Scientists have successfully cured Alzheimer's disease in laboratory mice. An experiment conducted by researchers at the Catalan Institute of Bioengineering suggests that restoring the brain's natural protective functions can fully restore cognitive abilities lost to dementia.
Rather than targeting neurons directly, the research team decided to repair the blood-brain barrier—the brain's gatekeeper, which prevents toxins from entering and regulates metabolism. To do this, they used nanoparticles that mimic the LRP1 protein, which is responsible for clearing harmful substances.
The experiment was conducted in genetically modified mice with excessive accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ), a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The mice were given three doses of the new drug and monitored for six months. After just six months, the elderly mice behaved like completely healthy individuals.
The nanoparticles have proven effective as drugs, activating the brain's natural cleansing mechanisms and restoring balance. While these results are limited to animals, this approach, based on restoring vascular function, could lay the foundation for future research and potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease in humans.
