As marijuana’s potential health benefits are under debate, new research has found that THC could have a powerful and positive effect on the brain.

Researchers at the University of Texas (UT) at San Antonio, Long School of Medicine, recently discovered that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana) could prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease – but only when paired with an anti-inflammatory drug called celecoxib.

Celecoxib is a selective COX-2 inhibitor that is commonly prescribed for arthritis and pain.

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While THC has previously been shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, it’s also been linked to negative effects on the brain, particularly in learning and memory, according to a UT Health press release.

Combining THC with an anti-inflammatory drug, however, could provide the same benefits with fewer negative side effects.

The study, which was published in the journal Aging and Disease, paired low-dose THC extract with celecoxib, which was administered to mice daily for 30 days.

The mice received the treatments before the development of memory symptoms to measure the impact on preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s.

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The results showed improved cognition, learning and memory, as well as decreased markers of neuroinflammation and reduced Alzheimer’s-related brain pathology, the release stated.

Although THC alone had the same results, it also increased inflammatory signals, while the combination dosage did not.

“What really mattered was behavior. If cognition is not improved, then the treatment doesn’t matter. And that’s where the combination clearly worked better than THC alone,” noted lead study author Chu Chen, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology.

Years of research led Chen to connect the dots on how THC can manipulate the brain and why it’s difficult to use safely for neurological conditions, according to UT Health.

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“When THC is given, it unexpectedly increases COX-2 in the brain. That increase is closely associated with learning and memory impairment,” Chen said.

Both THC and celecoxib are FDA-approved for use in humans, which could provide a “real advantage” in moving along to clinical trials, according to UT Health.

“What really mattered was behavior. If cognition is not improved, then the treatment doesn’t matter.”

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Future studies will investigate whether the drug combination can slow disease progression or reverse deficits after symptoms have appeared.

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“This work has taken many years. But now we’re at a point where basic neuroscience discoveries are pointing toward something that could realistically move into the clinic,” Chen said.

Dr. Paul Saphier, a neurosurgeon and founder of Coaxial Neurosurgical Specialists in New Jersey, called this research an “exciting breakthrough with a huge potential impact for patients and their families.”

“Neurocognitive deterioration has been linked to conditions that cause inflammation within the brain — prior brain bleeds, strokes, tumors and infections,” he told Fox News Digital. “We also know that the buildup of the plaques related to Alzheimer’s [beta-amyloid plaques] are the result of chronic inflammation.”

“So, it makes sense that this combination therapy [might] help limit the production of this amyloid and thereby reduce the progression of the disease.”

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Saphier said the drugs’ FDA approval status is “encouraging,” as it may “ultimately ease the availability for patients, if the trial proves successful.”

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“I look forward to the results of this trial, as well as any future trials that look at limiting the effects of chronic inflammation within the central nervous system.”

Puzzling cancer and Alzheimer’s link explored in new study: ‘SHORT QUOTE’

A new study may help clarify a long-observed link between cancer history and reduced Alzheimer’s risk.

The research, published in the journal Cell, used mouse models to explore how the biological changes associated with cancer may affect the progression of the most common dementia type.

The findings suggest that certain cancers release a protein called cystatin-C that can travel through the bloodstream and enter the brain, an area that many Alzheimer’s treatments have difficulty reaching.

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Cystatin-C binds to harmful amyloid protein clumps linked to Alzheimer’s and activates a protein called TREM2, which acts like an on-switch for the brain’s immune cells. 

When activated, those cells begin clearing away existing amyloid plaques, a process that was associated with reduced plaque buildup and improved cognitive function, the study found.

Dr. Bob Arnot, a Vermont-based internal medicine physician, told Fox News Digital that the findings help clarify a pattern doctors have observed for years.

“Scientists have long observed a puzzling statistical pattern known as ‘inverse comorbidity’ — people with a history of cancer are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, and people with Alzheimer’s are less likely to develop cancer,” said Arnot, who was not involved in the study.

The findings suggest that biological signals tied to certain cancers may slow or reverse key features of Alzheimer’s disease.

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Arnot said the research is notable because it identifies a specific biological pathway that could be targeted for future Alzheimer’s treatments.

“This approach targets existing amyloid plaques, not just early prevention. That distinction could be critical for patients who already have established disease,” he said.

Arnot cautioned that the findings do not mean cancer itself is protective.

“This study does not suggest that cancer is protective, desirable or a viable therapy,” he said. “Instead, it reveals that biological programs activated during cancer can inadvertently engage protective immune mechanisms in the brain.”

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The research suggests that future treatments could focus not just on slowing Alzheimer’s, but also on clearing harmful buildup in the brain, Arnot added.

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The results were based on experiments in animal models, and further research is needed to determine whether the same effects occur in humans, the researchers noted.

Health officials are warning the public of potential measles exposure after an international traveler visited several high-traffic locations in Southern California, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the Disneyland Resort.

The traveler arrived Jan. 26 on Viva Aerobus Flight 518 at Tom Bradley International Terminal B, Gate 201A, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH).

The department stated that individuals who were in Terminal B between 10:45 p.m. Jan. 26 and 1 a.m. Jan. 27 may have been exposed.

MEASLES OUTBREAK REACHES A MAJOR SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE CAMPUS

Following the arrival, the individual traveled to Orange County. The Orange County Health Care Agency shared the following exposure windows for Jan. 28.

• Goofy’s Kitchen (Disneyland Hotel) between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure from 12:30 p.m. until park closure

A subsequent exposure was identified on Jan. 30 at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Woodland Hills, according to the LADPH.

“People who were at these locations during these times may be at risk of developing measles from seven to 21 days after exposure,” the Orange County Health Care Agency said in a statement.

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Health officials advise anyone who visited these locations during the specified windows to check their immunization status and monitor for symptoms for 21 days following exposure.

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Public health departments in both Los Angeles and Orange County will continue to track potential exposure sites and notify individuals at high risk.

People should contact a healthcare provider by phone before visiting a clinic if symptoms develop to prevent further spread, experts recommend.

Fox News Digital reached out to county officials for a statement.

What to know about measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. If one person is infected, up to 90% of nearby people who are not immune will also become infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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“Measles doesn’t only affect people who travel internationally — everyone is at risk if they’re not protected,” said Dr. Anissa Davis, deputy county health officer for Long Beach, California. “The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated before exposure occurs.”

Symptoms of measles typically include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a characteristic rash that begins on the face and spreads downward, per the CDC. An infected person is contagious for four days before and four days after the rash appears.

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As of Jan. 30, there have been 588 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. so far in 2026, the agency reports. This follows a significant surge in 2025, which saw 2,267 cases — the highest annual count in more than three decades.