Scots scientists hail new hope for Alzheimer's

Published on Monday 8 November 2010 16:50

Scottish scientists believe they have made an important breakthrough in understanding how Alzheimer's disease takes hold of the brain.

Researchers from the University of St Andrews have found a new way of studying the enzyme that has been implicated in the development of the disease.

The team now hopes to use its findings, published in the journal ACS Chemical Biology, to design a drug that could potentially stop Alzheimer's in its tracks.

The Alzheimer's Research Trust, which is funding the work, described it as "an exciting step forward for dementia research".

Kirsty Muirhead, a PhD student at St Andrews, has been collaborating with scientists across the globe in the development, which involves the use of a new fluorescent tracking chemical that reacts with the enzyme inside living cells, allowing scientists to see the interaction.

Ms Muirhead said:"I chose to work on this project because I wanted to do something that was going to have a benefit for people, so I'm very excited about this progress."