Longevity & AgingCopper Drug Slashes Alzheimer's Proteins by 42% and Restores Memory in Lab
Researchers at Monash University found that a copper-based drug called Cu(ATSM) dramatically reduced toxic amyloid-beta proteins in the brain and improved memory in animal models. The compound works by boosting P-glycoprotein pumps in the blood-brain barrier — the system responsible for flushing harmful waste out of the brain. In Alzheimer's, these pumps become inefficient, letting amyloid plaques accumulate. Over 56 days, Cu(ATSM) increased pump activity by 24%, reduced amyloid buildup by 42%, and improved spatial learning by nearly 44%. Crucially, this drug has already been tested in humans for Parkinson's and ALS, potentially accelerating its path to Alzheimer's clinical trials.
