Obesity

Scientists Exploring Alzheimer's Therapy Based on Exercise Plasma

Published JAN 3 2024

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The Facts

A hospital in Norway is testing the effects of ExPlas — or exercised plasma — which is where the blood of young and healthy adults who exercise regularly is injected into older adults in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Scientists hope the results, to be available in 2025, will show that ExPlas can strengthen the minds and bodies of older people, and maybe even the general population living sedentary lives.
guardian
The blood plasma — taken from healthy, fit men — will be injected into patients12 times in one year. They will be selected at random to receive either ExPlas, Octaplasma — a blood-specific solution containing human plasma proteins — or a placebo. During the study, patients will be tested on their daily recollection, recognition, executive function, and fluency skills.
Alzheimer Europe
Study patients must also have an MMSE (Mini–Mental State Examination) score of 20, which shows their memory impairment is mild to moderate, as well as have evidence of abnormal accumulation of amyloid and Tau in their brain, which are evidence of Alzheimer's. They will also require a study partner to stay in contact with them and participate in the study throughout its duration.
Alzheimer Europe
This follows the 2012 discovery by Harvard Medical School's Christiane Wrann of a hormone called irisin, which is produced by muscles during exercise. Her team found that it can help remove from the brain toxic amyloid plaques involved in Alzheimer’s. Wrann and her colleagues have since founded the company Aevum Therapeutics to commercialize irisin by mimicking the hormone in drugs or injecting it.
guardian
Stanford University's Jonathan Long has also been studying the enzyme called adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is also released in the body during exercise. While Long said the enzyme successfully lowered glucose levels in monkeys, it resulted in their hearts growing too large, which he said "wasn't useful."
guardian

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The Spin

Narrative A

The pharmaceutical industry is on a roll when it comes to innovation. The world will likely have to wait just a bit more before these extremely helpful drugs are available and can help conditions like Alzheimer's. But if the progress made in recent years continues, humans will be reaping unprecedented benefits.

Big Think

Narrative B

It's too soon to tout the benefits of these types of treatments. The healthcare industry has to start holistically and comprehensively supporting people whose genetics have predispositions to complex conditions like Alzheimer's, cancer, depression, and heart disease. A simple "exercise in a pill" or injection may help but it can't be the only tool in the toolkit.

Wired

Metaculus Prediction

There's a 50% chance that at least 13.2% of US adults will have Diabetes (type 1 and 2) in 2032, according to the Metaculus prediction community.