Alzheimer's breakthrough hailed as 'turning point'

[Chatter]

Alzheimer's breakthrough hailed as 'turning point'

BBC Health

10 October 2013

BBC News - Alzheimer's breakthrough hailed as 'turning point'

BBC News - Alzheimer's breakthrough: Cure or hype?

The discovery of the first chemical to prevent the death of brain tissue in a neurodegenerative disease has been hailed as the "turning point" in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

More work is needed to develop a drug that could be taken by patients.

But scientists say a resulting medicine could treat Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and other diseases.

In tests on mice, the Medical Research Council showed all brain cell death from prion disease could be prevented.

Prof Roger Morris, from King's College London, said: "This finding, I suspect, will be judged by history as a turning point in the search for medicines to control and prevent Alzheimer's disease."

He told the BBC a cure for Alzheimer's was not imminent but: "I'm very excited, it's the first proof in any living animal that you can delay neurodegeneration.

"The world won't change tomorrow, but this is a landmark study."

The research team at the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, based at the University of Leicester, focused on the natural defence mechanisms built into brain cells.

 

[CanadaJohn]

There have been "cures" hailed before for this and other diseases that failed to materialize so I'll hold my joy for now. I certainly do hope it's true.

I note that I saw no mention of stem cells or embryos being used in the research and the development of the drug - would be interesting to know if this was just not mentioned or if they were not used since the battle in America for a long time was that without access to embryos, cures for many of these named diseases would not be found.

 

[Manc Skipper]

The OP actually said that a new drug isn't imminent, but that this breakthrough was a proof of principle. It's good news.

 

[Chatter]

There have been "cures" hailed before for this and other diseases that failed to materialize so I'll hold my joy for now. I certainly do hope it's true.

I note that I saw no mention of stem cells or embryos being used in the research and the development of the drug - would be interesting to know if this was just not mentioned or if they were not used since the battle in America for a long time was that without access to embryos, cures for many of these named diseases would not be found.

It's not a cure, but it is a major game changing breakthrough which may herald the prospect of a cure.

Professor Giovanna Mallucci explains the breakthrough on Sky News

Alzheimer's Pill Hope After Breakthrough

Alzheimer

 

[Threegoofs]

Nice, but the number of 'breakthroughs' that correlate to actual treatments in this disease is very low. I cant tell you how many times we've seen this kind of stuff, and it fails in clinical trials. PERK kinase inhibitors have several challenges to work in humans, much less in this disease.

For an actual scientific perspective on this (after all, isnt this the science section?) turn to the very wise Derek Lowe, my favorite medicinal chemist of all time.

In the Pipeline:

 

[Chatter]

Nice, but the number of 'breakthroughs' that correlate to actual treatments in this disease is very low. I cant tell you how many times we've seen this kind of stuff, and it fails in clinical trials. PERK kinase inhibitors have several challenges to work in humans, much less in this disease.

For an actual scientific perspective on this (after all, isnt this the science section?) turn to the very wise Derek Lowe, my favorite medicinal chemist of all time.

In the Pipeline:

The fact that the team have managed to stop brain cells from dying is a major achievement and breakthrough no matter how you look at it, or are you under the impression that all medical research occurs in the US.

Alzheimer's breakthrough: Scientists stop brain cells from dying | Mail Online

The UK has a significant pharmaceutical industry with one in five of the world's biggest-selling prescription drugs being developed in the UK and home grown companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca as well as Foreign pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Novartis, Hoffmann–La Roche and Eisai all having a major presence in the UK . The UK also has a lot of research facilities across the country with Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh and London being world famous centres for medical science

Indeed it all became laughable when some US Commentators during a 2009 US debate about Obamacare suggested that Senator Kennedy would have died far earlier if he had been treated by the British NHS. The truth being that British Scientists Peter Manfield and Godfrey Hounsfield were instrumental in the development of the MRI Machines and CT Scanners used to diagnose such Brain Cancers and were awarded Noble Prizes for their efforts. Whilst the Cancer Drug Senator Kennedy was being treated with Temozolomide (Temodal™) was developed by Aston University in the UK.

Peter Mansfield - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Godfrey Hounsfield - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Temozolomide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The UK has less than 1% of the world population but produces over 15% of the worlds scientists.

