Removing faulty brain cells staves off dementia in mice

Researchers say that when they swept away the senescent brain cells in mice, the outwards symptoms of their dementia vanished

Purging "zombie cells" from the brain could stave off the effects of dementia, a groundbreaking study has found.

The research in mice is the first to show that so-called senescent cells, which enter a state of suspended animation as the body ages, contribute to neurodegeneration. Flushing out these cells was shown to prevent damage, potentially opening a new line of attack against Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.