Alzheimer’s disease is a serious brain condition that gets worse over time and is one of the main causes of dementia around the world.
It damages nerve cells in the brain, leading to memory loss, confusion, and difficulty doing everyday tasks. Right now, there is no cure. Some new antibody-based treatments are available, but they only help a little, can be very expensive, and may cause side effects related to the immune system.
In a new study published in Neurochemistry International, scientists from Kindai University in Japan discovered that a common supplement called arginine may help prevent and reduce the damage caused by Alzheimer’s.
Arginine is a natural amino acid already sold as a dietary supplement. The researchers found that, when given in a carefully designed way, it can lower the buildup of harmful amyloid beta proteins (Aβ) in the brain.
This project was led by graduate student Kanako Fujii and Professor Yoshitaka Nagai, along with Associate Professor Toshihide Takeuchi. Their research tested how well arginine works in lab settings and in animal models of Alzheimer’s.
First, in laboratory tests, they found that arginine slowed down how quickly Aβ42 proteins clump together—a key process in the development of Alzheimer’s.
Then, they gave oral arginine to two types of animal models that mimic Alzheimer’s in humans: fruit flies with a genetic mutation that causes Alzheimer’s-like symptoms and mice with several gene changes linked to the disease.
In both animal models, the arginine treatment led to much less amyloid buildup and reduced the toxic effects these proteins usually cause.
In the mice, arginine also improved behavior and brain health. The mice had fewer amyloid plaques in their brains, lower levels of Aβ42, and fewer signs of brain inflammation, which is often found in Alzheimer’s patients.
Professor Nagai said, “Arginine is already considered safe and low-cost, which makes it a promising option for treating Alzheimer’s disease.” The researchers believe that arginine not only prevents harmful protein buildup but may also protect brain cells and lower inflammation.
This approach is an example of “drug repositioning,” which means using an already approved substance for a new medical use. Since arginine is already approved for medical use in Japan and can pass into the brain, it may be possible to move it into clinical trials for Alzheimer’s more quickly than brand-new drugs.
The team stressed that more studies are needed to see if these results apply to humans and to find the right doses. But their findings offer hope that simple supplements could one day help manage or even prevent Alzheimer’s.
This research is important because it suggests a low-cost, widely available way to fight Alzheimer’s disease. If future studies confirm the benefits, arginine could become a practical tool to help people around the world protect their brain health.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies that bad lifestyle habits can cause Alzheimer’s disease, and strawberries can be good defence against Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, and Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s disease.
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