BBC Science - Brian Cox: The wonder of British science

The Royal Marsden (London) and its academic partner, The Institute of Cancer Research (UK), have discovered or developed more new anti-cancer drugs than the National Cancer Institute in the USA.

World-leading cancer expertise at The Royal Marsden

“Our research is behind 19 of the top 20 drugs used to treat cancer patients worldwide today. Our work has underpinned the huge progress we are now seeing in preventing more deaths from lung cancer. And our progress over decades has helped to develop radiotherapy as a major form of treatment for half of all cancer patients.

Deaths from common cancers at 40-year low - Telegraph

 

[Chatter]

One of the largest current developments in terms of Medical Research Facilities in the world, the Francis Crick Institute is currently under development in London and scheduled to open in 2015. Named after Francis Crick who with James D. Watson and Maurice Wilkins was noted for being a co-discoverer of the structure of the DNA molecule at the University of Cambridge in 1953 for which they were jointly awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine - "for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material'.

Home | The Francis Crick Institute

Francis Crick Institute - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



The University of Cambridge New Biomedical Campus

Cambridge Biomedical Campus



Britain is also home to a number of large medical charities and significant trust funds such as the Wellcome Trust.

Wellcome Trust

Wellcome Trust - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[code1211]

Alzheimer's breakthrough hailed as 'turning point'

BBC Health

10 October 2013

BBC News - Alzheimer's breakthrough hailed as 'turning point'

BBC News - Alzheimer's breakthrough: Cure or hype?

The discovery of the first chemical to prevent the death of brain tissue in a neurodegenerative disease has been hailed as the "turning point" in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

More work is needed to develop a drug that could be taken by patients.

But scientists say a resulting medicine could treat Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and other diseases.

In tests on mice, the Medical Research Council showed all brain cell death from prion disease could be prevented.

Prof Roger Morris, from King's College London, said: "This finding, I suspect, will be judged by history as a turning point in the search for medicines to control and prevent Alzheimer's disease."

He told the BBC a cure for Alzheimer's was not imminent but: "I'm very excited, it's the first proof in any living animal that you can delay neurodegeneration.

"The world won't change tomorrow, but this is a landmark study."

The research team at the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, based at the University of Leicester, focused on the natural defence mechanisms built into brain cells.

This would be spectacular.

i have seen the devastation this disease causes and any advance is needed and very welcome.

 

[Chatter]

In terms of UK Discoveries there have been quite a few, such as the first splitting of the atom which occurred in 1917 in Manchester in England under the direction of Sir Ernest Rutherford. Rutherford also worked alongside Hans Wilhelm Geiger who developed at Manchester a prototype that would later become the famous Geiger counter, ad who followed in the footsteps of John Dalton also of Manchester University and one of the great atomic theorists of his time. Then there is Frank Whittle who invented the jet engine, Alan Turing, Tom Kilburn and Sir Freddie Williams who were all instrumental in designing the first programmable computer, and then you have Tim Berners-Lee who was instrumental in developing the world wide web and a host of other discoveries from Crick and Watson's DNA through to Graphene, Liquid Crystal Displays through to a large quantity of the pharmaceutical drugs in production today, as well as IVF Treatments and a host of other discoveries. We have also produced many of the most famous scientists on earth from Newton to Darwin right through to many of today's best known scientists such Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking, Brian Cox, Susan Greenfield, Oliver Sacks, Desmond Morris or the late Sir Patrick Moore etc.

In this recent BBC series -Science Britannica , Professor Brian Cox charts the history of British Science

 

[Chatter]

In other neurological news -

Drug developed in Cambridge approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis

17th September 2013

Approval concludes nearly 40-year epic journey from fundamental research to discovery of an effective treatment for active relapsing multiple sclerosis

A transformational new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) - the result of over three decades of research in Cambridge - was approved today by the EU agency responsible for regulating new drugs.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved the drug Alemtuzumab, to be known by the brand name Lemtrada and previously called Campath-1H (for ‘Cambridge Pathology 1st Human’), for the treatment of MS.

