Research Index entry · Study

Switching off the enzyme IDOL in neurons cut plaques in mice

Evidence

Mice

Source

medicine.iu.edu

Added

28 October 2026

What it is

IDOL is an enzyme that helps control how cells handle fats and related proteins. At Indiana University, removing it from the neurons of mice bred with human Alzheimer’s genes lowered plaques and APOE, a protein tied to Alzheimer’s risk. The team had expected the brain’s immune cells to matter most, not neurons.

Where it stands

1. Lab discovery
2. Animal studies
3. First studies in people
4. Large trials
5. Approved

Mouse work. No drug targets IDOL yet.