A drug used to treat a chronic skin infection holds promise for stimulating a certain enzyme in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz in Germany say the enzyme, ADAM10, should be able to suppress the effects of Alzheimer’s, such as impaired cerebral function, and may improve memory capacity. They gave psoriasis medication to Alzheimer’s patients and found elevated levels of APPs-alpha in their spinal fluid, which indicates ADAM10 stimulation. The medication was well tolerated by patients, researchers said, and further investigations will look at whether it can be a long-term treatment for Alzheimer’s patients.

Results of the study were published in Neurology.