ABSTRACT

An impaired endocannabinoid system may play a role in neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease. Endogenous cannabinoid signaling performs many functions in the central nervous system, such as modulating neuroinflammation and neurogenesis, as well as regulating synaptic plasticity, and the response to stress. Endocannabinoids possess a broad-spectrum of activity, which is advantageous in neurodegenerative diseases where neural dysfunction is caused by a combination of different factors including protein misfolding, neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. The progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons primarily in the substantia nigra is the distinguishing characteristic of Parkinson’s disease. This dopaminergic neuron loss impairs the basal ganglia leading to bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremors. The endocannabinoid system regulates stress and anxiety, and modulation of the endocannabinoid system has been found to reduce anxiety. Dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system may be involved in the development of depression.