Scientists at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) have made a new discovery that could help reduce memory loss in people diagnosed with the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease.
Research published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that a molecule known as p75 neurotrophin receptor is necessary for neuro-toxin build-up which causes nerve cell degeneration in the brain.
The study, led by QBI neuroscientist Dr Elizabeth Coulson, revealed that it was possible to prevent the build up of Amyloid beta by removing the p75 molecule in both cultured cells and animal models.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Coulson said: "Discovering how Amyloid beta triggers neuronal degeneration has been a question bugging neuroscientists for decades, and we have identified an important piece of the puzzle.
"If such therapy is successful, it probably wouldn’t cure this multifaceted disease. But it would be a significant improvement on what is currently available for Alzheimer’s disease patients."
According to the World Health Organisation, it is predicted that neurodegenerative conditions will become the world’s leading cause of death by 2040.
