Scientists at Trinity College in Dublin say they have made a major breakthrough which could help develop therapies for people with Alzheimers Disease.

The research sheds new light on a process in the brain that causes the development of Alzheimer's.

Dr Matthew Campbell from Trinity College says the breakthrough is a step towards finding effective treatments for the disease.

Working with the Dublin Brain Bank, which is based in Beaumont Hospital, the researchers from Trinity examined brain tissues of individuals who were affected by Alzheimer's disease during their lifetime and then compared results to those observed in model systems in the laboratory. 

Alzheimer’s is, in part, caused the build-up of a small protein (‘amyloid-beta’) in the brains of patients. If clearance is impaired, this could lead to a build-up of plaques and then to the disease itself.

Dr Campbell explained: “Our recent findings have highlighted the importance of understanding diseases at the molecular level. The concept of periodic clearance of brain amyloid-beta across the BBB [the blood-brain barrier acts as a filter between brain tissue and the bloodstream] could hold tremendous potential for Alzheimer’s patients in the future.

“The next steps are to consider how this might be achieved.”

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia globally and affects up to 40,000 people in Ireland today. It is the fourth leading cause of death in individuals over the age of 65 and it is the only cause of death among the top ten that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed down. 

Its symptoms and warning signs include difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language such as forgetting phrases or words, and changes in mood, behaviour and personality.