Stanford achieves COMPLETE memory restoration in AD models by blocking metabolic switch + 75% patients have hidden sleep apnea (and it's consequences!)
Wednesday plenary from the AAIC, fresh from July 2025.
Key takeaways · TL;DR
Stanfords Dr. Andreasson achieved complete memory restoration in Alzheimer models by blocking the IDO1 enzyme that starves neurons of glucose. Separately, Professor Naismith at Sydney found 75 percent of memory clinic patients have undiagnosed sleep apnea, and one bad night impairs toxic protein clearance for two days. Both findings point to treatable upstream mechanisms.
Definition
An enzyme that regulates tryptophan metabolism and, when overactive, disrupts brain glucose metabolism in Alzheimer disease.
IDO1 inhibitors have cleared safety trials for other indications, creating a potential fast track toward testing them as Alzheimer treatments based on Dr. Andreassons Stanford findings.
Definition
The brains overnight waste-removal system that flushes amyloid, tau, and other toxins during deep sleep.
Sleep apnea, poor sleep, and fragmented sleep architecture all impair glymphatic function. A single bad night can reduce toxic protein clearance for up to two days.
Treatable Mechanisms Highlighted at AAIC 2025
| Mechanism | Discovery | Available treatment |
|---|---|---|
| IDO1-driven neuron starvation | Stanford - complete memory restoration in AD models | IDO1 inhibitors (safety trials passed) |
| Undiagnosed sleep apnea | Sydney - 75 percent of memory clinic patients affected | CPAP therapy |
| Sleep-related tau accumulation | Poor sleep impairs toxic protein clearance | DORA class sleep medications |
As always these conference are the opportunity for researchers to present their latest findings, often not yet published. So if you are curious about the cutting edge science, tune in!
Two separate research teams just revealed findings that could give us great insights about how we prevent Alzheimer's.
Dr. Andreasson from Stanford discovered neurons aren't dying in AD - they're STARVING. An enzyme called IDO1 hijacks the brain's energy supply. When her team blocked it? Complete memory restoration. Not improvement. RESTORATION.
Professor Naismith from Sydney revealed that 75% of memory clinic patients have sleep apnea they don't know about. Every night, their brains are being damaged by oxygen deprivation. One bad night = 2 days of impaired toxic protein clearance.
The kicker? We already have treatments:
- IDO1 inhibitors passed safety trials
- CPAP protects against cognitive decline
- DORAs improve sleep AND reduce tau
Neither study looked at APOE4 carriers specifically (we need to advocate for this!), but these are fundamental brain mechanisms that likely affect all of us.
I break down everything in detail here:
Questions for discussion:
- Have you had a sleep study? (75% chance you need one!)
- Are you tracking your sleep quality?
- What's holding you back from getting evaluated?Sharon L. Naismith (Charles Perkins Centre — University of Sydney, Australia) - Waking Up to the Importance of Sleep in MCI and AD
Katrin Andreasson (Stanford University, CA, USA) - Restoring Hippocampal Glucose Metabolism Rescues Cognition Across Alzheimer’s Disease Pathologies
