May 20, 2010

expert reaction to new research into links between Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome, as published in the journal PLoS ONE

Researchers have discovered that the protein that forms damaging plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease also accumulates in the eyes of people with Down’s symdrome, suggesting the possibility of new ways of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said:

“These new findings add to recent studies which suggest that examining the eye for deposits of the toxic amyloid protein could one day play a part in diagnosing Alzheimer’s. We desperately need to develop swift and effective means of spotting Alzheimer’s early to allow future treatments to be given when most beneficial and to provide people the chance to prepare for the future.

“Over 820,000 people in the UK live with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and that number is set to rise as our population ages. With enough investment in research, new treatments for this devastating disease are possible.”

Dr Steve Gentleman, Reader in Experimental Neuropathology, Imperial College London, said:

“The detection of amyloid-β in the eyes of Down’s children 30 years before dementia becomes apparent suggests that, if the development of Alzheimer’s pathology follows a similar timecourse in the rest of the population, it might be worth screening people in their 40’s. However, before this could be useful we would need to know what proportion of people who die with Alzheimer’s actually have these distinctive cataracts. This is not as trivial as it sounds because autopsies are performed less and less nowadays and pathological examination of the eyes is certainly not routine.”

Dr Susanne Sorensen, Head of Research, Alzheimer’s Society, said:

“Is this an exciting study? The eyes have it! This study is the first of its kind to link specific cataracts found in the eyes of people with Down’s syndrome with changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Studies like this one offer hope for finding new ways of detecting Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms become apparent. This could help with developing treatments such as vaccines to help transform people’s lives.

“However, this research was carried out post-mortem. Much more research is now needed to find ways of measuring the development of these cataracts in living people and to establish if there is a link to the way cataracts develop in other people with Alzheimer’s. Yet, dementia research is drastically underfunded. We urgently need more investment if we are to tackle this devastating condition. Anyone concerned about dementia should talk to their GP.”

Additional information from Alzheimer’s Society: Researchers have discovered that the protein that forms plaques in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease also accumulates in the eyes of people with Down’s syndrome according to research published in May issue of the journal PLoS ONE. The research has been led by Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center, and the Molecular Aging & Development Laboratory. Scientists hope the discovery could lead to new ways of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. Early diagnosis is an important target for research as it could work hand in hand with other potential treatments such as vaccines to offer people hope for the future. People with Down’s syndrome make up the second largest group of people with dementia under the age of 60, and Down’s syndrome is the leading cause of dementia for people under 50.