Treating Alzheimer's with aspirin

Although the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease progression is unknown, impaired clearance of toxic amyloid beta, especially from the hippocampus, is a leading mechanism. Activating the cellular machinery responsible for removing waste from the brain has therefore emerged as a promising strategy for slowing the disease.

Building on studies demonstrating a link between aspirin and reduced risk and prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, Kalipada Pahan and colleagues show that this common over-the-counter medication decreases amyloid plaque pathology in mice by stimulating lysosomes -- the component of animal cells that help clear cellular debris. The research adds to aspirin's established uses for pain relief and for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.