Natural Molecule Restores Memory in Alzheimer's Studies

A molecule that naturally occurs in the human body has shown remarkable power to restore memory in Alzheimer's disease research, opening a new pathway for protecting aging brains.

Researchers at the National University of Singapore discovered that calcium alpha-ketoglutarate, or CaAKG, can reverse several memory-related brain functions that break down in Alzheimer's patients. The compound improved communication between brain cells and brought back associative memory, one of the first cognitive abilities people lose to the disease.

Professor Brian Kennedy, who led the study published in Aging Cell, explains the significance. "Because AKG is already present in our bodies, targeting these pathways may offer fewer risks and broader accessibility," he said.

The research team measured how CaAKG affects long-term potentiation, the process that allows neurons to strengthen their connections for learning and forming lasting memories. In Alzheimer's disease, this crucial process becomes severely impaired, but CaAKG brought it back to normal levels in laboratory models.

The molecule works through multiple pathways in the brain. It activates calcium channels that help neurons become more flexible while avoiding receptors often damaged by amyloid buildup, the toxic protein associated with Alzheimer's.

CaAKG also boosted autophagy, the brain's natural cleanup system that removes damaged proteins and keeps neurons healthy. This housekeeping function becomes sluggish with age, allowing harmful debris to accumulate.

Most importantly, the compound restored synaptic tagging and capture, a key mechanism that allows the brain to link events together. This suggests CaAKG supports not just basic memory function but also complex learning abilities that decline early in Alzheimer's.

The Bright Side

The timing couldn't be better for this discovery. Levels of AKG naturally decrease as we age, which may contribute to cognitive decline in later years.

Because CaAKG is a safe, naturally occurring compound already being studied for healthy aging, it could complement existing Alzheimer's treatments with fewer side effects. The molecule represents a shift in thinking: instead of treating disease symptoms one at a time, researchers are targeting the biology of aging itself.

Dr. Sheeja Navakkode, the study's first author, notes that understanding how CaAKG improves brain plasticity "sheds light on new ways to protect memory and slow brain aging." For countries like Singapore, where people live long lives but often spend nearly ten years in poor health, this approach could transform those later years.

The research offers a powerful new strategy to delay cognitive decline and support healthy brain aging through compounds our bodies already recognize and use.