The inhalation of xenon gas would help to fight against neuroinflammation and to reduce brain atrophy linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new American study.
- A new study shows that xenon gas could have protective effects against Alzheimer’s disease.
- Rats with the disease that had breathed gas had, among other things, brain atrophy and less important neuroinflammation.
- A phase 1 clinical trial will be launched at the beginning of 2025.
The xenon, one of the rarest and most expensive noble gases, is not unknown to the world of health. It is used in imaging and anesthesia. Researchers from Mass General Brigham and Washington University School of Medicine of Saint-Louis have found another field of medical action possible on this gas.
Their study has shown that inhale on xenon could help fight Alzheimer’s disease. Their results were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine,, January 15, 2025.
Alzheimer’s disease: xenon gas displays a protective effect
“One of the main limits in the field of research and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is that it is extremely difficult to conceive of drugs that can cross the hemato-encephalic barrier, but the xenon gas is able to“explains Professor Oleg Butovsky, corresponding co-author of the study in a press release. It was by starting from this observation, that the scientist had the idea of using this gas – used as anesthetic and as a neuroprotector during brain damage – on rodents with Alzheimer’s disease.
The tests have shown that animals with neurodegenerative pathology having breathed from Xenon, presented less cerebral atrophy and neuroinflammation than others. In addition, an improvement in their nest construction behaviors was observed.
In addition, the inhalation of xenon gas induced and increased microglia response, immune cells protecting the brain.
“Together, these results identify the promising potential of xenon inhalation as therapeutic approach that could change microglial activity and reduce neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease“, Write the authors in their press release.
Xenon and Alzheimer’s: a clinical trial in preparation
Faced with these very encouraging results, scientists decided to launch a phase 1 clinical trial this year. They will take advantage of this new experience which will be carried out with human volunteers, to determine the mechanisms by which xenon gas produces its protective effects against Alzheimer’s, as well as its potential to deal with other disorders such as multiple sclerosis, the disease of Charcot or even eye pathologies involving the loss of neurons.
“If the clinical trial is going well, the possibilities for using xenon gas are numerous”assures Dr Howard Weiner, co-author of the study on rats and principal researcher of the upcoming clinical trial. “This could open the way to new treatments to help patients with neurological diseases.”
