Endocannabinoids and Mental Health

0 Views

16 Jul 2021

Sponsored by BetterHelp Clinicians sign up with BetterHelp to increase your bookings and work from the comfort of your own home https hasofferstracking betterhelp com aff c offer id 20 aff id 2373 Want to chat with me Join me at a https 3A 2F 2Fmembers docsnipes com 2F a For 10 month you get access to my daily tips for health and wellness and you can text chat with me privately Endocannabinoids and Mental Health CBD Mentalhealth integrativehealth Dr Dawn-Elise Snipes CEUs available at a http 3A 2F 2Fallceus com 2Fmember 2Fcart 2Findex 2Fproduct 2Fid 2F1461 2Fc 2F a Objectives Explore the role of the endocannabinoid system in Mood disorders Cognitive disorders Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders Pain Stress Intro The eCB system targets both monoamines and the HPA axis which is also dysregulated during stress-induced psychiatric disorders Hyperactivity of endocannabinoid signaling contributes to excessive intake and storage of high-calorie foods while endocannabinoid hypoactivity is a risk factor for the development of depression anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder The ECS is comprised of endogenous cannabinoids endocannabinoids cannabinoid receptors and the enzymes responsible for the synthesis and degradation of endocannabinoids Endogenous cannabinoids are endogenous lipids that engage cannabinoid receptors The first discovered and best-characterized endocannabinoids are anandamide arachidonoyl ethanolamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol 2-AG Both 2 AG and anandamide are agonists for CB1 and CB2 receptors In systems with low receptor expression anandamide can antagonize the effects of more efficacious agonists On demand endocannabinoids are liberated in and released into the extracellular space This contrasts with classical neurotransmitters that are synthesized ahead of time and stored in synaptic vesicles CB1 receptors are abundant in the central nervous system CNS particularly in cortex basal ganglia hippocampus and cerebellum CB2 receptors are expressed at much lower levels in the CNS Physical exercise mobilizes endocannabinoids which could contribute to refilling of energy stores and also to the analgesic and mood-elevating effects of exercise A second important role for endocannabinoid signaling is to restore homeostasis following stress ECS and Neurotransmitters Changes in the ECS are involved in several psychiatric disorders Serotonin eCBs reduce serotonin release in the CNS via the activation of CB1 receptors Early evidence for a role of eCB signaling in the regulation of the 5-HT system suggests a high level of functional overlap between the 5-HT and eCB systems Both 5-HT and eCB systems regulate body temperature feeding sleep and arousal and emotional processes Dopamine CB1 receptors tightly regulate DA neuronal activity CB1 receptors are expressed at presynaptic inputs to DA neurons and facilitate or suppress DAergic neuron activity depending on their location Alzheimer s and Neurodegenerative Disorders Cannabinoid receptor agonists such as AEA have been shown to provide protection against neurotoxicity Activation of CB1 and CB2 attenuates A beta amyloid -induced neuroinflammation neurodegeneration and spatial memory impairment Pain and Inflammation Activation of the CB2 and adenosine receptors leads to a decrease oxidative stress and inflammation CBD is one of the main pharmacologically active phytocannabinoids It is non-psychoactive but has many beneficial pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory antioxidant anxiolytic antidepressant antipsychotic and anticonvulsant properties Anxiety Chronic stress and steroid treatments are both known to impair endocannabinoid signaling at multiple levels Stress-related down-regulation of the CB1 receptor leads to greater changes in glutamatergic signaling and excitotoxicity within the PFC following chronic stress It has been repeatedly shown that CBD and THC concurrently decrease anxiety and depression Essential oils terpenes can activate CB1 and CB2 receptors and are associated with cognitive and mood effects Interventions Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids Flavonoids which inhibit endocannabinoid degradation Meditation Exercise Sex Summary The endocannabinoid system interacts with most other bodily functions and neurotransmitters Problems in the ECS are associated with Chronic pain and inflammation GI disorders Mood disorders Neurodegenerative disorders Metabolic disorders Endocannabinoids are created partially from lipids particularly Omega 3 and 6s Reducing HPA-Axis activation and increasing serotonin and dopamine will all increase EC levels