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Laromestrocel preserves brain volume and cognitive function in Alzheimers disease by inhibiting neuroinflammation
Rash, B. G.; Levitina, S.; Botbyl, J.; Conklin, C.; Ingalhalikar, M.; Hare, J. M.. medRxiv (preprint), 2026-09-17
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Neuroinflammation is a principal driver of brain atrophy and cognitive decline in Alzheimers disease (AD). Here we show that laromestrocel, a mesenchymal stem cell therapy, inhibits progressive brain inflammation in subjects (n=49) with mild AD, with the strongest effect seen in core AD brain regions: the left hippocampus (25 million cells (M)x4 monthly dose group; p<0.001, N=11, and 100Mx4 group; p<0.001; N=10), the left temporal cortex (25Mx4 group; p=0.007; N=11) and left parietal cortex (25Mx4, week 26; p=0.042; N=10), and the medulla (25Mx4 group and 100Mx4; p=0.007; N=11 and N=10) after 39 weeks compared with placebo (N=9). Reduced neuroinflammation correlated with reduced brain atrophy (hippocampus: R=-0.326; p=0.040; N=40) and improvements in clinical scores, particularly cognitive function (hippocampus x MoCA: R=-0.401; p=0.011; N=40). Treated subjects also exhibited reduced neurogranin (25Mx4 group; p=0.023; N=11) in blood plasma, consistent with reduced synaptic loss. Finally, blood biomarker analysis supported a convergent multimodal mechanism of action implicating peripheral immune engagement. Together these results show that long-lasting anti-neuroinflammatory effects of laromestrocel mitigate AD brain inflammation and are associated with markedly reduced brain tissue destruction and improved clinical function.
Key findings
- Here we show that laromestrocel, a mesenchymal stem cell therapy, inhibits progressive brain inflammation in subjects (n=49) with mild AD, with the strongest effect seen in core AD brain regions: the left hippocampus (25 million cells (M)x4 monthly dose group; p<0.001, N=11, and 100Mx4 group; p<0.001; N=10), the left temporal cortex (25Mx4 group; p=0.007; N=11) and left parietal cortex (25Mx4, week 26; p=0.042; N=10), and the medulla (25Mx4 group and 100Mx4; p=0.007; N=11 and N=10) after 39 weeks compared with placebo (N=9).
- Together these results show that long-lasting anti-neuroinflammatory effects of laromestrocel mitigate AD brain inflammation and are associated with markedly reduced brain tissue destruction and improved clinical function.
Why it matters
In a small study of 49 people with mild Alzheimer's disease, a stem cell therapy called laromestrocel was linked to less brain inflammation, less brain shrinkage, and better cognitive scores compared with placebo. These are early results from a small sample, and larger trials are needed to confirm whether the treatment is safe and effective.
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Study details
- Participants49
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 16/100
Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. It scored 27 on the same rubric, but non-peer-reviewed sources are capped at 16, so it shows as 16. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on impact for its field and year, so that was left out: it earned 25 of the 94 points we could judge it on, which is 27 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 2 / 10 | Tier 4 — not a peer-reviewed journal (medRxiv (preprint)) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Not a journal article, so the journal's record does not count |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 4 / 10 | Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed. Hosted on a preprint server. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 49 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Joshua M. Hare: h-index 116 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Miami: institution h-index 998 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 25 / 94 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 25 of the 94 points we could judge it on is 27 out of 100. |
| Total | 27 / 100 | Capped to 16 because this is not a peer-reviewed article. |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Rash, B. G., Levitina, S., Botbyl, J., Conklin, C., Ingalhalikar, M., & Hare, J. M. (2026). Laromestrocel preserves brain volume and cognitive function in Alzheimers disease by inhibiting neuroinflammation. medRxiv (preprint). https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.16.26363132
Vancouver
Rash BG, Levitina S, Botbyl J, Conklin C, Ingalhalikar M, Hare JM. Laromestrocel preserves brain volume and cognitive function in Alzheimers disease by inhibiting neuroinflammation. medRxiv (preprint). 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.09.16.26363132.
BibTeX
@article{rash2026-3d07c8bf,
author = {Rash, B. G. and Levitina, S. and Botbyl, J. and Conklin, C. and Ingalhalikar, M. and Hare, J. M.},
title = {{Laromestrocel preserves brain volume and cognitive function in Alzheimers disease by inhibiting neuroinflammation}},
journal = {medRxiv (preprint)},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.16.26363132},
url = {https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.16.26363132}
}