A recent study reveals that a polymer called polyphosphate may stabilize fibrils, protein structures linked to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers used computer models to show that polyphosphate fits a previously unidentified "mystery density" in these fibrils, suggesting it plays a protective role. While the findings could eventually inform therapies, more research is needed to understand polyphosphate's exact role in the brain.