News
Thursday 18 September 2008
Nottingham scientists to develop blood test for Alzheimer's
Researchers from Nottingham Trent University have joined forces with a team from the University of Nottingham to develop a simple blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. The £200,000 study, funded by leading charity the Alzheimer's Research Trust, will aim to find out whether 'biomarkers' in blood could be used to identify someone with Alzheimer's.
A biomarker is a term for something present in the body which can indicate disease, such as a certain protein or molecule. Currently, identification of Alzheimer’s is difficult and often by the time a diagnosis is reached, irreversible damage to the brain has already occurred. Doctors believe that treatment during the early stages of Alzheimer’s is much more effective.
Dr Matharoo-Ball, who will be undertaking this research at Nottingham Trent University's School of Science and Technology, said: “Through advances in technology we are now able to address the problem of diagnosis of the disease. This is achieved through combining analytical methods with sophisticated computer technology to determine which blood proteins indicate the presence of early disease.”
Professor Kevin Morgan in The University of Nottingham's School of Molecular Medical Sciences, said: “A reliable, accurate test to identify affected individuals would mean future treatments could be given much earlier when drugs are likely to be most effective. It also would give people with dementia and their families more time to prepare and plan for the future.”
Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust said: “We are delighted to be funding what could be a breakthrough study in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
“There are 700,000 people in the UK with dementia and this number is expected to double within a generation. We desperately need to fund research looking at different ways to tackle this devastating disease."
The news of the study comes shortly before World Alzheimer’s Day - 21 September - which aims to raise awareness about the reality of living with dementia.
Ends
Notes to editors:
For press enquiries please contact Matt Wallace, Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8785, or via email matthew.wallace@ntu.ac.uk or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk.
For further information about the Alzheimer's Research Trust please contact the charity’s Press Officer, Alison Cranage on +44 (0)1223 843304 or email press@alzheimers-research.org.uk.
The Alzheimer's Research Trust provides free information on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias telephone +44 (0)1223 843899 or visit www.alzheimers-research.org.uk. The charity relies solely on public donations to fund its research.
Over 9000 people in Nottinghamshire have dementia.
Researchers will identify biomarkers by looking for proteins that are increased in the blood of Alzheimer’s patients compared to a control group of healthy older people.
Dementia research is severely under-funded - only £11 is spent on UK Alzheimer’s research annually per patient, compared to £289 for people with cancer.
Care services for dementia costs the UK more than cancer, heart disease and stroke combined.
The Alzheimer's Research Trust is currently supporting 120 projects across the country.
