The leading theory on the cause of Alzheimer’s disease is that proteins called amyloid and tau accumulate and clump in the brain, causing it to malfunction. This leads to the well-known symptoms of memory loss, poor judgment, delusions and confusion. However, post-mortem studies of brains show that some older people die in apparent good health despite their brains containing enormous amounts of these toxic protein tangles.

Researchers recently found that genes related to the immune system are more active in people who are resilient to Alzheimer’s. Does that mean you need to be born with the right genes to be resilient to Alzheimer’s disease? Not necessarily, says Michael Hornberger, a professor of applied dementia research. You just need to boost your immune system through lifestyle changes.

A rare plant from my home country, South Africa, is in search of a partner. Encephalartos woodii, a cycad, has been around since the dinosaurs, but all remaining plants have been cloned from a single male plant. Scientists are desperately seeking Mrs woodii.

The UK Labour party became the latest to launch its election manifesto yesterday. Among plans to launch a public energy company, stop illegal migrant smuggling, ban energy drinks for under-16s and reform the House of Lords, one policy that stood out for us at The Conversation was the plan to recruit 6,500 new teachers. Because research shows we’re struggling to hold on to the ones we’ve got.

In Wednesday’s newsletter, we incorrectly stated that Michael Mosley invented the 5:2 diet. As one of our readers reminded us, he merely popularised it.

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