197
Copper drug clears toxic Alzheimer’s proteins and restores memory (www.sciencedaily.com)
submitted 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago) by spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works to c/upliftingnews@lemmy.world
26 comments fedilink hide all child comments

"This is the first study to show that [the compound] Cu(ATSM) can increase the abundance of P-gp clearance pumps in an Alzheimer's model, by 24.1 percent, effectively linking the repair of the blood-brain barrier to a reduction in toxic proteins and improved cognitive function," Dr. Pyun said.

"By improving the pumps, the brain can finally clear out the trapped waste. Over 56 days, the treatment reduced toxic amyloid-beta by 42 percent and improved spatial learning by nearly 44 percent."

"Cu(ATSM) is a copper compound with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties that has already progressed to clinical testing for conditions like Parkinson's and ALS," Professor Nicolazzo said.

top 26 comments
sorted by: hot top new old
[-] qualia@lemmy.world 10 points 1 hour ago

CNS disease drugs (Alzheimer's, stroke, ALS) translate from mice to humans under 10% of the time. Mouse models like the referenced primary source are poor proxies as they're engineered for single, clean pathologies (e.g. one mutation), while human neurodegeneration is messier, multifactorial, and not fully replicated even when surface features like amyloid plaques appear.

[-] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 hour ago

Since it's already in clinical trials for ALS and Parkinson's, hopefully testing for Alzheimer's can be done much more quickly than otherwise would be possible.

[-] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 14 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Cool, so they'll get bought up by an Alzheimer's medicine company that produces a medicine that doesn't work, and we'll never hear of this breakthrough again.

Capitalism is great at killing off medicines that work, there's less profit in medicines that work.

[-] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 14 points 1 hour ago

produces a medicine that doesn't work

There's no reason to be needlessly jaded. Those companies would absolutely produce this if it worked, because you'd have to take it forever.

[-] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 minutes ago

The Internet is full of Dunning Kruger idiots who don't understand profit maximisation but believe they do.

[-] Greyghoster@aussie.zone 1 points 21 minutes ago

Capitalism is great for burying all sorts of innovative ideas and holding back progress so profits can be made using sunk investments.

[-] bluGill@fedia.io 17 points 2 hours ago

In mice.. Time will tell, but Alzheimer dugs have a poor history in human trials. Some of even suggested that the model this is working on is wrong and thus it cannot work.

[-] becausechemistry@piefed.social 2 points 26 minutes ago

Yeah. The trouble is that pretty much only humans get Alzheimer’s. In order to make a mouse model, we have to induce a disease state that looks like Alzheimer’s, at least to our best understanding. It’s not unreasonable that our mouse model is just not really representative of the actual disease in humans.

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 9 points 1 hour ago

Yeah but they finally discovered and recalled the fake study that drove them in entirely the wrong direction for decades.

[-] hot_mocha_decaf@lemmy.cafe 2 points 2 hours ago

I have this habit of sucking on pennies, helps clear my head. Maybe there's something to this.

[-] tempest@lemmy.ca 3 points 49 minutes ago* (last edited 49 minutes ago)

Very little copper in modern pennies, you should probably just supplement zinc. Helps with colds as well.

[-] WhyIHateTheInternet@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

Sounds like those hookey copper bands and junk they used to sell weren't hokum after all lol

Edit - /s

[-] Jessicat@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

That’s not how drugs work. Even if it worked in humans, they were not treating the mice through skin contact.

[-] JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 hour ago

I think he was making a joke...

[-] WhyIHateTheInternet@lemmy.world 3 points 1 hour ago

Lol I thought it was pretty obvious that was the case but based on the downvotes I should've clarified

[-] Jessicat@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

I was hoping it was a joke. Downvotes were not me.

[-] WhyIHateTheInternet@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

I'm not worried about it. Def a joke. Anyone buying those is the real joke. This drug did sound promising though. I hope it works, that stuff runs in my family and that's scary.

[-] Jessicat@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

Here’s to hoping for a treatment. Have a good one!

[-] Jessicat@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

Probable but I was reading an article about it last week where people actually believe that now and copper trinkets are being peddled online.

[-] WhyIHateTheInternet@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

No, it was a joke lol

this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2026
197 points (99.0% liked)

Uplifting News

19173 readers
278 users here now

Welcome to /c/UpliftingNews (rules), a dedicated space where optimism and positivity converge to bring you the most heartening and inspiring stories from around the world. We strive to curate and share content that lights up your day, invigorates your spirit, and inspires you to spread positivity in your own way. This is a sanctuary for those seeking a break from the incessant negativity and rage (e.g. schadenfreude) often found in today's news cycle. From acts of everyday kindness to large-scale philanthropic efforts, from individual achievements to community triumphs, we bring you news—in text form or otherwise—that gives hope, fosters empathy, and strengthens the belief in humanity's capacity for good, from a quality outlet that does not publish bad copies of copies of copies.

Here in /c/UpliftingNews, we uphold the values of respect, empathy, and inclusivity, fostering a supportive and vibrant community. We encourage you to share your positive news, comment, engage in uplifting conversations, and find solace in the goodness that exists around us. We are more than a news-sharing platform; we are a community built on the power of positivity and the collective desire for a more hopeful world. Remember, your small acts of kindness can be someone else's big ray of hope. Be part of the positivity revolution; share, uplift, inspire!

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
wolfeh@lemmy.world
Flummoxed@lemmy.today
sga@lemmings.world
sga013@lemmy.world
plantmoretrees@lemm.ee
Aatube@lemmy.world
Aatube@kbin.melroy.org
NickwithaC@lemmy.world
sga@piefed.social