A copper-based compound restored the brain’s ability to clear toxic Alzheimer’s proteins, dramatically reducing amyloid buildup and improving memory in laboratory experiments. The findings point to a potentially fast-tracked new treatment strategy because the drug has already been tested in humans for other neurological conditions.

“This is the first study to show that [the compound] Cu(ATSM) can increase the abundance of P-gp clearance pumps in an Alzheimer’s model, by 24.1 percent, effectively linking the repair of the blood-brain barrier to a reduction in toxic proteins and improved cognitive function,” Dr. Pyun said.

“By improving the pumps, the brain can finally clear out the trapped waste. Over 56 days, the treatment reduced toxic amyloid-beta by 42 percent and improved spatial learning by nearly 44 percent.”

“Cu(ATSM) is a copper compound with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties that has already progressed to clinical testing for conditions like Parkinson’s and ALS,” Professor Nicolazzo said.

  • spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
    361·
    2 days ago

    Since it’s already in clinical trials for ALS and Parkinson’s, hopefully testing for Alzheimer’s can be done much more quickly than otherwise would be possible.

    • MinnesotaGoddam@lemmy.worldEnglish
      211·
      2 days ago

      Clinical trials for als are a crapshoot. They’ll approve anything for a trial because what can it hurt

      Source: dad was in the radicava trial. Can’t prove it, but he went fast. Probably faster than he would have without. They excluded him from the dataset because he was inconvenient.