Vital Breakthrough in Fight against Dementia

Scientists at the University of Nottingham claim to have taken a giant leap in understanding a common type of dementia by artificially reproducing it for the first time. This work will help them to record the commencement of the disease and see the influence of drugs on victims exhibiting the syndromes of the same.

The study team claims to be pioneers in genetically producing the first ever rodent version having the same kind of brain degeneration as seen in Lewy body disease. This mouse model will act as a platform to appreciate the brain cell deterioration upon the onset of this malady.

Dementia with Lewy bodies is the second most common form of memory loss. This currently incurable disease also initiates other stressful indications like hallucinations and tremors. The recent break through could help in the mêlée to decelerate or avert these indicators.

Contemporary drugs given today only treat these symptoms. This only leads to the intake of more and more medicines without curing the root cause.

Commenting on the same, John Mayer, a professor at the University of Nottingham said, “Creating the same damage to the brain in mice may facilitate significant improvements in the current treatments for the disease that target only its symptoms, but do nothing to tackle its causes. “

In order to simulate the same condition in mice, Mayer and his team mutated them to be deficient in a vital gene that helps in the waste disposal procedure of all cells. They noted that the nerve cells began to go dead in the absence of the gene.

The formation of Lewy bodies is the main event in the development of nerve cell death. Comprehending their formation would help to develop remedies that will provide a cure for the condition at the end of the day.

Describing the research as a crucial breakthrough, Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust strongly expressed her opinion saying that it would help scientists in finding promising results for treatment of dementia and not just for its symptoms.

She further added that this research was highly under funded and more robust research and large scale trials were now needed to further it and find a cure for this devastating disease.

Rebecca Wood concluded by expressing gratitude to the Telegraph readers. She said that it was because of their kindness that this research came to a culmination. She repeatedly thanked the newspaper and its readers for their exceptional benevolence.

The study has been published in the Journal of Neuroscience and was jointly funded by the Alzheimer's Research Trust and the Parkinson's Disease Society.