- Scientists launching £7m study to develop early Alzheimer’s treatment
- Aim to diagnose disease in initial stages before there are clear symptoms
- Drugs could halt its progress before irreparable damage is done to brain
- Study to see 250 people undergo tests to detect early signs of dementia
Tom Kelly for the Daily Mail
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British scientists are launching a £7million study to help develop vital early treatment for Alzheimer’s.
They aim to diagnose the disease in its initial stages when there are no clear symptoms.
Success could herald a revolution in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, and lead to drugs to halt its progress before irreparable damage is done to the brain.
Scientists are launching a study to help develop early treatment for Alzheimer’s. Pictured, brain scans of sufferers of the disease
Currently, 99 per cent of clinical trials testing new dementia therapies fail – thought to be because they use participants whose brains are already too impaired.
Clear symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as severe memory loss, confusion and mood changes, appear only after it has progressed for many years, experts believe.
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Some 250 people will undergo up to 50 tests to detect early signs of dementia for the Deep and Frequent Phenotyping study, backed by the Medical Research Council (MRC).
Wearable devices will measure changes in their gait while eye imaging will spot subtle changes affecting vision. Blood and urine will also be analysed to spot indicators of Alzheimer’s, known as biomarkers.
Some 250 people will undergo up to 50 tests to detect early signs of dementia for the Deep and Frequent Phenotyping study, backed by the Medical Research Council
Some volunteers will be considered at risk of developing Alzheimer’s due to their age, genes, and performance in memory tests, but others will not be thought to be at risk.
Lead scientist Professor Simon Lovestone, of Oxford University, said: ‘We know that Alzheimer’s disease starts long before it is noticed by those with the disease or their doctor.
‘Previous studies have shown changes to the brain as early as ten to 20 years before symptoms arise. If we can identify the biomarkers present in this very early stage, we have the chance of treating the disease earlier, which is vital if we are to prevent damage to people’s memory and thinking.’
Dr Rob Buckle, director of science programmes at the MRC, said: ‘The results could be game-changing for dementia research. Our goal is to find treatments that can slow down or even stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.’
The number of dementia patients is predicted to reach a million within a decade. The disease already costs the economy more than £26billion per year.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: ‘It is my mission as Health Secretary to make this country the best place in the world to get a dementia diagnosis and support, as well as being a global leader in the effort to find a cure. This extra investment is a vital step forwards towards that goal.’
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