid is a characteristic of Alzheimer’s patients. \u00a0Dr. Schubert’s study was on human brain cells, but performed in petri dish models and not full human subjects. \u00a0Nonetheless this opens the door to future human research.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note that pharmaceutical development is 0 for 190 tries to find an answer that will as little as halt the downward progression of Alzheimer’s disease. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Link:\u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2016-06-27\/after-190-tries-are-we-any-closer-to-a-cure-for-alzheimer-s<\/span><\/a> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cannabinoids may provide an answer…<\/span><\/p>\n

Tau Protein<\/b><\/p>\n

A similar-to-beta-amyloid protein accumulation is Tau protein accumulation. \u00a0Tau protein deposits are characteristic of CTE – and only able to be diagnosed in post-mortem autopsies. \u00a0Of 91 ex-NFL player\u2019s brains donated to VA Boston Healthcare System \/ Boston University\u2019s Brain Research Center and Dr. Ann McKee, 87 have tested positive for CTE.<\/span><\/p>\n

Link: <\/span>http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/wgbh\/frontline\/article\/new-87-deceased-nfl-players-test-positive-for-brain-disease\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

If cannabinoids can be shown to similarly reduce tau protein accumulations – then we may have answers for both Alzheimer’s as well as CTE. \u00a0Like beta amyloid, the Tau protein deposits act as roadblocks on interstate highways – interfering with nerve signals and transmission of vital brain communication networks. \u00a0As these toxic brain protein accumulations build up over time, increasing numbers of brain cells die off, exacerbating the communication problem.<\/span><\/p>\n

Synaptic Density<\/b><\/p>\n

The loss of neuronal cells and the loss of synaptic density in particular, is a biomarker for Alzheimer\u2019s. \u00a0As the synapse is the area of the neuronal network where the signal \u201cjumps the gap\u201d between neurons, this is a major target for pharmaceutical intervention. \u00a0In reality, 100% of pharmaceutical intervention for neurological conditions targets the synapse \u2013 BUT only 2% of ALL neuronal communication occurs here (Source: Electro-Medical Products International, EMPI). \u00a0Thus the failure of traditional medicine to effectively treat any neurological disorder including:<\/span><\/p>\n