"This announcement marks the culmination of more than 20 years work, with many ups and downs in pursuing the idea that Campath-1H might help people with multiple sclerosis along the way" - Professor Alastair Compston

In recognition of the highly effective new treatment, the University of Cambridge has produced a video which explores the history of the drug, showing the many challenges as well as successes experienced during the course of this development.

- See more at: Drug developed in Cambridge approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis | University of Cambridge

 

[sangha]

The fact that the team have managed to stop brain cells from dying is a major achievement and breakthrough no matter how you look at it, or are you under the impression that all medical research occurs in the US.

Alzheimer's breakthrough: Scientists stop brain cells from dying | Mail Online

The UK has a significant pharmaceutical industry with one in five of the world's biggest-selling prescription drugs being developed in the UK and home grown companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca as well as Foreign pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Novartis, Hoffmann–La Roche and Eisai all having a major presence in the UK . The UK also has a lot of research facilities across the country with Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh and London being world famous centres for medical science

Indeed it all became laughable when some US Commentators during a 2009 US debate about Obamacare suggested that Senator Kennedy would have died far earlier if he had been treated by the British NHS. The truth being that British Scientists Peter Manfield and Godfrey Hounsfield were instrumental in the development of the MRI Machines and CT Scanners used to diagnose such Brain Cancers and were awarded Noble Prizes for their efforts. Whilst the Cancer Drug Senator Kennedy was being treated with Temozolomide (Temodal™) was developed by Aston University in the UK.

Peter Mansfield - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Godfrey Hounsfield - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Temozolomide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The UK has less than 1% of the world population but produces over 15% of the worlds scientists.

BBC Science - Brian Cox: The wonder of British science

Yes, I have to admit that the British are very good at medicine. Not only that, but they've done some wonderful things with our language (ex lifts, lorries, etc)

 

[Chatter]

Yes, I have to admit that the British are very good at medicine. Not only that, but they've done some wonderful things with our language (ex lifts, lorries, etc)

Britain is home to GlaxoSmithKline, the largest European drug maker, and AstraZeneca with one in five of the world's top treatments being developed in Britain, according to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. We even discovered Viagra in the UK, which was first tested in Swansea and initially marketed as a drug for hypertension. :lol:

As for language, America, Australia, Britain, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand etc have all been very creative with the English language.

 

[Threegoofs]

The fact that the team have managed to stop brain cells from dying is a major achievement and breakthrough no matter how you look at it, or are you under the impression that all medical research occurs in the US.

Alzheimer's breakthrough: Scientists stop brain cells from dying | Mail Online

Actually, if you read the link I posted, it basically says this concept has already been proven in mice (although not via small molecule inhibitors), and that while it's a nice finding, it probably isn't the breakthrough it's touted as.

Not sure why all the woofing about UK science.

 

[Chatter]

Actually, if you read the link I posted, it basically says this concept has already been proven in mice (although not via small molecule inhibitors), and that while it's a nice finding, it probably isn't the breakthrough it's touted as.

Not sure why all the woofing about UK science.

Yes it was proven in mice by the same British team last year, whose research has now moved further forward. In terms of Professor Roger Morris, he has spent his whole life studying molecular neurology and is very excited about the discovery, labelling it as a turning point, and rather than pour scorn on this discovery I hope it does go on to herald new research and new drugs.

BBC News - Range of brain diseases could be treated by single drug

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v485/n7399/full/nature11058.html

Do you really think top scientists such as Professor Roger Morris would be suggesting that this could be a landmark discovery and a turning point in the search for medicine to control and even prevent Alzheimer's disease if there was not a possibility of using this method to prevent brain cells dying in other species, the fact it's mice doesn't matter, it is still a very significant breakthrough and a first. or did you think it was just me saying that. In terms of British Science I have every right to shout about it, as a good deal of people seem to think nothing of any scientific importance happens outside the USA. So why not shout about British Science.

One major difference this time is that sensible, cautious scientists are suggesting the latest discovery could be one for the history books.

Nearly every report contains this quote from Prof Roger Morris, at King's College London: "This finding, I suspect, will be judged by history as a turning point in the search for medicines to control and prevent Alzheimer's disease."

So what is it about the latest study that generates a rare level of excitement? And is a cure really on the cards?

The prime source of excitement is that a chemical has stopped the death of brain cells, in a living brain, that would have otherwise died due to a neurodegenerative disease.

