Clinical AdvisorIrisin May Reduce Plaque and Tau Tangle in Alzheimer Disease Model

Neprilysin is an amyloid-β-degrading enzyme that has been found to be elevated in the brains of mice with AD.

In an eye-opening study, researchers have discovered that the exercise-induced hormone, irisin, may play a significant role in reducing amyloid-β deposits, a key characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This discovery opens up new avenues for the prevention and treatment of AD.

Key Points

• Irisin, an exercise-induced hormone, significantly reduces the deposition of amyloid-β in a mouse model.
• The research team from Massachusetts General Hospital developed a 3D human cell culture model of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Irisin treatment led to a remarkable reduction of amyloid-β pathology.
• This effect of irisin was attributable to increased neprilysin activity owing to increased levels of neprilysin secreted from cells in the brain called astrocytes.
• Neprilysin is an amyloid-β-degrading enzyme that has been found to be elevated in the brains of mice with AD.
• The researchers uncovered the mechanisms behind irisin’s link to reduced amyloid beta levels.

“Our findings indicate that irisin is a major mediator of exercise-induced increases in neprilysin levels leading to reduced amyloid-β burden, suggesting a new target pathway for therapies aimed at the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.”
— Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, a senior author of the study and director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit

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