Researchers from Norway have stated that blood transfusions from runners could be a pioneering treatment to slow down Alzheimer’s disease. They believe that a combination of chemicals in blood post-exercise has regenerative and protective effects on the brain, noting that those who engage in regular physical activity are less prone to developing Alzheimer's.
Doctors are currently transfusing blood monthly to about 60 individuals showing early signs of Alzheimer's in a year-long clinical trial led by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Blood will be drawn from 30 volunteers aged between 18 and 40, who will run on a treadmill until exhaustion, before providing a blood sample over the next four weeks.
Following this, patients will be monitored for five years, during which brain size, blood flow, and disease markers will be measured. A study conducted in 2019 at St. Olav's Hospital in Norway, which is also part of the new trial and based on data from 30,000 individuals, revealed that runners face a 40-50% reduced risk of developing the disease.
The researchers stated in the journal "Lancet Public Health," “Maintaining or improving cardiorespiratory fitness over time may be a goal to reduce the risk of dementia and mortality, delay the onset of the disease, and increase longevity after diagnosis.” One theory suggests that exercise causes complex chemical changes in the blood that impact the brain and counteract age-related changes, especially those associated with Alzheimer’s, according to the British newspaper Daily Mail.
