63-year-old Tone Mittet is one of the patients in a unique study at NTNU in Trondheim. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s almost four years ago, almost by accident. After changing jobs, she struggled to learn new computer tools and program routines. Tone suggested to his doctor to check for Alzheimer’s, just to be safe. – Both the doctor and I were surprised by the result. I actually suggested it to eliminate it away. Tone Mittet is one of 60 patients in the study. The 63-year-old seems anything but what you associate with an Alzheimer’s patient. Quick in the head and quick in the body. – I don’t notice anything about it in everyday life, but if I were to forget something, it’s easy to hang it on the Alzheimer’s peg. But what is what? Other people forget things too. It’s hard to know. In the past year, she has received 12 blood transfusions. Whether she is one of those who have received plasma from trained blood donors or not, she does not know. – I’m crossing my fingers that I’ve got something that works. Endurance training created the hypothesis The study the researchers at NTNU are undertaking will last several years and is a unique study. The question they want to find an answer to is whether young and trained blood can be a solution to the Alzheimer’s puzzle. Senior doctor Sigrid Botne Sando hopes the study can provide answers to what it is about exercise that has a positive effect on Alzheimer’s. – There is robust data that physical exercise helps against Alzheimer’s. The expectations now are to understand what it is about exercise that prevents the death of brain cells. That’s what Sigrid Botne Sando, who leads the study, says. Good results in animal experiments The researchers have carried out similar studies with rats in the laboratory. Rats with Alzheimer’s have received blood from young and trained rats. It has changed the development of the disease in the rats in a positive direction. – This is the only drug study on Alzheimer’s in Norway, says doctoral candidate Atefe R. Tari at NTNU. Here with one of the rats that took part in the study. Now they are trying similar clinical studies on humans to see if the effect is the same. The study is called “Explas” (Exercised plasma). Ulrik Wisløff is professor of physiology. He is excited about what it will show. – We know that there is something in the young and trained blood that works on rats with Alzheimer’s, we just don’t know what. But – we can find out later what is the decisive or effective factor, says Ulrik Wisløff. Project leader Ulrik Wisløff hopes the study can provide answers to how to make medicine against Alzheimer’s. Highly trained blood donors Not just anyone can donate blood to patients. In the study, blood plasma is drawn from men aged 18 to 40 who have an O2 uptake of at least 55 ml per kilo body weight per minute. Simply put, it is an O2 intake equivalent to well-trained young men. Running, swimming and football are on the training menu for blood donor Hallvard Lindstad. Hallvard Lindstad runs hard intervals in training. His O2 recording is fine. He is one of those who donate blood in the study. – They have tried it on rats. Now I’m going to be a young “rat” for some old “rats”, he laughs and continues: – It’s nice if I have something that can help others. The patients in the study are aged up to 75 years, with a diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s. Some of them receive blood plasma from the young and trained blood donors like Lindstad, others receive a placebo. The researchers test the physique, memory and cognitive abilities of the patients who participate throughout the study, and see if there is a change in those who receive the correct blood plasma. Hallvard Lindstad’s blood may contain substances that help against dementia. More people are dying By 2050, approximately 2 billion people will be over 60. That means there are likely to be over 100 million people with Alzheimer’s disease. American studies show that more people die from the disease. The increase over the past two decades is a whopping 145 per cent. There is currently no cure. Can this help with Alzheimer’s? Photo: news – I hope it turns out to have an effect. Then we are a big step in the right direction to develop a medicine against dementia, and Alzheimer’s in particular, says Ulrik Wisløff. At home in Hamar, Tone Mittet feels completely healthy and in good shape. – I am in such good shape that I am convinced that I have received the “right” drug, she laughs. – In any case, this research is extremely important, both for me and those who come after. Of course, I think of my daughter first, but also everyone else. Tone Mittet hopes the study can help those who come after. Hi! Do you have thoughts about the case you have read, or tips for something we should look into more closely? Please contact!
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Researchers at NTNU will see if young blood can help against Alzheimer’s – news Trøndelag
