In collaboration with Saarland University, a team from SRH University investigated how cannabidiol (CBD) alters the lipid composition of cell membranes.
According to the German Alzheimer’s Association, around 1.8 million people in Germany were living with dementia by the end of 2025, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common form of dementia. This figure is set to rise further due to demographic change – new solutions for prevention and treatment are therefore urgently needed. A recent in vitro laboratory study led by Prof. Dr. habil. Marcus Grimm and Prof. Dr. Heike Grimm from SRH University has now investigated the effect of the hemp-derived compound cannabidiol (CBD) on Alzheimer’s-related processes.
The joint study with Saarland University focused on cell membranes. Their fatty components (lipids) are important for the structure and function of synapses – the contact points through which nerve cells communicate with one another. These include phosphatidylcholines (PC) and related membrane lipids such as plasmalogens. The latter are of particular interest to Alzheimer’s research: earlier studies found reduced levels of certain plasmalogens in the brain tissue of patients.
Key Alzheimer’s processes also take place on and within membranes. This is where enzymes known as secretases act to cleave the amyloid precursor protein (APP). This process can result in the formation of amyloid-beta, which is implicated in the disease. The lipid environment influences the activity of these enzymes. “The composition of the membrane is therefore an important starting point for understanding processes that are significant for the function of nerve cells and for Alzheimer’s,” explains Prof. Dr. habil. Marcus Grimm.
CBD – beneficial or detrimental to lipid composition?
Under CBD treatment, the two groups of phosphatidylcholines studied increased overall, whilst other lipid groups decreased. The increase in phosphatidylcholines was also observed in cells harbouring an APP variant relevant to Alzheimer’s disease. CBD thus alters building blocks that are important for neuronal membranes. The increase in these membrane components could be beneficial for the formation and maintenance of neuronal membranes.
However, the relative shift in lipid composition towards a lower proportion of polyunsaturated lipids must be viewed critically. The latter fulfil important functions in cell membranes. A change in their proportion could therefore have adverse consequences. At the same time, such lipids are more susceptible to oxidative damage. Whether the observed changes have an overall beneficial or detrimental effect requires further investigation.
The team is therefore also investigating chemically modified CBD variants, known as derivatives. The aim is to enhance desired effects and reduce undesired ones. In doing so, the research combines the elucidation of cellular processes with the search for potential new therapeutic approaches.
Given the varied lipid changes observed, no general recommendation regarding CBD intake can be derived from this study. Further studies are needed to clarify the overall impact of these changes, whether potentially adverse effects can be specifically mitigated, and to what extent the findings are transferable to humans.
Original publication: Walzer O. et al. (2026): Lipidomic Evidence for Cannabidiol-Induced Remodelling of Cellular Lipid Composition in SH-SY5Y Cells. Cells, 15(18), 1714. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15181714
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