New research shows that blood from younger individuals can have a beneficial effect on the brain and potentially delays the development of Alzheimer's. In experiments with mice, blood from older individuals led to poorer memory and an increase in harmful proteins that are characteristic of the disease. This indicates that substances in the blood play an important role in keeping the brain healthy.
Alzheimer's is a degenerative brain disease that often develops at an older age and is characterised by memory loss and cognitive decline. Until now, the underlying processes were not entirely clear, but this study shows that not only the brain itself, but also the composition of the blood has an influence. Changes in proteins in the brain, essential for communication between nerve cells, appear to be partly determinative.
These discoveries open up new possibilities for treatments aimed at regulating blood factors in order to improve brain function. It is a step towards therapies that could potentially slow down the progression of Alzheimer's by tackling the biological process of ageing. Although this still involves research with mice, it offers hope for future developments in humans.
For people who want to age healthily, it is important to realise that factors outside the brain itself, such as blood health, play a role in maintaining memory. This highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle that supports the cardiovascular system and thereby indirectly protects the brain.
Source: Original article
