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A report in Nature Communications published yesterday shows that two antibodies known to play a role in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (the human form of “mad cow disease”) could help block the onset of Alzheimer's disease in the brain. The study, entitled “Interaction between prion protein and toxic amyloid beta assemblies can be therapeutically targeted at multiple sites” showed that these antibodies, known as ICSM-18 and ICSM-35, can block damaging effects on brain tissue caused by amyloid beta, the accumulation of which disrupts neuronal communication and causes memory loss. Meanwhile, the current issue of Psychiatric News reports on new guidance from National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association urging a three-staged approach to Alzheimers consisting of the preclinical stage, a “mild cognitive impairment phase,” and an “Alzheimer's dementia phase.” For more information see http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/46/11/1.2.full.