Saving Neurons (IMAGE) University of Iowa Health Care Caption Treatment with a neuroprotective compound that saves brain cells from dying also prevents the development of depression-like behavior and the later onset of memory and learning problems in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. The image shows brain tissue from Alzheimer's rats that were untreated (left) or treated (right) with the neuroprotective compound. The white "holes" indicated by the arrows are areas of brain cell death, and are more numerous in the untreated rats. Although the treatment protects the animals from neuronal cell death and Alzheimer's-type symptoms, it does not alter the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the rat brains. The research from the Iowa Neuroscience Institute at the University of Iowa was published online in the journal Biological Psychiatry. Credit Pieper Lab, University of Iowa Usage Restrictions May be used with appropriate credit for informational and educational purposes only. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.