Compounds in the THC - the active component in cannabis/marijuana which gets you "high", have proven to fight memory loss in animal models.

The effect, discovered in rats, may be due to the drug's strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Scientists treated older rats with a synthetic compound similar to cannabis. 

They found that the chemical substantially improved the memories of rats.

"These animals were able to hold onto key details of a specific task," said Professor Gary Wenk, from Ohio State University in Columbus, US, who led the study.

"Untreated older rats, on the other hand, were not."

People who regularly smoked marijuana in the 1960s and 1970s rarely developed Alzheimer's, added Prof Wenk.

Although it has to be pointed out that, in the short-time at least, one's memory does not improve after smoking cannabis.

Scientists hope to use the findings to create an anti-inflammatory drug to protect against Alzheimer's - while not getting patients high.

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