The next Alzheimer's treatment may come from an unexpected place. In new research published this week Scientists have found evidence in mice that xenon gas may help treat neurodegenerative conditions.
Scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Washington University led the research. published Wednesday Translational Medicine– in mice with Alzheimer's-like disease Xenon gas has been found to reduce inflammation and shrinkage of the brain. Researchers are now beginning early human trials. to further test the potential of the therapy.
Xenon gas is already used in medicine as an anesthetic and medical imaging agent. Research also suggests that xenon can help. Protect the brainAnd some research has tried it as a treatment for depression and other disorders. related to the brain (Unfortunately, depression research has been mixed bag until now) because xenon easily passes through the blood-brain barrier. which protects the brain from infection But it also prevents most drugs from reaching them. Scientists therefore wondered whether xenon could protect the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers tested inhaled xenon on two types of mice designed to cause brain damage seen in Alzheimer's disease. in these mice The gas appears to stimulate a protective response from the brain's specialized immune cells, called microglia, and this stimulation helps their brains fight the damaging changes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Or These mice had lower levels of inflammation and brain atrophy. Researchers also observed possible signs of decreased amyloid plaque. It is one of the biomarkers strongly linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
“This is a groundbreaking discovery that shows that Just inhaling the inert gas has a profound neuroprotective effect,” said senior researcher Oleg Butovsky, a neuroscientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. statement From the Mass of Gen. Brigham “One of the main limitations in Alzheimer's disease research and treatment is that Designing drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier is very difficult. But xenon gas can do it.”
Although this finding was based only on mice. But it's interesting enough for researchers to take it a step further. The team is preparing to launch Phase 1 trial In the coming months, the safety and immunological effects of xenon gas on healthy humans will be tested. Looking ahead This discovery may pave the way for new possibilities. To harness the potential of xenon to heal the brain
“If the clinical trial goes well, “The more opportunities there are to use xenon gas,” said co-author Howard Weiner, co-director of the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women's and lead investigator of the new trial, in a statement. The door to new treatments in helping patients with neurological diseases.”
Although there have been significant advances in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in recent years, But today's best drugs still do little to slow the progression of the disease. Therefore, new treatments Being able to attack Alzheimer's disease from a different angle is therefore very welcome. There are approximately 7 million Americans today. think to live with Alzheimer's disease This figure could nearly double by 2050.