Researchers report that huge doses of an ordinary vitamin appeared to eliminate memory problems in mice with the rodent equivalent of Alzheimer's disease, reports USA Today.
At the moment, it is not known if the treatment will have the same effect in humans. Researchers are beginning to enroll Alzheimer's patients in a new study, and it is too soon for scientists to recommend that people try the vitamin on their own outside of normal doses.
"It's definitely promising, and if we combine this with other things already out there, we'd probably see a large effect," said study author Kim Green, a researcher at the University of California at Irvine.
Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 5.2 million Americans, causing senility and often leading to death. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that the disease will strike one in eight Baby Boomers.
There is no cure for the neuro-degenerative condition, and medications have only limited effects.
Dr Nixon said the new study is "intriguing," but people should be cautious and not assume that "more is better" when it comes to possible treatments, even ones that appear to be safe, concludes the report in USA Today.
Vitamin in Meat and Fish Fights Alzheimer's
US - Researchers at the University of California Irvine have found that high doses of a vitamin helped mice to overcome memory problems similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans. And that vitamin - nicotinamide - is found in poultry meat, pork and fish.