There are no identified cures for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and effective treatment options for those affected are very limited. However, studies in both animal models and humans suggest that physical activity, especially endurance exercise, can improve cognitive function in part by reducing neuroinflammation. Identifying secreted mediators driving the cognitive benefits of exercise holds great promise for the treatment of cognitive decline in aging or AD.

We have previously shown that the novel exercise hormone irisin is sufficient to confer the exercise benefits on cognitive function. Genetic deletion of irisin impairs cognitive function in exercise, aging, and AD. Importantly, elevation of circulating irisin levels by peripheral delivery using a gene therapy approach, results in enrichment of central irisin and is sufficient to improve both the cognitive deficit and neuroinflammation in AD mouse models. This project seeks to evaluate the potential of recombinant irisin as a treatment for AD using mouse models. If proven successful, irisin would be the first drug to harness the neuroprotective effects of exercise.