EPPS molecule. Computer illustration showing the structure of an EPPS (HEPPS) molecule. This chemical is commonly used as a buffering agent in biology and chemistry. However, research on mice has shown that EPPS can break up the brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease, helping to relieve some of its symptoms. Atoms are represented as colour-coded spheres: carbon (grey), hydrogen (white), nitrogen (blue), oxygen (red), sulphur (yellow).