BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF CANNABIS EXTRACT TREATMENT IN A STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED MODEL OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline and sensory-behavioral alterations. Cannabis sativa has been widely studied, particularly cannabidiol (CBD), which exhibits neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects, while Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may contribute to symptomatic modulation even at low concentrations. This study examined the behavioral effects of a CBD-dominant cannabis extract with trace levels of THC in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced model of sporadic AD. Wistar rats received intracerebroventricular STZ or vehicle and were treated for 14 days with a standardized cannabis extract (Greencare®), containing 47.5 mg/mL CBD and <0.2% THC, administered by oral gavage at a dose of 2.8 mg/kg, or vehicle. Adhesive removal test, open field (OF) novel object recognition and spontaneous alternation test were used for behavioral assessments. STZ administration increased latency in the adhesive removal test, indicating impaired tactile sensitivity, which was not modified by cannabis treatment. In the OF, STZ-treated animals spent more time in the center, suggesting altered risk-related behavior. Recognition memory was preserved in all groups. In contrast, STZ-treated animals showed reduced spontaneous alternation, indicating impaired working memory. Cannabis extract treatment did not significantly modify sensory, cognitive, or exploratory outcomes. Together, these findings indicate that short-term treatment with this cannabis extract does not modify STZ-induced behavioral alterations. This absence of effect may reflect treatment duration or dosing parameters, supporting future studies using alternative dosing strategies and treatment windows to better evaluate cannabis-based interventions in AD.