A new chemical compound has shown promise for treating Alzheimer's disease. Its effects in a rat model of the disease were impressive, and the biochemists who discovered it are eager to progress to in-human trials. A hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. And while it's still unclear whether these plaques cause the disease's symptoms, or are merely a side-effect, they remain a major research focus for treatment. Given that current treatment