Reducing inflammation

Alzheimer's causes chronic, low-level brain cell inflammation. Researchers are studying ways to treat inflammatory processes at work in Alzheimer's disease. The drug sargramostim (Leukine) is currently in research. It's thought that the drug may stimulate the immune system to protect the brain from harmful proteins.

Researchers studied the diabetes drug pioglitazone (Actos) to determine if it could lessen beta-amyloid and inflammation in the brain. But research showed that the drug wasn't effective.