Hydrogen Water Shows Promise for Alzheimer's Disease in Mice
Hydrogen-rich water ameliorates neuropathological impairments in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease through reducing neuroinflammation and modulating intestinal microbiota
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Digestive System
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Yi-Tong Lin, Qing-Qing Shi, Lei Zhang, Cai-Ping Yue, Zhi-Jun He, Xue-Xia Li, Qian-Jun He, Qiong Liu, Xiu-Bo Du
- Journal
- Neural Regeneration Research
- Year
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.4103/1673-5374.317992
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Body System
- Nervous System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
TL;DR
Drinking hydrogen-rich water helped improve brain health and reduce Alzheimer's disease symptoms in mice.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich water prevented synaptic loss, reduced amyloid plaques and tau pathology, and improved brain energy metabolism in mice with Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms.
Summary
Researchers gave genetically modified mice that develop Alzheimer's disease symptoms hydrogen-rich water for 7 months. The treatment reduced brain damage markers like amyloid plaques (sticky protein buildups) and tau tangles (twisted protein structures), protected nerve cells from dying, and improved the balance of bacteria in the mice's intestines while reducing brain inflammation.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage mouse study suggests hydrogen-rich water may have potential for Alzheimer's disease, but results from animal studies often don't translate to humans. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed before any health claims could be made. The non-invasive delivery method (drinking water) is promising compared to previous injection approaches, but effectiveness and safety in people remain unknown.
Abstract (excerpt)
Hydrogen exhibits the potential to treat Alzheimer's disease. Stereotactic injection has been previously used as an invasive method of administering active hydrogen, but this method has limitations in clinical practice. In this study, triple transgenic (3×Tg) Alzheimer's disease mice were treated…