Out of sheer luck, researchers may have found a pill that can possibly be a cure for Alzheimer’s or at least stop it from progressing.

This drug, according to researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern, stops brain cells from dying and boosts their numbers, thus sharpening memory. If given early enough, the drug could prevent sufferers from reaching the final stages of the disease where they could perhaps lose the ability for even the most basic functions of walking, talking and even swallowing.

It’s certainly a timely breakthrough, as the growing percentage of the population reaching the age of 65 has led experts to suspect that the current number of cases for this disease could double within a generation. This, paired with the ongoing research for early detection of the condition might prove to be the answer to preventing the devastating disease completely.

Currently, the research team in the University of Texas Southwestern is continuing to figure out how exactly the drug works. So far, their findings show that the drug known as P7C3 prevents a process called apoptosis, which causes brain cells, even newly-formed ones, to self-destruct. Apparently, the drug also gives a boost to mitochondria, which provides energy to the cells.

The team working on the drug hopes to develop it into a once-a-day pill not only for those with Alzheimer’s but also for those with multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease and even schizophrenia. The compound that makes up the drug was tested to be medication-friendly as well, able to cross the blood-brain barrier that stops potentially harmful substances from entering the brain and can bring about long-lasting effects.

Thomas Insel, director of the U.S. body funding the work notes that this research “points the way to potential development of the first cures that will address the core illness process in Alzheimer’s disease.”

Alzheimer’s disease is sometimes mistakenly dismissed as a natural part of aging, but in reality, it’s an affliction that hinders both the quality and longevity of life. It’s about time that new developments are made and I’m sure that I’ll be glad for them when I reach a certain age as well.