Scientists from Mass General Brigham and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are exploring the potential therapeutic benefits of xenon gas in treating Alzheimer's disease. This innovative approach aims to address the growing global challenge posed by Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, which affects an increasing number of individuals each year. A recent study involved placing mice with Alzheimer's models in a chamber where they inhaled air containing 30% xenon gas for 40 minutes. The promising results have paved the way for an upcoming clinical trial on humans.
The study, funded by the Alzheimer's Association, highlights the potential of xenon gas to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, a property already being tested by British mountaineer Garth Miller during his record-setting ascent of Mount Everest. Although mouse models do not perfectly predict human benefits, researchers remain optimistic about xenon's possibilities. According to Heather M. Snyder, PhD, "Animal models of Alzheimer's disease are somewhat similar to how the disease progresses in humans, but they do not replicate the disease in humans exactly."
One of the significant challenges in treating Alzheimer's is the difficulty in finding therapeutics that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Xenon gas, an unreactive element making up 0.086 parts per million by volume of the air we breathe, may offer a solution. Anton Porsteinsson, MD, has noted the intriguing results of the study and emphasized the challenges involved.
“The results are intriguing. Importantly, we know a lot about xenon gas and its impact on humans from anesthesia in terms of safety and tolerability. It is quite expensive and there would be a challenge understanding how to deliver it to a large patient group and avoid anesthetic events.” — Anton Porsteinsson, MD
Heather M. Snyder, PhD, further emphasizes the importance of understanding how immune cells interact and affect brain changes in Alzheimer's patients. The Alzheimer's Association is committed to advancing diverse treatment avenues and exploring methods for integrating them into combination therapies.
“Understanding how the immune cells interact with one another and how this cross-talk may impact brain changes observed in people with Alzheimer’s, is a critical part of this work.” — Heather M., Snyder, PhD
The planned clinical trial represents a crucial step forward. Co-author Howard Weiner, MD, expressed optimism about xenon's potential applications.
“If the clinical trial goes well, the opportunities for the use of Xenon gas are great. It could open the door to new treatments for helping patients with neurologic diseases.” — Howard Weiner, MD
However, as Heather M. Snyder, PhD points out, more research is necessary to confirm these findings in other models and ensure safety in human testing.
“This newly published study represents an interesting idea for possible future treatment of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, and it deserves further investigation — including confirmation in other model systems and initial safety testing in people.” — Heather M., Snyder, PhD
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