Marijuana compound may help prevent dementia when paired with common drug

OG article by Angelica Stabile

February 4, 2026

A study from the University of Texas at San Antonio's Long School of Medicine suggests that combining low-dose THC (marijuana's main psychoactive compound) with celecoxib, a common anti-inflammatory drug for arthritis, may help prevent dementia. In mice given the combination daily for 30 days before symptoms, researchers observed improved cognition, learning, memory, reduced neuroinflammation, and less Alzheimer's-related brain pathology. THC alone provided anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects but increased inflammatory signals that harmed memory. Pairing it with celecoxib avoided these negative effects. The study, published in Aging and Disease, highlighted behavioral improvements as key. Lead author Chu Chen, Ph.D., noted: "What really mattered was behavior. If cognition is not improved, then the treatment doesn’t matter." THC raises COX-2 in the brain, linked to impairment, while celecoxib counters this. Both drugs are FDA-approved, easing potential human trials. Experts see promise in addressing chronic inflammation tied to beta-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's. Future work will test if the combo can slow or reverse progression after symptoms appear.