A team of Brazilian researchers studied the effects of CBD in middle-aged diabetic Rats to assess any potential beneficial effects on diabetes and Cognitive Impairments caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH). CCH is a medical condition that decreases the blood flow to the brain, often leading to cognitive impairments. Research has already confirmed that diabetes increases neuroinflammation (inflammation of the central nervous system) and memory deficits in rats with CCH, especially when combined with aging.

This study focused on treating middle-aged rats with CCH with cannabidiol (CBD) to determine whether it would alleviate cognitive decline and lessen inflammation in the hippocampus. The 14 month old rats were given diabetes and thirty days later the animals were subjected to a placebo surgery or CCH surgery, followed by an immediate treatment with CBD at 10 mg/kg once a day for thirty days.

The rats that had both diabetes and CCH surgery experienced exacerbated cognitive defects; after treatment with CBD these rats with cognitive impairments showed increased memory performance and reduced inflammation in the hippocampus. It was also noted that all of the rats in this study experienced weight loss due to the CBD treatments. Overall, this study suggests that CBD administered to middle-aged rats with CCH aids in the reduction of neuroinflammation and the enhancement of memory performance.

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