Researchers have discovered that an injection of particular blood molecules can mimic the positive effects of exercise on the brain, opening the door to new therapeutic options for Alzheimer’s disease patients who experience age-related cognitive loss.
According to a study that was just published in the journal Nature Communications, platelets, which are tiny blood cells important for blood clotting, emit a protein that helps old mice’s neurons regenerate similarly to physical activity. “We know exercise increases the production of new neurons in the hippocampus, the part of the brain important for learning and memory, but the mechanism hasn’t been clear,” said Odette Leiter from the University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia.
“Our previous research has shown platelets are involved, but this study shows platelets are actually required for this effect in the aged mice,” Leiter said in a statement. Exerkines, which are biological substances that are released into the bloodstream during exercise and are thought to activate the exercise-induced response in the brain, were the subject of the study.
“We discovered that the exerkine CXCL4/Platelet factor 4 or PF4, which is released from platelets after exercise, results in regenerative and cognitive improvements when injected into aged mice,” Leiter said. The findings have important repercussions for the creation of drug treatments.
“For a lot of people with health conditions, mobility issues, or of advanced age, exercise isn’t possible, so pharmacological intervention is an important area of research,” said Tara Walker from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute. “We can now target platelets to promote neurogenesis, enhance cognition and counteract age-related cognitive decline,” Walker said.
Before beginning human trials, the researchers stated the next step is to assess the response in mice with Alzheimer’s disease. “It’s important to note this is not a replacement for exercise. But it could help the very elderly or someone who has had a brain injury or stroke to improve cognition,” Walker said.
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