In a new Science Translational Medicine study, Northwestern University scientists have pinpointed when and where toxic proteins accumulate within the brains of Alzheimer’s patients — and discovered a decades-old Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug that can stop the accumulation process before it even begins. Existing human clinical data also showed the drug slowed the progression of Alzheimer’s pathology.

By studying animal models, human neurons and brain tissue from high-risk patients, the team discovered a particularly toxic protein fragment, called amyloid-beta 42, accumulates inside neurons’ synaptic vesicles — the tiny packets that neurons use to send signals. But, when the scientists administered levetiracetam (an inexpensive, decades‑old anti‑seizure drug) to the animals and human neurons, the drug prevented neurons from forming amyloid-beta 42.

The soil microbiome is critical for the ecosystem, and agricultural practices that promote microbial diversity can support plant health and help protect against pests. But it is unclear which practices are most beneficial, and what motivates farmers to choose them. In a new study, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Cornell University analyzed surveys and soil samples from 85 organic farmers in New York to investigate the interaction between beliefs, management practices, and soil microbiome functions.