Researchers at the University of Oulu tested whether a vibrating mattress and nitric-oxide-releasing pills could clear Alzheimer’s-related proteins from the brain.
The study involved 29 healthy adults ranging in age from 27 to 61 years. Participants lay on a vibrating mattress for 40 minutes while taking two nitric-oxide-releasing sublingual pills. The intervention aimed to stimulate the glymphatic system, a network of fluid-filled channels surrounding brain blood vessels that transports metabolic waste out of the brain.
While Alzheimer’s is a multi-factor condition, many scientists point to the buildup of a protein called amyloid-β in the brain as a major cause. The brain relies on a waste-disposal network known as the glymphatic system, but this natural clearance process tends to worsen with age, contributing to the accumulation of harmful proteins linked to neurodegenerative disorders.
Vesa Kiviniemi of the University of Oulu and colleagues explored whether combining gentle mechanical vibrations with controlled blood pressure reduction could activate this system. The treatment made use of sublingual pills that release nitric oxide, which widens blood vessels, and they also used a vibrating mattress to activate a pressure-sensing channel called Piezo1.
Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging, physiological measurements, and blood tests to monitor changes during the session. None of the 29 participants carried a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or diagnosed cognitive impairment prior to the trial. However, six participants reported experiencing mild nausea or a headache following the combined intervention.
Blood Biomarker Changes
Blood levels of beta-amyloid 42 rose by an average of 35 percent following the combined treatment. Researchers associated the rise in these circulating proteins with enhanced clearance from the brain into the bloodstream.
Kiviniemi’s team interprets the rise in circulating beta-amyloid 42 as evidence that more of the protein successfully moved from the brain tissue into the bloodstream. However, an alternative explanation from an outside researcher complicates the team’s interpretation.
Christopher Brown of the University of Southampton suggested that the liver may simply have broken down the protein more slowly than usual. Investigators also said that the temporary elevation in blood concentrations could partly stem from changes in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier rather than active brain waste removal alone.
The study also highlights important clinical considerations regarding safety. Nitroglycerin lowers blood pressure, so its use would not be suitable for everyone.
Looking ahead, Kiviniemi’s team hopes to test the combined approach in a planned 60-person study involving individuals who have mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. If that upcoming trial produces a positive result, a longer investigation lasting several months could assess whether repeated treatments can achieve sustained changes in brain pathology and measurable gains in memory or problem-solving capabilities.