(Dreamstime)Researchers at Monash University in Australia say a copper-based drug may help the brain clear toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease while improving memory.
When this system weakens, amyloid-beta can accumulate and contribute to the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
“Because reducing amyloid burden is clinically proven to improve functional outcomes, these preclinical results strongly support the rationale for testing this drug in early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease,” said Nicolazzo.
While the compound reduced amyloid buildup, researchers are still mapping the exact biological routes the proteins take to leave the brain.
Beyond repairing the blood-brain barrier, the researchers suspect the copper treatment may empower the brain’s own immune cells, called microglia, to consume and degrade the toxic plaques.
Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Key takeaways Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
(Dreamstime)
Researchers at Monash University in Australia say a copper-based drug may help the brain clear toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease while improving memory.
In a preclinical study published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, the compound Cu(ATSM) appeared to restore part of the brain’s waste-removal system by increasing levels of P-glycoprotein, an important pump at the blood-brain barrier that helps move amyloid-beta proteins out of the brain. When this system weakens, amyloid-beta can accumulate and contribute to the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
According to a news release from Monash, after 56 days of treatment, researchers reported that Cu(ATSM) reduced toxic amyloid-beta levels by 42% and improved spatial learning by nearly 44% in laboratory experiments.
Advertisement Advertisement
Lead author and researcher Jae Pyun, of the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Studies, said the findings suggest the drug helps “clear out the trapped waste” by strengthening the brain’s clearance pumps to lower toxic protein levels. Joseph Nicolazzo, senior author of the study, said the compound could be a promising candidate for future Alzheimer’s studies because it has already undergone safety testing in other neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and ALS.
“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,” Nicolazzo said.
“Because reducing amyloid burden is clinically proven to improve functional outcomes, these preclinical results strongly support the rationale for testing this drug in early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease,” said Nicolazzo.
While the compound reduced amyloid buildup, researchers are still mapping the exact biological routes the proteins take to leave the brain. Beyond repairing the blood-brain barrier, the researchers suspect the copper treatment may empower the brain’s own immune cells, called microglia, to consume and degrade the toxic plaques.
Advertisement Advertisement
The researchers caution, however, that the findings are still based on laboratory models, and further studies will be needed to determine whether the approach is safe and effective for people with early Alzheimer’s disease.
© 2026 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.
