Anti-aging drugs could boost cognitive function in Alzheimer’s

A small study suggests that a type of medication called senolytics may help improve brain function in older adults at risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The study, called STAMINA, tested two drugs—Dasatinib and Quercetin—that work by removing old, damaged cells from the body.

These cells, known as senescent cells, stop functioning properly but don’t die. Instead, they build up in the body and release harmful substances that can cause inflammation and other problems linked to aging.

As people age, senescent cells accumulate in their bodies, potentially contributing to health problems like memory loss and difficulty moving. Scientists believe that clearing out these cells with senolytic drugs could help slow down some of the negative effects of aging.

Previous studies in animals have shown that these drugs might improve brain function and physical movement, but research on humans is still in its early stages.

This new study, published in the journal eBioMedicine, tested whether senolytics could improve thinking skills and movement in older adults who were already showing early signs of cognitive decline. The study focused on people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and slow walking speed—both of which are considered warning signs for Alzheimer’s disease.

Twelve older adults took part in the study. They were given Dasatinib and Quercetin for two days every two weeks over a period of 12 weeks. The researchers then measured changes in their brain function and levels of inflammation in their blood.

The results showed that people who started with the lowest cognitive scores improved by an average of two points on a common test used to measure thinking skills, called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

The researchers also found lower levels of a chemical in the blood called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which is linked to inflammation and aging. Since inflammation in the brain is believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease, reducing it could be one reason for the observed improvement in brain function.

Dr. Courtney Millar, the study’s lead researcher from the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, explained that these findings are encouraging. “This study suggests that senolytic treatment is safe for older adults at risk of Alzheimer’s disease and may help improve brain function by reducing the harmful effects of aging cells,” she said.

However, she also stressed that this was a small study, and the results could have happened by chance. The researchers believe more studies are needed to confirm whether these drugs truly work for improving brain function in aging adults.

Analysis of the Study

This study offers an interesting glimpse into how senolytic drugs might help older adults, but it has some limitations. With only 12 participants, it is too small to draw strong conclusions. The improvements in cognitive function were mainly seen in people who started with the lowest scores, so it’s unclear whether the drugs would benefit all older adults equally.

Another important factor is that the study only lasted 12 weeks. It is unknown whether the benefits would continue over a longer period or if the body might develop resistance to the drugs.

Additionally, while the results suggest that reducing inflammation might play a role in improving brain function, the study did not directly prove that the drugs were responsible for the improvements.

Overall, the findings are promising, but much more research is needed before these drugs could be considered a real treatment for Alzheimer’s or other age-related brain conditions. Larger studies with more participants and longer follow-up periods will be necessary to determine whether senolytics could truly help protect the brain from aging-related decline.

The research findings can be found in eBioMedicine.