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| Protein 'behind Alzheimer's fits' | Protein 'behind Alzheimer's fits' |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Scientists in Scotland say they may have found what causes some Alzheimer's patients to develop epilepsy. | |
| The amyloid protein, which forms in clumps in patients' brains, makes nerve cells too sensitive and prone to seizures, tests in mice suggest. | The amyloid protein, which forms in clumps in patients' brains, makes nerve cells too sensitive and prone to seizures, tests in mice suggest. |
| The cells short-circuit and fire too many electrical signals, the Journal of Neuroscience reports. | The cells short-circuit and fire too many electrical signals, the Journal of Neuroscience reports. |
| If true in humans too, which the experts say is likely, it may mean some patients will need different drugs. | If true in humans too, which the experts say is likely, it may mean some patients will need different drugs. |
| A mainstay of treatment for Alzheimer's is a class of drugs called the cholinesterase inhibitors. | A mainstay of treatment for Alzheimer's is a class of drugs called the cholinesterase inhibitors. |
| They work by stopping the breakdown of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter associated with memory. Our findings could lead to a rethink of the type of drugs that are given to patients with Alzheimer's disease Researcher Professor Tibor Harkany | They work by stopping the breakdown of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter associated with memory. Our findings could lead to a rethink of the type of drugs that are given to patients with Alzheimer's disease Researcher Professor Tibor Harkany |
| But an unwanted effect is that this can also increase a person's susceptibility to seizures. | But an unwanted effect is that this can also increase a person's susceptibility to seizures. |
| However, medication to control seizures can also make Alzheimer's symptoms worse. | However, medication to control seizures can also make Alzheimer's symptoms worse. |
| A third of Alzheimer's patients have some degree of epilepsy, posing a treatment dilemma for doctors. | A third of Alzheimer's patients have some degree of epilepsy, posing a treatment dilemma for doctors. |
| New understanding | New understanding |
| Researcher Professor Tibor Harkany, of the University of Aberdeen, said he hoped his findings would lead to the discovery of new drugs to treat both problems with fewer side-effects. | Researcher Professor Tibor Harkany, of the University of Aberdeen, said he hoped his findings would lead to the discovery of new drugs to treat both problems with fewer side-effects. |
| He said: "We have shown for the first time the actual cellular process that links epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. | He said: "We have shown for the first time the actual cellular process that links epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. |
| "This provides us with a new wave of understanding in Alzheimer's disease. | "This provides us with a new wave of understanding in Alzheimer's disease. |
| "Our findings could lead to a rethink of the type of drugs that are given to patients with Alzheimer's disease. | "Our findings could lead to a rethink of the type of drugs that are given to patients with Alzheimer's disease. |
| "It should be possible to design drugs to tackle the two problems of seizures and cognition at the cellular level because both share common mechanisms." | "It should be possible to design drugs to tackle the two problems of seizures and cognition at the cellular level because both share common mechanisms." |
| Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "One third of Alzheimer's patients have some degree of epilepsy, and some people who live with the disease are 80 times more likely to suffer seizures than the general population. | Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "One third of Alzheimer's patients have some degree of epilepsy, and some people who live with the disease are 80 times more likely to suffer seizures than the general population. |
| "This research builds greatly on our understanding of the connection between the two conditions." | "This research builds greatly on our understanding of the connection between the two conditions." |
| Neil Hunt, of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "These seizures can be extremely distressing for people with dementia and their families. | Neil Hunt, of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "These seizures can be extremely distressing for people with dementia and their families. |
| "This research enhances our understanding of the relationship between epilepsy and dementia." | "This research enhances our understanding of the relationship between epilepsy and dementia." |