Longevity & AgingScientists Identify Hidden Alzheimer's Enzyme IDOL and Successfully Shut It Down
Researchers at Indiana University have discovered a new Alzheimer's drug target: an enzyme called IDOL. In animal studies, deleting IDOL from neurons significantly reduced amyloid plaques — the protein clumps central to Alzheimer's — and lowered levels of APOE, the strongest known genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's. The study also found increases in receptors that support neuron communication and healthy lipid metabolism in the brain. Unlike existing FDA-approved drugs lecanemab and donanemab, which primarily slow plaque buildup, targeting IDOL could offer a complementary strategy that also strengthens the brain's natural defenses. The findings were published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, the journal of the Alzheimer's Association.
