Scientists find crucial early warning of Alzheimer’s that could improve treatment

Scientists have made an important breakthrough treating Alzheimer's

THE onset of Alzheimer’s disease could soon be predicted years in advance allowing vital early treatment thanks to ground-breaking research

 

A team of neuroscientists has discovered the way in which the illness destroys the ability for brain cells to “talk” to each other.

They believe the key finding can enable them to develop treatments to spot the devastating illness as early as possible.

The wide-ranging study found that synapses, the links between brain cells, are destroyed in the very early stages of the degenerative condition.

As a result, changes in the brain can start to occur years before a person starts to show any symptoms which begin mildly and gradually worsen over time.

Neuroscientist Dr Vladimir Sytnyk, who led the research at the University of New South Wales in Australia and published yesterday in the journal Nature Communications, said the discovery could lead to considerably more effective treatment of a condition which still has no cure.

 

Alzheimer's affects nearly 500,000 people in the UK

[The discovery] could eventually lead to earlier diagnosis of the disease and new treatments

Neuroscientist Dr Vladimir Sytnyk

Dr Sytnyk said: “One of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease is the loss of synapses.

“In Alzheimer’s disease, this loss of synapses occurs very early on, when people still only have mild cognitive impairment and long before the nerve cells themselves die.

“We have identified a new molecular mechanism which directly contributes to this synapse loss – a discovery we hope could eventually lead to earlier diagnosis of the disease and new treatments.”

 

Osborne unveiled plans for £150m Alzheimer's research institution

 

Identifying Alzheimer's early is crucial

Dr Emma O’Brien, from Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Everything we do, say or think is the result of signals sent between nerve cells in the brain.

“In Alzheimer’s disease, nerve cell communication points begin to break down, leading to symptoms like confusion and memory loss.

“This study sheds light on one of the molecular chain of events that could be driving the loss of nerve cell communication points in Alzheimer’s, but it is too soon to conclude whether this could be targeted to develop new treatments or to improve diagnosis.

“The ability to accurately identify Alzheimer’s at the earliest stages would be a crucial step forward for research, as it’s likely that new treatments will have the best chance of success if given early. It’s vitally important we invest in research to help the half a million people living with Alzheimer’s in the UK.”

The battle to combat dementia in the UK was given a huge boost this week when Chancellor George Osborne unveiled plans for a new £150million research institute into the condition. The national centre is expected to be in place by 2020, Alzheimer’s Research UK said.