Sauna-like conditions or menthol treatment reduce tau phosphorylation through mild hyperthermia

Association between lower body temperature and increased tau pathology in cognitively normal older adults

“…Thermal interventions in older adults, for example hot baths or saunas, could prevent NFT formation. More frequent sauna bathing in middle-aged men is associated with halving of the risk of dementia in later years ( Knekt et al, 2020 ), and in mice, sauna-like treatment robustly reduces tau phosphorylation via inducing mild hyperthermia ( Guisle et al, 2022 ). Finally, targeting exercise toward raising Tb could help reverse some causes of hypothermia in older adults, including sedentary lifestyle and decreased muscle mass ( Weitzman et al, 1982 ; Kenney and Munce, 2003 ; Blatteis, 2012 ; Gomolin et al, 2005 ; Weinert, 2010 ; Van Someren et al, 2002 ; Waalen and Buxbaum, 2011 ).…”

Plasmalogens and platelet‐activating factor roles in chronic inflammatory diseases

“…In addition, while the interactions between cardiolipins and Pls are still largely elusive, a role for their crosstalk between the peroxisomes and mitochondria was involved in thermogenesis 122 . Emerging findings further indicate that promoting thermoregulation during aging and in neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD and PD, could be beneficial in dampening oxidative stress, inflammation, and normalizing metabolism 123–126 . The strategies that could be employed involve cold or hot exposure (e.g., sauna), but also the modulation of brown adipose tissue activity using pharmacological agents 123–126 …”

“…122 Emerging findings further indicate that promoting thermoregulation during aging and in neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD and PD, could be beneficial in dampening oxidative stress, inflammation, and normalizing metabolism. [123][124][125][126] The strategies that could be employed involve cold or hot exposure (e.g., sauna), but also the modulation of brown adipose tissue activity using pharmacological agents. [123][124][125][126] Determining how particular Pls species can be modulated by supplements combined with lifestyle interventions, together with their outcomes on immunity including microglia 99,109 and overall health, notably via potential anti-PAF activity, 2 emerges as an important research avenue.…”

Cold stimuli, hot topic: An updated review on the biological activity of menthol in relation to inflammation

“…Menthol has been shown to increase the activation of dopaminergic neurons, but also decrease neuronal firing in cellular studies, suggesting that additional effects on the stimulation of dopaminergic neurons may also be relevant in Parkinson’s disease ( 66 , 67 ). In terms of Alzheimer’s disease, research indicates that menthol therapy that pharmacologically raises body temperature also results in a reduction in tau phosphorylation in the brain, but not in conjunction with an inflammatory response ( 68 ). However, this is an area that requires further exploration, given the relative paucity of literature on menthol’s effects on neuroinflammatory pathways.…”