A new study could change the way scientists approach dementia and Alzheimer's treatment.
Researchers at Duke University found a way to stop mice from developing dementia, BBC News reports. The scientists found that by blocking immune cells from breaking down arginine, an amino acid, they were able to stop the mice's immune systems from attacking nutrients. The researchers believe arginine deprivation could contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
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"All of this suggests to us that if you can block this local process of amino acid deprivation, then you can protect the mouse, at least, from Alzheimer's disease," Dr. Matthew Kan, one of the study researchers, told BBC News. "We see this study opening the doors to thinking about Alzheimer's in a completely different way, to break the stalemate of ideas in Alzheimer's disease."
There are no drugs on the market to treat Alzheimer's disease, which affected as many as five million Americans in 2013.
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