Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 23, 2025 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
Medical News: A Simple Amino Acid with Surprising Potential
A new wave of hope has emerged for Alzheimer’s disease research as scientists from Kindai University and the National Institute of Neuroscience in Japan reveal that oral arginine, a naturally occurring amino acid, may help reduce harmful amyloid buildup in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 50 million people globally, yet effective and affordable treatments remain limited. In this
Medical News report, researchers highlight an approach that is simple, low cost, and already known to be safe in clinical settings, opening fresh possibilities for everyday therapeutic use in the future.
New research shows oral arginine may reduce amyloid buildup linked to Alzheimer’s disease
The research team included experts from the Department of Neurology at Kindai University Faculty of Medicine in Osaka and the Life Science Research Institute at Kindai University, along with collaborators from the National Institute of Neuroscience in Kodaira, Tokyo.
How Arginine Helps Protect the Brain
The study demonstrated that arginine can directly suppress the formation of amyloid β (Aβ) clumps, which are widely believed to trigger Alzheimer’s disease progression. In laboratory tests, the researchers showed that arginine prevented Aβ42 from forming sticky aggregates in a concentration-dependent manner. This laid the groundwork for testing the compound in animal models.
Strong Benefits Seen in Both Fly and Mouse Models
Two Alzheimer’s models were used: genetically altered fruit flies carrying the aggressive Arctic Aβ42 mutation and AppNL-G-F knock-in mice that replicate key elements of human disease. In both cases, oral arginine reduced amyloid accumulation and improved biological and behavioral outcomes.
In mice, arginine led to fewer brain plaques, lower levels of insoluble Aβ42, and better performance in memory-related tasks. The treatment also reduced inflammatory cytokines, suggesting broader neuroprotective effects beyond protein aggregation.
Why Arginine Could Be a Game Changer
Arginine already has a long record of medical use in Japan for other conditions, and its excellent safety profile positions it as an appealing candidate for rapid drug repositioning. Because Alzheimer’s pathology begins years before symptoms, an affordable and orally available compound could help people begin preventative therapy much earlier than currently possible.
Important Cautions for Human Use
Thailand Medical News however warns that Arginine supplements and should not be self-prescribed. Arginine may worsen conditions such as herpes virus reactivation, shingles, certain heart conditions, kidney disease, or severe viral infections like COVID-19. Individuals must always consult a healthcare professional and also be aware of their current health status details before considering arginine supplem
entation.
Conclusion
The findings present a compelling, affordable, and biologically sound strategy to slow Alzheimer’s progression by targeting early amyloid formation. While more clinical studies are needed to confirm whether these benefits will translate to humans, the research strongly suggests that a simple and safe molecule like arginine could one day help reshape global Alzheimer’s care by offering a widely accessible therapy.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Neurochemistry International
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019701862500155X
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/alzheimer,-dementia-
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