Researchers at Monash University have identified a promising Copper drug that may help treat Alzheimer’s disease by restoring the brain’s ability to clear harmful proteins.

The study, published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, found that the compound Cu(ATSM) repaired a key waste-removal system in the brain, reduced toxic protein buildup, and improved memory in laboratory models.

How Alzheimer’s damages the brain

Alzheimer’s disease is marked by the accumulation of amyloid-beta proteins, which damage brain cells and contribute to memory loss and cognitive decline. Under normal conditions, these proteins are removed through the blood-brain barrier, a protective layer between the brain and bloodstream.

This process depends on transport proteins known as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which act as waste-clearing pumps. In Alzheimer’s disease, these pumps weaken, allowing toxic proteins to accumulate in the brain.

Researchers found that Cu(ATSM) restored the function of these pumps, helping the brain remove trapped waste more effectively.

Study finds improvements in memory and protein clearance

Lead author Dr. Jae Pyun of the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences said the treatment directly targeted the brain’s blood vessels, leading to lower toxic protein levels and improved behavior.

A copper-based drug may offer a new way to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers at Monash University found that Cu(ATSM) restored the brain’s waste-clearing system, reduced toxic amyloid-beta proteins by 42%, and improved memory in laboratory models. pic.twitter.com/LFnzNBIHAA

— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) June 15, 2026

According to the study, the drug increased P-gp levels by 24.1 percent in laboratory models of Alzheimer’s disease. After 56 days of treatment, amyloid-beta levels fell by 42 percent, while spatial learning improved by nearly 44 percent.

Researchers said this is the first study to link repair of the blood-brain barrier with reductions in toxic proteins and improvements in cognitive function.

Existing safety data could speed clinical testing

Senior author Professor Joseph Nicolazzo, director of the Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation at the institute, said the drug may move relatively quickly toward human trials because it has already undergone safety testing for other neurological disorders.

Cu(ATSM) is a copper-based compound with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. It has previously been tested in clinical trials for conditions including Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS.

Researchers said the findings support testing the drug in people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, as previous studies have shown that reducing amyloid buildup can improve clinical outcomes.

Scientists continue to investigate how the treatment works

Scientists are still investigating exactly how the proteins leave the brain after treatment. They suspect the compound may also activate microglia, the brain’s immune cells, which help break down toxic plaques.

The findings come as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia continue to pose growing global health challenges. Dementia recently became Australia’s leading cause of death, surpassing coronary heart disease, highlighting the urgent need for new treatments that can slow cognitive decline.