How young blood could help tackle Alzheimer's disease?
Pumping young blood into the elderly may help ward off the symptoms of dementia, according to a recent study. It's called as "Vampire therapy"
Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have reported success in an early-phase clinical trial examining the safety, tolerability, and feasibility of administering infusions of blood plasma from young donors to participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. There were also some signs suggesting improvements in participants' conditions.
The trial took place at Stanford Hospital and proceeded in two stages. In the first stage, nine participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease were given four weekly infusions either of plasma -- the liquid, cell-free part of blood -- obtained from donors 18-30 years old, or of placebo (a saline solution). Neither the participants nor those administering the infusions knew which of the two infusions any given participant was getting. Then, after a six-week "washout" period, the regimens were reversed: Those initially receiving plasma got four weekly infusions of placebo, and vice versa.
Only one reported any side-effects - and that was excessive itching, a common complaint among people who have received donor blood.
The findings were presented at the annual Clinical Trial on Alzheimer's Disease conference in Boston, United States.
(source - deccanchronicle, indiatoday)