Researchers at the University of New Mexico this week detailed progress developing a vaccine that could protect against Alzheimer's disease.

According to a Monday release, scientists tested the vaccine on mice and found the animals were able to develop antibodies that combatted tau tangles, which can block communication between neurons.

The lack of communication between these neurons is associated with dementia or “cognitive decline,” a symptom commonly seen in Alzheimer’s patients.

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“We’re excited by these findings, because they seem to suggest that we can use the body’s own immune system to make antibodies against these tangles,” the release quotes Nicole Maphis, a Ph.D. candidate in UNM’s Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program.

Researchers also found the mice’s response to the vaccine seemed to last for months.

The results were recently published in "NPJ Vaccines," a University of New Mexico release says. Researchers hope to develop a vaccine for humans but acknowledge such a vaccine could be decades away.

In December, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center also gained national attention for their progress developing an Alzheimer's vaccine.

The vaccine also found promising results by producing antibodies that stemmed the accumulation of the harmful protein. Scientists had also used monkeys and rabbits in their testing and were hoping soon to test on humans.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over time. About 5.8 million Americans are living with the disease.