Media release from University of Sydney, 9th December 2011:
A vaccine that slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
and other types of dementia has been developed by researchers at the University
of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI).
The vaccine, which targets a protein known as tau, prevents
the ongoing formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the brain of a mouse with
Alzheimer’s disease.
This progressive neurodegenerative disease affects more than
35 million people worldwide. The tau protein is also involved in front temporal
dementia, the second most common form of dementia in people younger than 65
years.
The results of the
study which led to the production of the vaccine have been published today
in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.
Lead author on the study, Associate Professor Lars Ittner,
from the Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's Disease Laboratory says:
“Our study is the first to show that a vaccine targeting the
tau protein can be effective once the disease has already set in.
“The vaccine appears to have a preventative effect: slowing
the development of further tangles, rather than clearing existing ones, but the
exact mechanism involved is not yet understood,” he said.
According to Associate Professor Ittner, scientists have been
working on vaccines targeting the amyloid plaques seen in Alzheimer’s for many
years with a few currently in clinical trials.
“Most of the other vaccines targeting tau were tested only
before or around the onset of the disease in animal models, but the vast
majority of people with Alzheimer’s disease are only diagnosed after the
symptoms have appeared.
“We are already collaborating with the US pharmaceutical
industry to develop this new vaccine for humans.
“Although we have a long way to go before the vaccine might
be available for human use, these early results are very promising and a great
reward for the countless hours spent in the lab by me and my team!”
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