Perspective: Is therapeutic plasma exchange a viable option for treating Alzheimer’s disease? | Lifespan Edge

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Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is being explored as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to remove toxic or aging-related factors from the blood. Preclinical studies showed that injecting plasma from young mice into AD mice improved cognitive function, even though it did not reduce brain amyloid plaques. Early clinical trials, including a small study with nine AD patients and a larger 14-month study with 322 AD patients, indicated that multiple infusions of plasma enriched with albumin, with or without immunoglobulins, could slow cognitive and functional decline, particularly in moderately affected AD patients. Trials with plasma fractions containing beneficial proteins are also ongoing. While these initial results are promising, further large-scale, rigorous studies are necessary to confirm the benefits of plasma exchange and evaluate the potential risks associated with repetitive infusions.