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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Hopes for Alzheimer's treatment | Hopes for Alzheimer's treatment |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Scientists at Cardiff University have developed a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. | Scientists at Cardiff University have developed a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. |
| Researchers said they had created an antibody which could block the production of brain chemicals linked to the debilitating disease. | Researchers said they had created an antibody which could block the production of brain chemicals linked to the debilitating disease. |
| Dr Emma Kidd, who led the research team, said the results of the tests were "highly encouraging". | Dr Emma Kidd, who led the research team, said the results of the tests were "highly encouraging". |
| There is no known cure for Alzheimer's, which causes irreversible loss of brain function and memory. | |
| The disease affects one in 20 people aged over 65 and a fifth of all people aged over 80 in the UK. | The disease affects one in 20 people aged over 65 and a fifth of all people aged over 80 in the UK. |
| The results of the study show that it is possible to decrease production of a protein called amyloid, which is believed to be the main cause of the disease. | The results of the study show that it is possible to decrease production of a protein called amyloid, which is believed to be the main cause of the disease. |
| Brain functions | Brain functions |
| Deposits of amyloid build up in the brain, preventing it from functioning properly. | Deposits of amyloid build up in the brain, preventing it from functioning properly. |
| The antibody will reduce this build-up, improving the patient's memory and quality of life, the researchers claim. | The antibody will reduce this build-up, improving the patient's memory and quality of life, the researchers claim. |
| Dr Kidd said: "Our results are highly encouraging at this stage. | 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. | "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." | "This would also reduce the burden on carers, usually family members, who look after patients in the earlier stages of the disease." |
| Funding | Funding |
| Dr Kidd added that it was possible the antibody could be used as a preventative treatment for people with a family history of Alzheimer's. | Dr Kidd added that it was possible the antibody could be used as a preventative treatment for people with a family history of Alzheimer's. |
| The work was carried out at the university's Welsh School of Pharmacy and was funded by the Alzheimer's Society. | The work was carried out at the university's Welsh School of Pharmacy and was funded by the Alzheimer's Society. |
| A final treatment could take several years to develop and the team are now seeking more money for the next stage of the work. | A final treatment could take several years to develop and the team are now seeking more money for the next stage of the work. |
| Professor Clive Ballard, from the Alzheimer's Society, said he was "thrilled" to have funded the work. | Professor Clive Ballard, from the Alzheimer's Society, said he was "thrilled" to have funded the work. |
| He added: "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." | He added: "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 research will be published on Friday in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. | The research will be published on Friday in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. |