New Drug Developed to Activate Brain’s Cleaning System in Alzheimer’s Patients

June 16, Kathmandu – A newly developed copper-based drug has been shown to clear toxic proteins accumulated in the brain and improve memory in patients, according to recent research. Scientists at Monash University in Australia found through laboratory tests that a copper compound named ‘Cu(ATSM)’ reactivates the brain’s waste disposal system, which is impaired in Alzheimer’s disease. This action prevents the buildup of harmful amyloid-beta proteins and helps restore cognitive function.

This drug has already undergone human trials for neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and ALS, raising hopes that clinical trials for Alzheimer’s could begin soon. In Alzheimer’s, toxic amyloid-beta proteins progressively accumulate in the brain. These proteins are normally cleared by specialized P-glycoprotein (P-gp) pumps located at the blood-brain barrier. However, when these pumps cease functioning in patients, waste accumulates in the brain, damaging neurons.

According to Dr. Jay Pyun, lead author from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, after 56 days of treatment, the presence of these pumps increased by 24 percent, while toxic protein levels dropped by 42 percent. As a result, lab mice showed approximately 44 percent improvement in learning and memory abilities. Researchers also noted that the drug’s benefits extend beyond pump repair — it stimulates microglial cells, the brain’s immune cells, which destroy toxic plaques.

Senior Professor Joseph Nicolazzo, part of the research team, stated that safety tests for the drug have already been completed and it represents a promising new therapeutic pathway for patients showing early signs of Alzheimer’s. Given that dementia and Alzheimer’s are leading causes of death worldwide, especially in Australia, this breakthrough is regarded as a significant advancement in medical science.