David PerlmutterPresident,, Perlmutter Health Center · Board-Certified Neurologist | Functional Medicine Pioneer | #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author | International Speaker | Host of The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

Why Alzheimer’s Prevention Still Matters Most

29 Jul 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief commentary, neurologist David Perlmutter critiques the prevailing focus on beta‑amyloid clearance as a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. He references a recent Australian mouse study that used a copper‑based compound to activate amyloid‑clearing pathways, but he expresses disappointment because similar amyloid‑clearing drugs already approved by the FDA have shown virtually no clinical benefit in humans. Perlmutter suggests that the copper‑based drug might still be valuable if it reduces brain inflammation, but warns against heralding amyloid clearance as a breakthrough without clear therapeutic outcomes, urging a reassessment of treatment priorities.

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Clearing beta amyloid isn't the answer for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers in Australia used a copper-based drug in laboratory mice, not humans, and demonstrated that it has the ability to activate pathways for clearing beta amyloid. Why am I not excited? Because clearing beta amyloid isn't the answer for Alzheimer's disease. We have drugs right now that are FDA approved here in the United States that do exactly that, and they have virtually no clinical benefit. Now, there may be a benefit from these copper-based drugs in that they reduce inflammation in the brain. That's certainly worthwhile. But the idea that we should consider this to be a potential home run because the amyloid was cleared, I think we need to rethink that, that's for sure.