New dementia treatment hope for Alzheimer's disease stemming from exercise
People may be able to literally run off the threat of Alzheimer’s disease due to a hormone released during exercise.
Studies have previously shown that physical activity appears to reduce the risk of developing dementia, but the reason behind that was unclear. Now scientists have claimed that it is the hormone irisin that reduces sticky amyloid plaques, stopping brain cells from communicating.
Irisin is a hormone produced by the body and released during exercise, which leads to a “remarkable reduction” in amyloid plaques. It sparks hope of a new treatment becoming available, according to a team from Massachusetts General Hospital.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, which is the name for a group of symptoms associated with a decline of brain functioning. The NHS stated that age, family history, depression, and lifestyle factors can all play a part in people developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The condition affects one in 14 people over the age of 65, and increases to one in six for those aged over 80.
Ten tips to deal with life and help your loved ones after Alzheimer's diagnosis
The new study showed how irisin leads to immune cells producing more neprilysin, which is an enzyme that breaks down amyloid. When the research was carried out in laboratory tests, it found that the amyloid was reduced considerably.
“First, we found that irisin treatment led to a remarkable reduction of amyloid beta pathology,” said Dr Se Hoon Choi, of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at MGH, who is the lead author of the study.
“Second, we showed this effect of irisin was attributable to increased neprilysin activity owing to increased levels of neprilysin secreted from cells in the brain called astrocytes [immune cells].”
It opens up an exciting possibility for new treatments, the scientists revealed. The Nueron report said: “Our findings offer strong support for developing irisin as a therapeutic target to reduce amyloid burden for AD (Alzheimer’s disease) treatment and prevention."
Drugs are currently being trialed as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Donanemanb appears to slow down memory and thinking decline in people living with early-stage Alzheimer’s by removing amyloid.
The Alzheimer's Society stated: "Donanemab is given to patients intravenously, which means into a vein through a drip bag. It is an immunotherapy drug developed by a pharmaceutical company called Eli Lilly. Immunotherapy drugs are already used in medicine for treating different diseases, like cancers.
"They tell the body’s immune system to attack foreign cells or proteins and get rid of them so they can’t cause any more problems. In the case of donanemab, it teaches the immune cells to recognise and remove a protein called amyloid, which builds up in Alzheimer’s disease."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
