Christina Chan, Ph.D.

In what could be a step toward slowing the spread of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain, a team of researchers from Michigan State University found that a particular substance, when injected into mice, lowers levels of a peptide linked to the disease.

The scientists found that when a compound known as L-cylcoserine was injected into mice that were genetically altered to have the disease pathology, it significantly lowered their levels of a peptide that creates plaques in the brain – a hallmark of Alzheimer’s.

“This could be a possible therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Hirosha Geekiyanage, a recent graduate of MSU’s Genetics Program who conducted the research in the laboratory of Christina Chan, professor of chemical engineering and material science. Both are members of the research team.