Written by Minseo Jeong on May 6, 2021 — Fact checked by Rita Ponce, Ph.D. New research explores the benefits of low-dose radiation for people with Alzheimer’s. Image credit: chee gin tan/Getty Images A pilot study showed that treatment with a low dose of radiation in people with severe Alzheimer’s disease could improve quality of life. The low dose of radiation causes a small amount of damage to molecules, which stimulates a cellular protective response that involves antioxidant production and damage repair. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal range of radiation efficacy. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that involves damage in the brain’s nerve cells, leading to memory loss and disruption of cognitive functioning. In the United States, AD is one of the leading causes of death in older populations, making up 60–80% of dementia cases.