New antibody offers hope of treatment for Alzheimer's disease

The results of the study show that it is possible to decrease production of a small protein called β-amyloid (Aβ), which is believed to be the main cause of the disease. Deposits of Aβ build up in the brain, preventing it from functioning properly.

The Cardiff team led by Dr Emma Kidd at the University's Welsh School of Pharmacy made the discovery during research funded by the Alzheimer's Society, the UK's leading care and research charity for Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

The team has developed an antibody which binds to a naturally occurring protein in the brain, amyloid precursor protein (APP), preventing the production of Aβ. The antibody blocks the access to APP of an enzyme, b-secretase, crucial for the formation of Ab.

Dr Kidd said:

"Our results are highly encouraging at this stage. We believe that our approach could lead in time to a new therapy for this distressing and debilitating disease as it should prevent or reduce the irreversible deterioration of a patient's memory and other brain functions. This would also reduce the burden on carers, usually family members, who look after patients in the earlier stages of the disease."

"We also believe it is possible that our antibody could be used as a preventative treatment to protect people at high risk of Alzheimer's Disease through their family history or other factors."

There is no known cure or preventative treatment for Alzheimer's disease, which affects one in 20 people over the age of 65 and one in five over the age of 80 in the UK and more than 18 million people worldwide. The disease causes a distressing, irreversible and progressive loss of brain function and memory.

Professor Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said:

"We are thrilled to have been able to fund this innovative work. As a charity we rely on donations from the public and we hope people will understand how important it is to invest more in research into all types of dementia so that we eventually may have a selection of new treatments to change the lives of people with dementia and their carers."

The work funded by the Alzheimer's Society research programme, Quality Research In Dementia was conducted on cultured cells in the laboratory. The team believes that a form of the antibody could be used as a treatment to reduce Aβ build-up in the brain, improving the patient's memory and quality of life. Any development of the antibody as a drug will take several years and the team are planning the next stage of development of the antibody.

The charity's research programme is led and steered by carers and people with dementia, who set the priorities. This ensures that funding only goes to projects with a potential for high impact on the lives of people with dementia and their carers.

The research is published today in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

For more information, contact:

Alzheimer's Society

Gayle Wing, Alzheimer's Society press office.

Cardiff University

Emma Darling, Cardiff University Public Relations, telephone 029 2087 4499.

Notes for editors

Cardiff University

• Cardiff University is recognised in independent government assessments as one of Britain's leading teaching and research universities. Founded by Royal Charter in 1883, the University today combines impressive modern facilities and a dynamic approach to teaching and research. The University's breadth of expertise in research and research-led teaching encompasses: the humanities; the natural, physical, health, life and social sciences; engineering and technology; preparation for a wide range of professions; and a longstanding commitment to lifelong learning. Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of Britain's leading research universities.
• Visit the University website at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/.

Welsh School of Pharmacy

• The Welsh School of Pharmacy, which was founded in 1919, is the only school of pharmacy in Wales. In independent government assessments of university teaching and research, the School was awarded the double accolade of the top rating, "Excellent" for teaching, and the top rating "Grade 5" for research.
• The School's collaboration with institutions and pharmaceutical companies in Europe and the USA emphasises the School's international reputation for research. The School has four research groups looking at drug delivery; drug usage; design and synthesis of drugs; and molecular and cellular basis of drug action.

The Alzheimer's Society

• The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.
• Over 750,000 people in the UK have dementia. More than half have Alzheimer's disease.
• Dementia affects one in 20 people over the age of 65 and one in five over the age of 80.
• There are 18,500 people in the UK under the age of 65 with dementia.
• For information and advice on Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia call the Alzheimer's Society national helpline on 0845 300 0336.
• Visit the Society's website: http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.

The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

• The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (http://www.j-alz.com/) is an international multidisciplinary journal to facilitate progress in understanding the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, genetics, behaviour, treatment and psychology of Alzheimer's disease. The journal publishes research reports, reviews, short communications, book reviews, and letters to the editor. The journal is dedicated to providing an open forum for original research that will expedite fundamental understanding of Alzheimer's disease. It is published by IOS Press.