Researchers in South Korea may be nearly ready to start clinical trials for a cure for the memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s disease. The team seems to have pinpointed the cause of memory impairment that occurs after the onset of Alzheimer’s. Astrocytes, which are the most prevalent type of braincell, develop in many different forms.

Alzheimer’s seems to cause an increased production of ‘reactive” astrocytes, one type of these braincells, which produce an acid called gamma-Aminobutyric — or GABA for short. When mice affected with Alzheimer’s were administered an inhibitor that suppresses the production of GABA, they seemed to regain memories they had previously lost.

Watch the video for a more in-depth reportage of this exciting research!