Researchers have developed a new drug that can reverse the brain deficits of Alzheimer's disease by decreasing STEP levels that regulate learning and memory.

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. It has no cure and worsens as it progresses.

The drug called TC-2153 decreases the negative effects of the STriatal- Enriched Tyrone Phosphatase (STEPS).

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STEPS had been implicated in some neuropsychiatric disorders that have significant cognitive impairments like Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.

Paul Lombroso from the Yale School of Medicine said that by decreasing STEP levels, TC-2153 can reverse the effects of Alzheimer's.

Researchers said high levels of STEP proteins keep synapses in the brain from strengthening.

Synaptic strengthening refers to the process where short-term memories become long-term memories.

Researchers said there is depletion in receptors found on synaptic sites when STEP levels are elevated in the brain.

When tested to mice, a single dose of the drug resulted in improved cognitive function.

Lambroso said animals that were treated with this new drug were indistinguishable from a control group in several cognitive tasks.

To date, researchers are testing the new drug on other animals with cognitive defects.

They hope this study will determine whether the compound can improve cognitive deficits in other animals.

Lambroso said the successful result of this test can bring them a step closer to testing a drug that can improve cognition in humans and, in time, might cure Alzheimer's.