Copper Drug Improves Alzheimer's Memory

Researchers at Monash University, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, have identified a promising new approach to treating Alzheimer's disease using a copper-based drug, Copper(II) diacetylbis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone). Published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, the study demonstrates that Copper(II) diacetylbis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) not only reduced the buildup of toxic amyloid-beta proteins by 42% but also improved long-term spatial memory by nearly 44% in laboratory models. The drug works by repairing P-glycoprotein (P-gp) pumps in the blood-brain barrier, which are crucial for removing waste products from the brain. This is the first study to directly link the repair of the blood-brain barrier to a reduction in toxic proteins and improved cognitive function. A key advantage of Copper(II) diacetylbis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) is that it has already undergone safety testing for other neurological conditions such as Parkinson s disease and ALS, potentially expediting its transition to human clinical trials for Alzheimer's. While previous human trials for ALS were inconclusive, the strong preclinical results provide a compelling rationale for further investigation into its potential for Alzheimer's disease, a condition with a growing global health challenge.