Original story from the National University of Singapore (Singapore). A molecule our bodies naturally produce may help defend against Alzheimer’s disease. Singapore has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, yet many individuals spend almost a decade in poor health toward the end of life. Scientists from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine; Singapore) are working to understand how aging itself can be modified to prevent age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Published in Aging Cell, a new study led by Brian K Kennedy, Department of Biochemistry, Chair of the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, NUS Medicine, has discovered that calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (CaAKG), a safe, naturally occurring metabolite commonly studied for healthy aging, can restore key memory-related brain functions that have been disrupted in Alzheimer’s disease. The main aim of the study was to evaluate whether CaAKG could also enhance synaptic plasticity in the Alzheimer’s brain, restore memory-related signaling, protect neurons from early degenerative changes and contribute to healthier cognitive aging. For healthcare and medicine, this shift opens the door to geroprotective strategies – treatments that target aging biology itself rather than individual disease symptoms. “Our findings reveal the exciting potential of longevity compounds in addressing Alzheimer’s disease,” remarked Kennedy. “The research suggests that safe, natural compounds like CaAKG may one day complement existing approaches to protect the brain and slow memory loss. Because AKG is already present in our bodies, targeting these pathways may offer fewer risks and broader accessibility. Thanks…
