Table 1.

Cannabinoids principal AD-related beneficial and adverse effects.

Compounds	Endocannabinoid System Targets	Beneficial Anti-AD Effects	Adverse/Unwanted Effects
THC	Mixed CB1 and CB2 agonist	Inhibition of achetylcholinesterase [67] Reduce Aβ levels [63] Hippocampal neurogenesis [166] Induce BDNF release [73,74]	Psychotic effects [55] Reduce cognitive functions [54] A deficit in dopamine release [56]
CBD	Mixed CB1 and CB2 agonist	No psycoactive effets [80] Neuroprotection [84] Reduce microglia activation [85] Delay cognitive decline [167]	Hypotension at high doses [168] Anxiogenic-like effect [169]
WIN 55,212-2 HU 210 CP 55,940 JWH-018	Mixed CB1 and CB2 agonist	Increase Aβ clearance [116] Promote neurogenesis [111] Prevent cognitive impairment [113,114]	Defect in working memory [95,96,97] Affects long-term potentiation [104,105] Sedation [170]
ACEA	Selective CB1 agonist	Anti-inflammatory [117] Prevent spatial memory impairment [118]	N.R.
JWH-133 AM-1241 MDA7	Selective CB2 agonist	Increase Aβ clearance [116] Improve cognitive performance [116] Prevent microglial activation [128] Reduce tau hyper-phosphorylation [132]	Immune suppression [171]
URB597 PF-04457845 JZL184 JZL195	Modulation of endogenous cannabinoid anandamide and 2-AG	Suppress glutamate Aβ42-induced toxicity [147] Reduce proinflammatory interleukin expression [148,156] Restore long-term potentiation [148] Reduce amyloid plaque burden [154]	Cardiac diastolic stiffness [172]