From Mitochondrial Function to Neuroprotection – An Emerging Role for Methylene Blue - PMC
/PMC/2026
Why It Matters
This caught my attention because mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in everything from aging to neurodegenerative diseases. If a dirt-cheap compound can actually improve brain cell energy metabolism, that's worth understanding. However, most evidence comes from cell cultures and animal models — human data is extremely limited.
Key Findings
- Methylene blue acts as an alternative electron carrier in mitochondria, bypassing complexes I and III where dysfunction often occurs in aging and disease
- In cell culture and animal models, low-dose methylene blue (0.5-4 mg/kg) improves memory and protects against neurotoxins
- The compound shows a hormetic dose-response: beneficial at low doses but potentially harmful at high doses, with the therapeutic window appearing narrow
- Animal studies show improved cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption, suggesting it may enhance brain energy metabolism beyond just mitochondrial effects
- Despite promising preclinical data, well-controlled human trials are scarce — most existing human data comes from small studies in specific conditions like bipolar disorder
Read the Paper↗PMC5826781