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.

  • MinnesotaGoddam@lemmy.worldEnglish
    20·
    4 days ago

    Didn’t the amyloid-beta model get disproven? I am not following AD research that closely (I follow DBS research in neuro) but I remember reading a specific model (one that most of the research was tied up in) was disproven and it’s why none of the mouse models were working on humans.

    edit: what timing. I just popped back on here and saw @ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world posted this article. I can’t vouch for its contents as i’m not an AD researcher, but i think it’s what i’m remembering

    • ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      4 days ago

      Thanks. From the article:

      One of its biggest mysteries is also its most distinctive feature: the plaques and other protein deposits that German pathologist Alois Alzheimer linked to the disease in 1906. In 1984, Aβ was identified as the main component of the plaques. And in 1991, researchers traced family-linked Alzheimer’s to mutations in the gene for a precursor protein from which amyloid derives.

      I haven’t checked all the sources, but the Aβ model predates the fraudulent papers, which were focused on the Aβ*56 “toxic oligomer” species. However, the model wasn’t looking too hot before hand, and it really resuscitated it. Now yeah, it may have been a zombie

    • elucubra@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      4·
      4 days ago

      I seem to remeber that the Amyloid plaques are now considered caused by whatever causes Alzheimers, but are not the cause.