DEMENTIA BOON

GROUNDBREAKING new research has discovered a likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease – and will help prevent and treat Australia’s second-leading cause of death.

The study of mice, led by Curtin University, has revealed a “blood-to-brain” pathway could be responsible for the condition that is diagnosed in 250 Australians every day. It identified blood leakage into the brain of fat-carrying particles transporting toxic proteins was a probable cause.

Professor John Mamo said that managing the level of toxic protein in blood and preventing leakage opens up new treatment options.