The researchers also suggest that irisin might have less of an effect on the brains of people with Alzheimer’s.
They showed that there were lower levels of the protein that irisin is made from in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s compared to people without the condition.
Yet, based on this evidence, there are still major questions. For one, we can’t be sure whether the irisin from our muscles can get into our brains to affect thinking and memory in the same way it does with mice.
The brains of people are very different from those of mice, so we can’t assume that what is true in mice will be true in humans.
The researchers say that irisin might one day represent a new way to reduce cognitive decline in people with dementia. Others have suggested that irisin could be a potential treatment for stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even polycystic ovary syndrome.
However, all of these claims are based on a handful of small studies, and there is still so much that we don’t know about irisin.
Only more good quality research will show whether this hormone could one day offer a new way to limit the effects of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
