MRI hope for dementia research

This is according to new research presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease.

PET scans are currently the only way to capture the amyloid plaques that accumulate in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. However, they are not routinely available because of their high cost and limited availability.

Dementia research is severely underfunded in the UK. If these results could be replicated in humans, MRI scans could provide a cheap and readily available way to see if potential treatments for this devastating disease can clear amyloid in the brain.

Professor Clive Ballard
Director of Research
Alzheimer's Society

ENDS

Reference:
John Ronald.  Direct visualization of β-amyloid plaques in hypercholesterolemic rabbits using clinical field-strength magnetic resonance imaging

Notes to editors

About ICAD:
The International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) will run from Sunday, 26 July 2008 until Wednesday 30 July 2008. Cutting edge research into dementia will be presented across the conference.

About dementia:

• 1 in 3 older people will end their lives with a form of dementia.
• 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia.  This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051. 1 in 6 people over 80 have dementia.
• Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and those who care for them. Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• As a charity, Alzheimer's Society depends on the generosity of the public to help it care, research and campaign for people with dementia. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk. 
• Alzheimer's Society Dementia Helpline number is 0845 300 0336 or visit alzheimers.org.uk

For further information please call  0207 423 3595 or 07802688774.