SINGAPORE – A local study has shown that a naturally occurring molecule, which is commonly studied for its anti-ageing effects, could improve communication between brain cells and restore key memory-related brain functions impaired by Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Brian Kennedy, who led the study, said the research suggests the molecule, known as calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (CaAKG), a safe and natural compound, may one day complement existing approaches to protect the brain and slow memory loss.

“Because AKG is already present in our bodies, targeting these pathways may offer fewer risks and broader accessibility,” he noted.

“Thanks to that, we may have a powerful new strategy to delay cognitive decline and support healthy brain ageing,” added Prof Kennedy, chair of the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine).

The NUS Medicine study was published in the journal Aging Cell in September 2025, and the ultimate aim is to test the efficacy of the compound in patients.

With many people here spending almost a decade in poor health towards the end of their lives, scientists at NUS Medicine have been researching how ageing itself can be modified to prevent age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

AKG is a naturally occurring metabolite essential for basic cellular functions, whereas CaAKG is a supplemental form of this metabolite.

While AKG has been shown to extend lifespan in lower organisms such as roundworms and fruit flies, studies in mice indicate that CaAKG is associated with lifespan extension and improvements in healthspan, the researchers said.

In the study, the researchers found that CaAKG not only repairs the weakened signals between neurons but also restores associative memory, a type of short-term memory and one of the early abilities lost to Alzheimer’s.

As AKG levels naturally fall as people age, replenishing this molecule could be a promising way to support heal...