Researchers in Bonn examine how treatment with tetrahydrocannabinol affects the mTOR metabolic pathway.
A low-dose, long-term administration of cannabis has been shown to not only reverse aging processes in the brain but also exhibit anti-aging effects. Researchers from University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn, in collaboration with a team from Hebrew University in Israel, demonstrated this effect in mice.
The key to this discovery lies in the protein switch mTOR, which influences cognitive performance and metabolic processes throughout the body. These findings have been published in the journal ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science.
Information about the availability or scarcity of resources is of crucial importance for the regulation of metabolism. The so-called metabolome is a complex reaction network that summarizes all metabolic properties of a cell or tissue. In higher organisms, the protein mTOR [Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin] is the central hub for cell growth and metabolism.

As a sensitive intracellular energy sensor system, its activity has a major influence on aging by regulating cell metabolism. A reduction in mTOR activity through a low-calorie diet, intensive physical activity, or pharmacological treatment therefore has a general anti-ageing effect. In addition to an altered metabolism, the aging of the brain is also accompanied by a reduced ability to change neuronal connections, known as synaptic plasticity. Reduced mTOR activity can therefore also have a negative effect on the aging brain by reducing the formation of new synapses on a nerve cell and thus also cognitive abilities.
“Therefore, anti-aging strategies based on the reduction of mTOR activity might not only be ineffective but even counterproductive against brain aging. In our current work, we have now found a strategy to solve this dilemma,” says Prof. Dr. Andreas Zimmer, Director of the Institute of Molecular Psychiatry at the UKB and member of the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation2 at the University of Bonn.
Cannabis reverses the aging process in the brain
In a previous study, the Bonn researchers, together with a team from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, were able to show that long-term, low-dose administration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis, has an anti-aging effect on the brain by restoring cognitive abilities and synapse density in old mice. Whether changes in mTOR signaling and the metabolome are linked to the positive effects on the aging brain has remained an open question.
“We have now been able to show that treatment with THC has a tissue-dependent and dual effect on mTOR signaling and the metabolome,” says Dr. Andras Bilkei-Gorzo from the Institute of Molecular Psychiatry at the UKB, who is also a researcher at the University of Bonn. Thus, THC treatment in the brain led to a transient increase in mTOR activity and levels of intermediates involved in energy production and amino acids. The latter enabled an increased synthesis of synaptic proteins and thus the formation of new synapses.
Unexpectedly, on the other hand, the Bonn researchers found a similarly strong reduction in mTOR activity of mice in adipose tissue and in the content of amino acids and carbohydrate metabolites in blood plasma as after a low-calorie diet or after intensive physical activity.
“We concluded that long-term THC treatment initially has a cognition-enhancing effect by increasing energy and synaptic protein production in the brain, followed by an anti-aging effect by decreasing mTOR activity and metabolic processes in the periphery,” says Bilkei-Gorzo. “Our study suggests that a dual effect on mTOR activity and the metabolome could be the basis for an effective anti-aging and cognition-enhancing drug.”
Reference: “Bidirectional Effect of Long-Term Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Treatment on mTOR Activity and Metabolome” by Andras Bilkei-Gorzo, Britta Schurmann, Marion Schneider, Michael Kraemer, Prakash Nidadavolu, Eva C. Beins, Christa E. Müller, Mona Dvir-Ginzberg and Andreas Zimmer, 14 August 2024, ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science.
DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00002
This work was funded by the German Research Foundation and the German Excellence Strategy.

News
Superbugs Are Losing to Science, Light, and a Little Spice
Texas A&M researchers have found that curcumin, when activated by light, can weaken antibiotic-resistant bacteria, restoring the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. Curcumin: A Surprising Ally Against Superbugs In 2017, a woman admitted to a [...]
New Research Shatters the Perfect Pitch Myth
For decades, people believed absolute pitch was an exclusive ability granted only to those with the right genetics or early music training. But new research from the University of Surrey proves otherwise. It’s been [...]
