'De-Tangling' Alzheimer's Drug Shows Promise

On the other hand, a Phase II trial of a drug known as PBT2 did show some promising results. According to researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, PBT2 is thought to reduce amyloid plaques by disrupting the interaction of chemicals in the brain.

The trial, which was also published online Tuesday in The Lancet Neurology, involved 78 people with mild Alzheimer's who got PBT2 or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. The agent did reduce levels of amyloid plaque in cerebrospinal fluid. People on the higher dose (250 milligrams) of the drug also showed significant improvements in certain mental tests compared to those on placebo, the team reported.

Finally, a study from food company Danone suggests that a nutrient-rich "medical food" called Souvenaid could help boost the formation of brain synapses and may reduce amyloid plaques in patients with mild Alzheimer's. The product contains nutrients such as choline and omega-3 fatty acids, thought to be conducive to brain health.

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Learn more about the disease from the Alzheimer's Association.