Alzheimer's is the result of amyloid plaque building in the brain, which usually has copper, iron, and zinc in it. Free radical copper and iron can be removed from the brain by building into amyloid plaque, but amyloid plaque does not build in an alkaline brain. This is new information.
Not so new is that lithium protects the brain from Alzheimer's. It turns out that lithium is an alkaline metal, and since we now know that alkaline brains do not build amyloid plaque, that's probably at least one of its neuroprotective mechanisms.
It seems that ACE inhibitors do not cause amyloid plaque to build, but ACE directly upon amyloid plaque breaks it up. Could brain surgery with micro-squirts of ACE on amyloid plaque be a way to bring some level of recovery to patients with Alzheimer's? This technique is being done in Stanford in California with stem cells for people with strokes to great success, so the technique itself does not require any pioneering, just refining for this particular use, seeing as stem cells will go to where they are needed, but ACE will likely require pinpoint precision.
Indeed, if we wish to save the healthcare insurance system, these are two treatments that should be getting refined and streamlined. If we can cure strokes and improve the quality of life and reduce the care required for people with Alzheimer's, it will be both a financial and an altruistic breakthrough.
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©Deborah Barges Oct 2020 open access