**Russian Doctors Pioneer New Alzheimer’s Treatment Strategy**
In a significant advancement in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, a team of doctors at Sechenov University in Moscow has developed and tested a novel treatment strategy that utilizes a blood-filtering technique to address chronic inflammation, a key factor believed to contribute to brain-cell damage associated with the condition. This innovative approach marks a potential shift in how Alzheimer’s is treated, moving beyond traditional methods that primarily focus on alleviating symptoms.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, characterized by a progressive decline in memory, thinking, and other cognitive functions, ultimately hindering patients' ability to carry out daily activities independently. Current treatments primarily aim to manage symptoms or target beta-amyloid, a toxic protein that accumulates in the brains of those affected by the disease. However, these existing therapies often have limited effectiveness and can come with significant side effects.
The new treatment strategy developed by the Sechenov team diverges from conventional approaches by targeting the underlying inflammatory processes that exacerbate Alzheimer’s. Researchers identified neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) as a contributing factor to chronic inflammation. NETs are web-like structures composed of DNA and enzymes released by immune cells during immune responses. While they play a role in the body’s defense mechanisms, an excess of NETs can lead to increased inflammation, heightened blood-vessel permeability, and subsequent brain-cell damage.
Dr. Natalia Sivtsevich, head of the transfusiology department at Sechenov University, explained that the research team hypothesized that by removing these harmful structures from the bloodstream, they could potentially mitigate inflammation and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. The technique involves filtering a patient’s plasma through a specialized filter designed to eliminate harmful DNA-containing particles while retaining essential proteins and minerals before returning the cleaned plasma to the bloodstream.
The treatment was evaluated in a pilot study involving Alzheimer’s patients who underwent three blood-filtering sessions spaced two to three days apart, with each session processing an amount equivalent to twice the patient’s total circulating plasma volume. Following the treatment, researchers conducted assessments using memory and cognitive tests, brain MRI scans, and spinal fluid biomarkers. Three months post-treatment, improvements were noted in patients' verbal memory, attention, and information-processing speed. Additionally, family members reported enhancements in the patients’ ability to perform daily tasks.
Despite these promising results, the researchers caution that the findings are preliminary and emphasize the need for larger clinical trials to further investigate the treatment's safety and effectiveness. Vladimir Parfenov, director of the Kozhevnikov Clinic of Nervous Diseases at Sechenov University, highlighted that while existing therapies can support memory and prevent brain-cell overstimulation, they do not address the root causes of Alzheimer’s. The new strategy could potentially serve as a complementary treatment alongside existing therapies.
Globally, approximately 57 million people are living with dementia, with Alzheimer’s accounting for an estimated 35 to 40 million cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Dementia ranks as the seventh leading cause of death worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed each year, translating to roughly one new case every three seconds. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s doubles every five years after the age of 65, and currently, there is no known cure for the disease.
As research continues, the innovative blood-filtering technique developed by Russian doctors may offer new hope for patients and families affected by Alzheimer’s, potentially paving the way for more effective treatment options in the future.