A small human trial published in Nature Communications found that combining whole-body vibrations with nitric oxide pills increased blood beta-amyloid 42 levels by 35 percent.
Professor Vesa Kiviniemi of the University of Oulu led the study. He suggests the combination may boost the glymphatic system, a network of fluid channels that clears metabolic waste from brain cells.
Researchers tested 29 healthy volunteers who had no diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive impairment. Participants took two sublingual pills that release nitric oxide and spent 40 minutes on a vibrating mattress, according to Yahoo Health.
The treatment increased concentrations of several low molecular weight brain-derived proteins in the blood. These included beta-amyloid 40, beta-amyloid 42, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), as reported by Nature.
Using the mattress or the pills individually produced less than half the effect of the combined protocol. This suggests the two methods work together to amplify the pulsation that drives glymphatic clearance, geekspin reported.
Mechanical vibrations may activate Piezo1, a motion-sensitive protein in blood vessel walls. Nitric oxide helps relax and widen those vessels. This combination could increase pressure on the fluid to move it more quickly through glymphatic channels, according to geekspin.
Brain scans revealed changes in fluid flow and protein concentrations around large veins at the back of the brain. Johanna Tuunanen, a biomedical engineer from the University of Oulu, noted that harmful proteins were cleared from the brain more efficiently than usual, News-Medical reported.
The effect largely resembled the physiological changes we have previously observed during sleep. This makes the finding particularly interesting as a way of enhancing the brain’s own clearance mechanisms,
Johanna Tuunanen, biomedical engineer from the University of Oulu
Increased blood protein levels are an encouraging biomarker. However, researchers noted the findings should be interpreted cautiously regarding the exact movement of solutes from the brain to blood circulation, HuffPost UK reported.
Lying on a vibrating mattress for 40 minutes, combined with taking two pills that release nitric oxide into the body, enhanced the clearance of an Alzheimer's-related protein via the brain's waste-disposal system https://t.co/O1sMB8MFKN
Nitric oxide can lower blood pressure, Kiviniemi cautioned. This may cause loss of consciousness in individuals who already have low blood pressure, Yahoo Health reported.
The study was a small trial in healthy adults. It did not measure reductions in Alzheimer’s symptoms or dementia risk.
Christopher Brown of the University of Southampton was not involved in the research. He suggested the increased protein in the blood could result from the liver breaking down the protein more slowly rather than increased brain clearance, New Scientist reported.
The research team plans to test the approach in 60 people with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease, Yahoo reported.
Earlier coverage: Cinaciguat Reduces Amyloid Beta Levels by 50 Percent in Aged Rats