Rapamycin, a drug isolated from Easter Island that helps the immune system, reduced lesions in the brains of mice that are also found in Alzheimer's patients. A clinical trial of rapamycin is underway to see if it can help treat Alzheimer's, based on studies showing it extended the lives of mice that already exhibited Alzheimer's symptoms at six months old.

1. By Matthew Winter, Cindy Cochran, and Venice Gordon

2. A small Polynesian island in the Pacific Ocean Houses the famous statues, Moai They have a small population Has a very isolated environment

3. Rapamycin is a drug used to help immune system The drug may have connection to helping with Alzheimer's The drug is an isolated substance on Easter Island

4. The drug reduced legions in the brain of mice Those same legions are found in dead Alzheimer's patients The drug is certified and a clinical trial is almost underway Last year, some institutions announced the drug extended the lives of mice

5. The test subject mice, started at six months old They already exhibited familiar Alzheimer symptoms

6. The drug is also being tested in cancer research labs They don’t know if the results translate to humans

7. Easter Island was discovered on Easter Only one airline flight to Easter Island Their language had yet to be deciphered