Summary: P-glycoprotein, a critical toxin pump in the body, has the ability to remove amyloid plaques from the brain. Researchers say increasing P-gp in the blood-brain barrier of those at risk for Alzheimer's could postpone or prevent the onset of the neurodegenerative disease. A team of SMU biological scientists has confirmed that P-glycoprotein (P-gp) has the ability to remove a toxin from the brain that is associated with Alzheimer's disease. The finding could lead to new treatments for the disease that affects nearly 6 million Americans. It was that hope that motivated lead researchers James W. McCormick and Lauren Ammerman to pursue the research as SMU graduate students after they both lost a grandmother to the disease while at SMU.