Common amino acid arginine slows Alzheimer’s pathology in animals

Japanese researchers found that arginine, a safe and inexpensive amino acid, reduced amyloid-β aggregation, decreased brain inflammation, and improved behavior in fruit flies and mice models of Alzheimer’s disease. The effects appear to come from interfering with protein misfolding rather than lowering production. While promising and eligible for repurposing, the work is preclinical and dosing differs from dietary supplements, so larger preclinical and human studies are needed before clinical use.