New research could bring a new drug for Alzheimer’s one step closer

Academics at the University of Cambridge and at Lund University in Sweden have devised a strategy to go after particles that destroy healthy brain cells, leading to hope that new drugs could be developed to treat dementia.

Dr James Pickett, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Society, says:

'Dementia is the biggest health concern we are facing in the UK and across the world, yet we still have no way to cure, prevent or effectively slow it down. In fact, 1 million people with be living with dementia in the UK by 2021.

'Most research to find drugs for Alzheimer’s disease has looked at how to break down toxic amyloid plaques, a key hallmark of the disease. This new research is more ambitious, trying to prevent the amyloid plaques from forming in the first place. But time will tell if it can lead to promising results. This study was lab based, and is at a very early stage, so we don’t yet know the effect of this treatment on people.

'In the meantime, our researchers are on the case, repurposing promising drugs already licensed to see if they can also treat dementia. If successful, these existing drugs could be available to help people living with the condition in half the time of a new drug.'