The findings represent another angle of attack in the ongoing battle to find a cure for the widespread degenerative condition.

Alzheimer's disease is a widespread problem, with an estimated 5.3 million people suffering from it in United States alone. A huge amount of effort is going into finding effective treatments, and there have been a lot of positive results, with teams developing new drugs that tackle aspects of aging associated with the condition, and even using ultrasound therapy to combat plaque build-ups in the brain. In order to arrive at an actual cure for the condition, gaining a full understanding of the processes it involves is key.

The UNSW-led study attacks the disease from this angle, seeking to better understand how the condition breaks down the structures that connect neurons in the brain, known as synapses. These connections are essential for all brain function, and especially for forming memories. It's known that they're broken down early on by Alzheimer's, but exactly how this occurs was a mystery.