You have to give the UK media credit for their enthusiasm.. Dementia ‘WORLD FIRST’ cure: Alzheimer’s breakthrough as scientists ‘excited’ for new drug DEMENTIA treatment aims to reduce signs and symptoms of the brain condition. But scientists are “excited” for a new drug that could potentially cure and prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The breakthrough has been hailed as a world first. By
MATT ATHERTON PUBLISHED: 10:37, Tue, Oct 9, 2018 | UPDATED: 10:55, Tue, Oct 9, 2018
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dementia cure could be just years away, after scientists have made a “world first” breakthrough in the fight against
Alzheimer’s disease.
Cambridge researchers found the root cause of the neurodegenerative condition, which opens the door to a new, targeted drug.
They’re already working on making the new treatment, and it could be ready for clinical trials within two years, they said.
Researchers revealed the cause of Alzheimer’s to be abnormal protein deposits in the brain - known as oligomers.
Proteins in the brain need to fold into a specific structure to work properly.
But, when this folding process goes wrong, it leads to dangerous deposits that can cause dementia - and the brain can’t get rid of them.
As the deposits build up in the brain, they can stop nerve cells from signaling to each other properly, and stops nutrients from moving through cells.
But, now that scientists know the exact cause of the neurodegenerative condition, they can begin working on a treatment that aims to prevent proteins from misfolding.
"Until very recently scientists couldn't agree on what the cause was so we didn't have a target,” said lead scientist Professor Michele Vendruscolo.
“As the pathogens have now been identified as small clumps of proteins known as oligomers, we have been able to develop a strategy to aim drugs at these toxic particles.”
Dementia drugs currently available can only treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease - not it’s development or progression, said Vendruscolo.
But, new drug candidates, that aim to target the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, could be ready for clinical trials in around two years, the researchers said.
The breakthrough has been welcomed by Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Dr David Reynolds, Chief Scientific Officer from Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This is a detailed academic study looking at how quickly compounds are able to stop amyloid building up into toxic clumps, which are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.