Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr set the internet ablaze when a video surfaced of him using methylene blue while on a flight.

Methylene blue is just now getting widespread attention, however, according to The New York Post:

In recent years, celebrities, wellness influencers and biohackers have touted methylene blue for several off-label uses, claiming it can boost energy levels and metabolism, enhance cognitive function and combat aging — though evidence remains limited.

Early research suggests that methylene blue may have antioxidant properties that help reduce toxic proteins in the brain, potentially aiding in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Some studies also indicate that the drug may help delay skin aging by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, reducing cellular damage and promoting wound healing. 

WHAT IS METHYLENE BLUE?

First used in the 1800s as a textile dye, visionary physician Paul Ehrlich discovered methylene blue’s antimicrobial properties against malaria—making this the first synthetic drug in modern medicine. Today, this century-old compound is FDA-approved for methemoglobinemia (a condition in which the blood can’t carry oxygen properly) but has garnered renewed interest for its off-label applications, particularly in enhancing mitochondrial function, combating neurodegenerative diseases, and as adjunct treatment of long COVID.

How methylene blue works and its “off-label” uses:

1. Energy Backup:Methylene blue acts like a “backup generator” for your cells’ energy factories (mitochondria). When part of the energy production line (specifically “Complex I”) breaks down—due to toxins, disease, or aging—methylene blue moves electrons directly to later stages of the energy-making process, allowing cells to keep producing energy (ATP) even when parts of the system are damaged.
2. Oxidative Stress Reduction:It acts like a molecular sponge, soaking up harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage cells. By neutralizing these destructive molecules, it reduces oxidative stress—a key contributor to aging and diseases like Alzheimer’s. It also blocks caspase-6, an enzyme that drives brain inflammation and kills neurons in Alzheimer’s patients. Think of it as a two-in-one protector: it calms oxidative damage while stopping the enzyme that fuels brain cell death.

Promising Off-Label Applications:

• Neurodegenerative diseases:Low doses enhance cerebral metabolism, improving outcomes in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s models. It also reduces swelling in traumatic brain injury victims.
• Chronic fatigue and Long COVID:Due to its ability to reduce oxidative stress and promote mitochondrial function, methylene blue shows promise in relieving long COVID symptoms.
• Septic shock and vasoplegic syndrome:By inhibiting nitric oxide synthase, it restores vascular tone.
• Malaria adjunct therapy:It disrupts Plasmodium metabolism, reducing parasitemia.