Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia around the world and continues to be one of the biggest challenges for healthcare systems.
Now, a new study published in the journal Aging-US suggests that substances found in blood may play a role in how quickly the disease worsens.
In mouse experiments, scientists discovered that blood from older animals made Alzheimer’s damage progress faster, while blood from younger mice seemed to protect the brain.
The study was led by researchers from the Instituto Latinoamericano de Salud Cerebral (BrainLat) at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, working with teams from MELISA Institute, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and Universidad Mayor.
Alzheimer’s disease is known for the buildup of a protein called beta-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain. These proteins stick together and form plaques that block communication between brain cells and slowly damage brain tissue.
Scientists have recently found that beta-amyloid doesn’t just stay in the brain—it can also be found in the bloodstream. This raises new questions: Could factors in blood affect how Alzheimer’s develops?
To explore this, the team used a special type of mouse commonly used in Alzheimer’s research. Over 30 weeks, these mice received weekly blood transfusions. Some got blood from young donor mice, while others received blood from older mice.
The goal was to see if elements in the blood could influence how much amyloid built up in the brain, as well as memory and behavior.
Dr. Claudia Durán-Aniotz, from BrainLat, explained the key message of the study. “This work highlights how what happens in the rest of the body—not just the brain—can influence Alzheimer’s disease.
The results show that signals coming from aged blood may change how the brain functions and worsen disease symptoms.” She added that this opens new doors for treatments focused on the connection between the blood and brain.
To measure the effects, researchers used a memory test called the Barnes maze and looked at brain tissue under a microscope to count amyloid plaques. They also analyzed brain proteins using a method called proteomics, which allowed them to detect changes in more than 250 different proteins.
Many of these proteins are important for how brain cells communicate, manage calcium, and use the endocannabinoid system—functions that are known to be disrupted in Alzheimer’s.
The MELISA Institute was responsible for much of the protein analysis. Mauricio Hernández, a proteomics expert there, said the job was not easy. Blood plasma is a complicated mixture to study, but with high-tech tools like the timsTOF Pro2 system, they were able to collect detailed and reliable data.
The results are part of a growing body of research suggesting that what circulates in the blood can directly impact brain health. These findings could lead to new therapies that target the blood–brain connection. Researchers hope to find the exact molecules responsible for these effects and develop ways to block harmful ones or enhance protective ones.
Dr. Elard Koch, Chairman of the MELISA Institute, said that helping with research like this is deeply rewarding. “We are proud to support cutting-edge science that brings us closer to better treatments for brain diseases. Alzheimer’s is a major global health issue, and every step forward counts.”
In the future, scientists may look at how to use this knowledge in people. Could certain blood factors be removed or replaced? Could treatments mimic the benefits of young blood without needing transfusions? These are the next questions to explore.
For now, this study offers hope—and a new direction—for better understanding and eventually slowing down Alzheimer’s disease.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about the protective power of dietary antioxidants against Alzheimer’s, and eating habits linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
The study is published in Aging.
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