Why Some Drinkers Suffer Devastating Liver Damage While Others Don’t
A study from Keck Medicine of USC found that heavy drinkers with diabetes, high blood pressure, or a large waistline are up to 2.4 times more likely to develop advanced liver disease. These conditions may amplify [...]
“Good” Cholesterol Could Be Bad for Your Eyes – New Study Raises Concerns
‘Good’ cholesterol may be linked to an increased risk of glaucoma in individuals over 55, while, paradoxically, ‘bad’ cholesterol may be associated with a lower risk. These findings challenge conventional beliefs about factors that [...]
Reawakening Dormant Nerve Cells: Groundbreaking Neurotechnology Restores Motor Function
A new electrical stimulation therapy for spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) has shown promise in reactivating motor neurons and improving movement. In a pilot clinical trial, three patients who received spinal cord stimulation for one [...]
AI’s Energy Crisis Solved? A Revolutionary Magnetic Chip Could Change Everything
AI is evolving at an incredible pace, but its growing energy demands pose a major challenge. Enter spintronic devices—new technology that mimics the brain’s efficiency by integrating memory and processing. Scientists in Japan have [...]
Nanotechnology for oil spill response and cleanup in coastal regions
(Nanowerk News) Cleaning up after a major oil spill is a long, expensive process, and the damage to a coastal region’s ecosystem can be significant. This is especially true for the world’s Arctic region, [...]
The Role of Nanotechnology in Space Exploration
Nanotechnology, which involves working with materials at the atomic or molecular level, is becoming increasingly important in space exploration. By improving strength, thermal stability, electrical conductivity, and radiation resistance, nanotechnology is helping create lighter, more [...]
New Study Challenges Beliefs About CBD in Pregnancy, Reveals Unexpected Risks
CBD is gaining popularity as a remedy for pregnancy symptoms like nausea and anxiety, but new research suggests it may not be as safe as many believe. A study from McMaster University found that [...]
Does COVID increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease?
Scientists discover that even mild COVID-19 can alter brain proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease, potentially increasing dementia risk—raising urgent public health concerns. A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine investigated whether both mild and [...]
New MRI Study Reveals How Cannabis Alters Brain Activity and Weakens Memory
A massive new study sheds light on how cannabis affects the brain, particularly during cognitive tasks. Researchers analyzed over 1,000 young adults and found that both heavy lifetime use and recent cannabis consumption significantly reduced brain [...]
How to Assess Nanotoxicity: Key Methods and Protocols
With their high surface area and enhanced physicochemical properties, nanomaterials play a critical role in drug delivery, consumer products, and environmental technologies. However, their nanoscale dimensions enable interactions with cellular components in complex and [...]
Nanotech drug delivery shows lasting benefits, reducing need for repeat surgeries
A nanotechnology-based drug delivery system developed at UVA Health to save patients from repeated surgeries has proved to have unexpectedly long-lasting benefits in lab tests – a promising sign for its potential to help human patients. [...]
Scientists Just Found DNA’s Building Blocks in Asteroid Bennu – Could This Explain Life’s Origins?
Japanese scientists detected all five nucleobases — building blocks of DNA and RNA — in samples returned from asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission brought back 121.6 grams of asteroid Bennu, unveiling nitrogen-rich organic matter, including DNA’s essential [...]
AI-Designed Proteins – Unlike Any Found in Nature – Revolutionize Snakebite Treatment
Scientists have pioneered a groundbreaking method to combat snake venom using newly designed proteins, offering hope for more effective, accessible, and affordable antivenom solutions. By utilizing advanced computational techniques and deep learning, this innovative [...]
New nanosystem offers hope for improved diagnosis and treatment of tongue cancer
A pioneering study has unveiled the Au-HN-1 nanosystem, a cutting-edge approach that promises to transform the diagnosis and treatment of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). By harnessing gold nanoparticles coupled with the HN-1 peptide, [...]