These minor memory issues, such as forgetting recent events or repeating the same question, are normally precursors for dementia but can be mistaken for the normal memory loss of getting older. To see how well an MRI scan could pick up these changes, researchers looked at 172 people with the disease who had only mild cognitive impairment. The disease causes brain cells to die and areas of the brain to shrink. 'If all went well, we hope this could be available on the NHS in two to three years.'Īlzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, affecting over half a million people in the UK and around 6million in the US. 'If we could cut down the amount of time they have to wait, make diagnosis a simpler process, and reduce some of the uncertainty, that would help a great deal. 'Waiting for a diagnosis can be a horrible experience for patients and their families. Imperial's Professor Eric Aboagye, who led the study, said: 'Currently no other simple and widely available methods can predict Alzheimer's disease with this level of accuracy, so our research is an important step forward. Repurposing existing drugs used for other conditions is another, often quicker, way of finding medicines to treat dementia.Ĭurrent medicines being explored as possible treatments for Alzheimer's and vascular dementia include those used for: ![]() The UK CLARITY study is measuring how effective the monoclonal antibody BAN2401 (lecanemab) is at preventing or delaying the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease.Īnother therapy, called aducanumab, is currently under consideration by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).ĭeveloping new medicines to treat dementia takes many years and millions of pounds. ![]() Other studies have used monoclonal antibodies - which involves injecting molecules that have been primed in a lab and designed to target plaque in the brain. Some studies are looking at vaccines that block a build-up of proteins in the brains of dementia patients. Immunotherapy involves boosting the body's own defences to fight disease. They have the potential to repair brain damage caused by neurological conditions, such as dementia. Stem cells are 'building block' cells that can develop into many different cell types, including brain or nerve cells.
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