An old tuberculosis vaccine just taught brain cells to clear a hallmark of dementia — in mice

The BCG vaccine has protected people against tuberculosis for a century. Johns Hopkins researchers led by William Bishai have now shown, in mice bred to develop tau tangles — a hallmark of dementia — that vaccinating at three months of age, before symptoms, reduced those tangles. The vaccine appeared to wake up the brain's cleaner cells, microglia, which removed tau debris faster in vaccinated animals. Earlier mouse work had improved memory without shifting lesions; this study moved the lesions themselves. It is mice, not people — but BCG's long human safety record is exactly why the team sees a realistic path to human trials.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: tech innovation