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Could there be a cure for Alzheimer's in the next decade? Breakthrough as scientists manage to stop brain cells from dying
The study also raises the possibility of new drugs to treat brain conditions like Parkinson's and motor neurone disease, as well as Alzheimer's In Alzheimer's, brains are clogged up by mis-folded protein Researchers found cells die because in a misguided attempt to protect themselves from mis-folded proteins they stop making new protein Drugs can be used to switch protein production back on preventing symptoms developing, but currently they cause severe side effects
By Fiona Macrae Science Correspondent PUBLISHED: 18:03 GMT, 9 October 2013 | UPDATED: 08:10 GMT, 10 October 2013

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A breakthrough by British scientists has been hailed as a turning point in the fight against Alzheimers disease. The landmark study also raises the prospect of new drugs for other brain conditions, including Parkinsons and motor neurone disease. It may even be possible to create one pill that treats several diseases. The work is still at an early stage but is described as the first real evidence that it is possible to use a drug to stop diseased brain cells from dying.

A breakthrough by British scientists has been hailed as a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer's disease

Professor Roger Morris, of Kings College London, said: This finding, I suspect, will be judged by history as a turning point in the search for medicines to control and prevent Alzheimers disease. In Alzheimers disease, which affects 500,000 Britons, brains are clogged up by a sticky, mis-folded protein. Most scientists are trying to find drugs that break up the toxic protein and clear it from the brain, but the latest study, from scientists funded by the Medical Research Council, tackled the problem in a different way. Rather than trying to declog the brain, they looked at how mis-folded proteins damage it. In much the same way as a deck-chair needs to be opened and closed in a certain way, the proteins in our cells have to be folded in a certain way if they are to work properly. Research on mice showed that mis-shapen proteins do not directly kill brain cells. Instead, cells die because in a misguided attempt to protect themselves, they stop making new proteins including some vital for their survival. The researchers showed it was possible to give mice a drug that switches protein production back on, and stops brain disease in its tracks. Treated mice stayed symptom-free, while untreated animals developed memory and movement problems and eventually died, the journal Science Translational Medicine reports. Lead scientist Giovanna Mallucci, of the University of Leicester, said: It was very striking. The treated mice were completely protected. More importantly, their brains were completely protected.

The work is still at a very early stage but is described as the first real evidence that it is possible to use a drug to stop diseased cells from dying. Image shows the structural abnormalities of Alzheimer's

The tests were on the mis-folded brain protein called a prion which causes scrapie, a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the nervous systems of sheep and goats. But it is thought a similar process is behind several other brain diseases, including Alzheimers, motor neurone and Parkinsons diseases. However, the drug had severe side-effects and any new treatments for people are at least a decade away. Prof Morris said: This is the first convincing report that a small drug, of the type most conveniently turned into medicines, stops the progressive death of neurons in the brain as found, for instance, in Alzheimers disease. True, this study has been done in mice, not in man; and it is a prion disease, not Alzheimers, that has been cured. But there is considerable evidence that the way neurons die in both diseases is similar. Professor Hugh Perry, chairman of the MRCs neuroscience and mental health board, said: Despite the toxicity of the compound used, this study indicates that, in mice at least, we have proof of principle of a therapeutic pathway that can be targeted. This might eventually aid the development of drugs to treat people suffering from dementias and other devastating neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Eric Karran, of Alzheimers Research UK, said: Targeting a mechanism relevant to a number of degenerative diseases could yield a single drug with wide-reaching benefits. However, what is true in animals does not always hold true in people and the ultimate test for this compound will be to see whether it is safe and effective in people with these diseases.

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Comments (125)
Share what you think Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all Report comment sheila, melbourne, Australia, 15 minutes ago I NOTICE THAT NOBODY SAID WELL DONE TO THESE SCIENTISTS ON THEIR BREAKTHROUGH,A BIT SMALL MINDED WOULDNT YOU SAY!

0 0 Click to rate

Report comment come on you blues, Rojales, Spain, 41 minutes ago Classic reporting! no mention in the headline that it referred to MICE!

3 1 Click to rate Report comment AngelaStone, new york, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago my classmate's ex-wife makes $83 every hour on the internet. She has been out of work for eight months but last month her income was $17689 just working on the internet for a few hours. check out the post right here... www.Day37.com

11 0 Report comment Matt, Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, 49 minutes ago

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If you and your friends are making so much mullah, why waste time over here? 1 4 Click to rate Report comment Sheila, Hastings, 1 hour ago Will this treatment work for a similar disease Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD/vCJD/nvCJD)? I have read stories of people being misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease when in fact they actually have vCJD so these diseases appear to be very similar almost identical symptons would seem, so little is mentioned about CJD even though millions of us have been exposed to the deadly infectious prions that can cause dementia I just hope this new treatment will benefit all of us exposed to rogue prions, justiceforandy.com

0 3 Click to rate

Report comment louisjamesed, London - United Kingdom, 1 hour ago It just goes to show why high protein diets are so bad for humans.

9 2 Report comment PrettyPolly, Taxpayer, United Kingdom, 16 minutes ago

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What a dumb comment, your body is made of proteins, it makes the proteins it needs from everything you eat and drink including fruit and vegetables, even your snot is made from proteins. 0 1 Click to rate

Report comment What Really Happened, Manchester, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago The release of a drug is at least ten years off. Everyone with these diseases now, will have to live through the disease killing them. Can't the scientists somehow rush even 'experimental' versions of the proposed chemical, as even the risk of extreme side-effects and death, might be preferable to the incredible horror of ones' mind melting away, that most of us see as far worse than death itself (death will get all of us one day anyway). What is the name of the chemicals they used?

2 4 Report comment June, Canvey Essex, 23 minutes ago

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why not volunteer and see what the sideeffects are? just remember after a certain amount of time Alzheimers patients do NOT realise they are suffering..or you could get a degree in science and rush it all along yourself 1 1 Click to rate Report comment

mikethevigilant, cambridge, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago Actually there are 800,000 people in the UK with a diagnosis. Only 44% of people with dementia of all types have a diagnosis at this time, but the government don't want to use the true figure.

1 5 Click to rate Report comment the elf, SUNDERLAND, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago Pat Rattigan, Chesterfield....would you rather they were tested immediately on discovery in humans? Can you imagine the furore if a drug which had not previously been tested on an animal caused more harm than good in a human? Do you recall the uproar a few years ago at the so called "Elephant man" side effects of a drug which HAD been previously tested on an animal? Yes? Well quadruple it.

3 4 Click to rate Report comment julesrom, London, 1 hour ago My Mum has Alzheimer's. I pray every day for a cure.

0 22 Click to rate Report comment Spencer I. Mather, Bradwell-Great Yarmouth, 1 hour ago Some good news at last..!!!

2 13 Click to rate The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

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