An experiment done on mice by researchers could play a role in how scientists pursue treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, a type of dementia for which there’s no cure.

Scientists believe the disease prevents parts of a cell from functioning properly —causing memory loss and disorientation — but aren’t sure of what causes the issues to occur, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The experimental treatment for mice found that the buildup of amyloid plaque, a brain plaque believed to contribute to the disease, disintegrated when scientists removed the beta-secretase (BACE1) enzyme, which is linked to the development of the disease, according to a study published Wednesday.

The plaques are found in many Alzheimer’s patients, Newsweek reported.

Inhibiting the enzyme was expected to slow the formation of amyloid plaques, not cause them to fade away, according to senior researcher Riqiang Yan.

“When we looked at the mice later — at six months old and 10 months old — all those pre-existing plaques were gone,” Yan told the Chicago Tribune. “Sequential deletion of beta-secretase actually can reverse existing plaques.”

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