New drugs could stop most common type of Dementia
- Studies have determined the causes of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), the same form of dementia Robin Williams suffered before committing suicide
- The discovery was made with extremely powerful scanning devices used in DLB for the first time
- New drugs are on the horizon that will act to stop the killer disease ‘in its tracks’
- Symptoms include problems with memory and judgment, feeling faint and developing tremors
Christina Zhao For Mail Online
65
View
comments
Robin Williams was posthumously diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia after taking his own life in 2014. Now, scientists at the University of Edinburgh say they have worked out how to stop the disease in its tracks
New drugs for one of the most common types of dementia could be on the horizon after scientists discovered how it spreads.
The drugs could stop it ‘in its tracks’ by targeting a key chemical called alpha-synuclein, according to researchers.
The rogue protein is one of four types believed to be behind the devastating neurological disorder.
It disrupts brain cells in dementia with Lewy bodies – also known as DLB that is progressive and gets worse over time.
Brain tissue from people who died from it showed the protein builds up in vital parts of neurons that connect cells.
These may jump from one cell to another through these connections, say the international team led by Edinburgh University.
The findings shed light on the causes of DLB and will help to speed up the search for a treatment, they say.
It is the third most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s and vascular dementias and affects around 100,000 people in the UK. It can cause severe memory loss as well as movement problems. There is currently no cure.
The study focused on synapses – the connections between nerve cells that form memories.
These allow chemical and electrical signals to flow between cells and are vital for brain health, say experts.
Study co-leader Professor Tara Spires-Jones, who heads up the UK Dementia Research Institute at Edinburgh University, said: ‘DLB is a devastating condition.
‘Our findings suggest it’s at least partly driven by damage to synapses.
‘These discoveries should invigorate the search for therapies aimed at reducing synaptic damage and open the possibility of targeting the spread of alpha-synuclein through the brain – which could stop disease progression in its tracks.’
-
ASK THE DOCTOR: Can insomnia due to my menopause cause…
Can eating peas and peanuts really lead to brain fog?…
Her researchers – which included colleagues in Spain – showed synapses in five people who had died with DLB contained clumps of the damaging alpha-synuclein – which could contribute to symptoms.
The toxic protein was spotted in both sides of the synapses – suggesting it may jump between cells through these connections.
This sheds light on how damage could be spread through the brain. It was not seen in the brains tissue of people with Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia – or those without any type of the illness.
The discovery was made with extremely powerful scanning devices used in DLB for the first time.
These provided detailed images of over one million single synapses – each 5,000 times smaller than the thickness of a sheet of paper.
Professor Tara Spires-Jones, who heads the UK Dementia Research Institute at Edinburgh University, co-lead a breakthrough study that successfully tracked the spreading of DLB
Alpha-synuclein clumps have previously been identified in DLB – but their effects on synapses were unknown because of difficulties in studying them due to their tiny size.
It’s the third most common form after Alzheimer’s and vascular dementias and affects around 100,000 people in the UK. It can cause severe memory loss as well as movement problems. There is no cure.
Dr Rosa Sancho, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK which part-funded the study, said: ‘This exciting research using cutting-edge technology sheds new light on the progression of DLB in the brain.
‘The results provide convincing, measurable and visual evidence that toxic alpha-synuclein is disrupting synapses that could potentially contribute to the devastating symptoms of the disease.
‘We are extremely pleased our funding has helped produce these important results which demonstrate potential avenues for much-needed new treatments for people who are living with DLB.
‘The research we fund would not be possible without the work of our tireless supporters who go to extraordinary lengths to allow talented researchers to make important new discoveries like these.’
The study published in Brain was also funded by the Spanish charity Fundacio Cellex Barcelona.
DLB shares some of the same symptoms with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
The first symptoms can be fairly slight but can begin to affect people on a day to day basis.
They include problems with memory and judgment, feeling faint and developing tremors and slow movement.
The condition can also cause disrupted sleep and changes to people’s sleeping patterns.
In Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia there are at least four types of toxic proteins involved – amyloid, tau, TDP43 and alpha-synuclein.
Share or comment on this article
- The worst in-flight meal EVER? Vegetarian flier is…
- Former pilot ‘murdered his wife at their home’: Husband…
- Former GB tennis player turned psychologist, 44, who…
- Tearful policeman’s daughter pays tribute to her ‘heroic’…
- Top of the pecking order! ‘Jealous’ PARROT mimics the…
- ‘HIGH’-land fling! Scotsman’s bizarre limp robot dance…
- Demonic conman who killed the 1960s dream: As Charles…
- Runaway cat who went missing for six weeks is found 300…
- British woman held in Iranian jail for nearly 600 days…
- Police believe murder of prostitute, 16, who was found…
- Almost two thirds of babies born in the poorest areas…
- Nine-year-old boy with cancer dies after celebrating an…
- RUFF rider! Daredevil Jack Russell proves he’s a real…
- Family of dangerous cyclist Charlie Alliston are accused…
- Trainee accountant, 20, died two days after taking ‘MD…
- Toddler fractures her skull after slipping through 6INCH…
- What a drag! Bored boy dreams up bizarre method to amuse…
- Teenagers who waved to stunned rail users on platform as…
Comments 65
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline?
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.