What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy? When asked the question: What do Platelets in the blood do? Most people say they have one function: to clot the blood. This answer is correct, but it is a tiny fraction of the functions platelets perform for us and our body.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative, minimally invasive procedure using a patient’s own blood platelets to accelerate healing in injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints, and skin.

It was originally used for musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., tennis elbow, arthritis), hair loss, and cosmetic facial rejuvenation but applications have spread to many other applications, including neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinsons where pain can affect symptoms. 

The process involves drawing blood, spinning it in a centrifuge, and injecting it into a part of the body that exhibits excessive inflammation.  The procedure promotes tissue repair and reduces pain. 

The procedure typically involves withdrawing blood from the patient which is then spun to create a concentrated body of platelets which are reinserted into the body. 

  • What it does: The high concentration of platelets (up to 10 times more than the concentration of platelets in a normal blood) releases growth factors. This  stimulates healing, reduces inflammation and supports tissue regeneration.

This concentration of platelets can be injected into places in the body that have a high inflammation and as a consequence pain.

  • The Procedure: A blood sample is taken from the patient, placed in a centrifuge for 15–30 minutes to concentrate the platelets, and then injected into the target area. Imaging guidance (like ultrasound) is often used for accuracy.

Research on Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

Neurochem Res. 2025 Mar 4;50(2):112. Systemic Rejuvenating Interventions: Perspectives on Neuroinflammation and Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity

Abstract

The aging process results in structural, functional, and immunological changes in the brain, which contribute to cognitive decline and increase vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and stroke-related complications. Aging leads to cognitive changes and also affect executive functions. Additionally, it causes neurogenic and neurochemical alterations, such as a decline in dopamine and acetylcholine levels, which also impact cognitive performance.

The chronic inflammation caused by aging contributes to the impairment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), contributing to the infiltration of immune cells and exacerbating neuronal damage. Rejuvenating therapies such as heterochronic parabiosis, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) administration, plasma, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and stem cell therapy have shown potential to reverse these changes, offering new perspectives in the treatment of age-related neurological diseases.