A group of American researchers have recently discovered that hydrogen sulfide — the foul-smelling gas released when one farts — may help protect aging brain cells from cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease, which affects nearly five lakh new patients annually in the US.
The study, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggested that hydrogen sulfide acts as a critical signaling molecule inside cells, influencing processes linked to aging and neurodegeneration. “Our new data firmly link aging, neurodegeneration, and cell signaling using hydrogen sulfide and other gaseous molecules within the cell,” said Dr Bindu Paul, associate professor and co-author of the study.
Hydrogen sulphide and genetically engineered mice
Scientists tested genetically engineered mice that mimic human Alzheimer’s disease. The rodents were injected with NaGYY — a compound that slowly releases hydrogen sulfide throughout the body. After 12 weeks, behavioral tests revealed a dramatic improvement: memory and motor function increased by nearly 50 percent compared to untreated mice. The treated mice were more active and displayed better recall.
“The results showed that the behavioral outcomes of Alzheimer’s disease could be reversed by introducing hydrogen sulfide,” the research team noted.
Why the study matters
The human body naturally produces small amounts of hydrogen sulfide to regulate vital functions, including cell metabolism and blood vessel dilation. But, levels decline with age, and this reduction is linked to harmful protein interactions in the brain. When hydrogen sulfide is absent, an enzyme called glycogen synthase beta binds excessively to Tau proteins, causing clumps that block communication between neurons — a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.
By restoring hydrogen sulfide levels, researchers were able to prevent this cascade, offering hope for future therapies. “Understanding the cascade of events is important to designing therapies that can block this interaction like hydrogen sulfide is able to do,” said Daniel Giovinazzo, first author of the study.
Stinky secret with potential
Typically considered poisonous and corrosive, hydrogen sulfide’s reputation may soon change. Previous research even found that female flatulence contains higher concentrations of the gas than men’s, giving it “greater odour intensity," the New York Post reported. While the idea of smelling your own farts as brain therapy may sound bizarre, scientists say the discovery opens doors to drugs that mimic this natural process — without the smell.
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