Blankenship Anneka E, Kemna Riley, Kueck Paul J, John Casey, Vitztum Michelle, Yoksh Lauren, Mahnken Jonathan D, Vidoni Eric D, Morris Jill K, Geiger Paige C
University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Fairway, Kansas, United States.
Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States.
J Appl Physiol (1985). 2025 Mar 1;138(3):720-730. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00396.2024. Epub 2025 Jan 19.
Impaired glycemic control increases the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Heat therapy (HT), via hot water immersion (HWI), has shown promise in improving shared mechanisms implicated in both T2D and AD, like blood glucose regulation, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation. The potential for HT to improve brain health in individuals at risk for AD has not been examined. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility and adherence of using HT in cognitively healthy older individuals at risk for AD due to existing metabolic risk factors. Participants underwent 4 wk of HT (three sessions/week) via HWI, alongside cognitive screening, self-reported sleep characterization, glucose tolerance tests, and MRI scans pre- and postintervention. A total of 18 participants (9 males, 9 females; mean age: 71.1 ± 3.9 yr), demonstrating metabolic risk, completed the intervention. Participant adherence for the study was 96% (8 missed sessions out of 216 total sessions), with one study-related mild adverse event (mild dizziness/nausea). Overall, the research participants responded to a postintervention survey saying they enjoyed participating in the study and it was not a burden on their schedules. Secondary outcomes of the HT intervention demonstrated significant changes in mean arterial pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and cerebral blood flow ( < 0.05), with a trend toward improved body mass index ( = 0.06). Future studies, including longer durations and a thermoneutral control group, are needed to fully understand heat therapy's impact on glucose homeostasis and the potential to improve brain health. Our pilot study demonstrated promising results for heat therapy (HT) via hot water immersion in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease due to metabolic factors. Despite a relatively short intervention, significant improvements in mean arterial pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and cerebral blood flow postintervention were observed. High participant adherence, overall satisfaction, and minimal adverse events suggest HT's feasibility. These findings highlight HT's potential as an effective alternative intervention for cardiometabolic dysfunction in at-risk populations.
血糖控制受损会增加2型糖尿病（T2D）和阿尔茨海默病（AD）的风险。热疗法（HT），即通过热水浸泡（HWI），已显示出有望改善T2D和AD中涉及的共同机制，如血糖调节、胰岛素敏感性和炎症。HT对有AD风险个体的大脑健康改善潜力尚未得到研究。这项初步研究旨在评估在因现有代谢风险因素而有AD风险的认知健康老年人中使用HT的可行性和依从性。参与者通过HWI接受了4周的HT（每周三次），同时进行认知筛查、自我报告的睡眠特征描述、葡萄糖耐量测试以及干预前后的MRI扫描。共有18名表现出代谢风险的参与者（9名男性，9名女性；平均年龄：71.1±3.9岁）完成了干预。参与者对该研究的依从性为96%（216次总疗程中错过8次），有1起与研究相关的轻度不良事件（轻度头晕/恶心）。总体而言，研究参与者在干预后的调查中表示他们喜欢参与该研究，且这对他们的日程安排来说不是负担。HT干预的次要结果显示平均动脉压、舒张压和脑血流量有显著变化（<0.05），体重指数有改善趋势（=0.06）。需要进一步的研究，包括更长的疗程和热中性对照组，以充分了解热疗法对葡萄糖稳态的影响以及改善大脑健康的潜力。我们的初步研究表明，对于因代谢因素而有患阿尔茨海默病风险的老年人，通过热水浸泡进行热疗法（HT）取得了有前景的结果。尽管干预时间相对较短，但干预后平均动脉压、舒张压和脑血流量有显著改善。高参与者依从性、总体满意度和极少的不良事件表明HT具有可行性。这些发现突出了HT作为高危人群心脏代谢功能障碍有效替代干预措施的潜力。
