Smelling your own farts could protect you from Alzheimer’s, study claims

A new study suggests that exposure to hydrogen sulfide, a gas naturally produced by the human body and released during flatulence, could help protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that hydrogen sulfide may shield aging brain cells from neurodegeneration, a key driver of cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed in roughly 500,000 new patients each year in the United States.

The findings were published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and focus on how declining levels of hydrogen sulfide may contribute to neurological damage over time.

According to the research team, hydrogen sulfide plays a role in regulating cellular signaling in the brain. As people age, the body’s ability to produce the compound decreases, potentially leaving neurons more vulnerable to damage.

To test the effects, researchers used genetically modified mice designed to mimic Alzheimer’s disease in humans. The mice were treated with a hydrogen sulfide-releasing compound known as NaGYY, which slowly distributes the gas throughout the body.

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After 12 weeks of treatment, the mice underwent a series of cognitive and motor tests. The treated group showed a 50% improvement in both memory and physical function compared to untreated mice.

Researchers also observed increased activity levels and stronger memory performance in the mice that received the hydrogen sulfide compound.

“The results showed that the behavioral outcomes of Alzheimer’s disease could be reversed by introducing hydrogen sulfide,” the research team said.

Why hydrogen sulfide matters

The human body naturally produces small amounts of hydrogen sulfide to help regulate various biological processes. An enzyme called glycogen synthase kinase beta plays a key role in maintaining this balance.

When hydrogen sulfide levels drop, that enzyme can bind too closely with a protein known as Tau. Excessive Tau binding causes clumps to form inside neurons, blocking communication between nerve cells and eventually leading to cell death.

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“This leads to the deterioration and eventual loss of cognition, memory, and motor function,” the researchers explained.

Previous studies have also shown that hydrogen sulfide concentrations vary, with some research suggesting female flatulence contains higher levels of the compound than male flatulence.

What this could mean for future treatments

While the study was conducted on mice, researchers say the results open the door to developing new drugs that deliver hydrogen sulfide in controlled ways.

Rather than relying on natural production alone, future treatments could target declining hydrogen sulfide levels to slow or reverse neurodegenerative damage linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

The research team emphasized that further studies are needed to determine whether the same effects can be replicated safely and effectively in humans.