This is a first and a significant one. When I interviewed Prof Morris on Wednesday night, he used the word "landmark" repeatedly.

BBC News - Alzheimer's breakthrough: Cure or hype?

 

[Threegoofs]

Yes it was proven in mice by the same British team last year, whose research has now moved further forward. In terms of Professor Roger Morris, he has spent his whole life studying molecular neurology and is very excited about the discovery, labelling it as a turning point, and rather than pour scorn on this discovery I hope it does go on to herald new research and new drugs.

BBC News - Range of brain diseases could be treated by single drug

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v485/n7399/full/nature11058.html

Do you really think top scientists such as Professor Roger Morris would be suggesting that this could be a landmark discovery and a turning point in the search for medicine to control and even prevent Alzheimer's disease if there was not a possibility of using this method to prevent brain cells dying in other species, the fact it's mice doesn't matter, it is still a very significant breakthrough and a first. or did you think it was just me saying that. In terms of British Science I have every right to shout about it, as a good deal of people seem to think nothing of any scientific importance happens outside the USA. So why not shout about British Science.

Okaaaaay. Go UK science, I guess.

I'll check back with you in ten years to see the drug development. Generally, Alzheimer's is a vast wasteland for drugs when you bring them into Phase 2 and 3.

 

[Linc]

The dual therapy using Namenda and Aricept is proving successful in stabilizing ALZ.
At least 5 years for the regular older person living in Assisted or Nursing
Great diagram over the Internet.

Okaaaaay. Go UK science, I guess.


I'll check back with you in ten years to see the drug development. Generally, Alzheimer's is a vast wasteland for drugs when you bring them into Phase 2 and 3.

 

[Threegoofs]

The dual therapy using Namenda and Aricept is proving successful in stabilizing ALZ.
At least 5 years for the regular older person living in Assisted or Nursing
Great diagram over the Internet.

Or not.

http://m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis....7393588&feed_id=5&videofeed=41&nb_splitPage=0

Ref:
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1106668

 

[Linc]

I can buy that..
That one might not work but the other will, but they're independent of each other according to the study..Obviously early still..

Or not.

http://m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis....7393588&feed_id=5&videofeed=41&nb_splitPage=0

Ref:
MMS: Error

 

[Chatter]

Okaaaaay. Go UK science, I guess.

I'll check back with you in ten years to see the drug development. Generally, Alzheimer's is a vast wasteland for drugs when you bring them into Phase 2 and 3.

That may well be, however King's College which is home to Professor Roger Morris has one of the best Neuroscience and Psychiatry Units in the world, and they don't make such assertions lightly.

King's College London - About the Institute of Psychiatry

King's is home to numerous teaching hospitals such as the Royal Bethlam more commonly known as Bedlam which was established in 1247 or St Thomas's Hospital which was described as ancient in 1215 and was named after St Thomas Becket or Guy's Hospital s founded in 1721 by Thomas Guy, however the oldest hospital in London is St Bartholomew's Hospital known as Barts having been founded in 1123, whilst others of notable London Hospitals include The Royal London Hospital (1740) which was home to the Elephant Man, St George's Hospital (1733) which Henry Gray (1827 - 13 June 1861) an English anatomist and surgeon attended before publishing his famous medical book Gray's Anatomy, St Mary's (1851) where Rodney Porter was awarded the Nobel Prize for research on the chemical structure of antibodies and Alexander Fleming discovered of penicillin and University College Hospital (1834) which is home to London's World famous Institute of Neurology based at Queen's Square in London. So London along with ancient Universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh etc have been in the research business for a considerable time and have produced quite a few ground breaking and landmark discoveries, which is why Professors don't generally make such claims unless they are convinced that what they have discovered is going to be of great significance.

UCL Institute of Neurology

The Royal Society: Welcome

From rare plants, heart surgery, illuminated manuscripts, and helicopter emergency services, to pharmacies, false teeth and Freud, the exhibits in London's museums help to place the history and development of medicine and health care in its wides

In terms of the experimental drug currently been tested and which has reversed brain cell deaths in neurodegenerative conditions it's known as GSK2606414, and is made by British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline.

Alzheimer's treatment: landmark study gives hope for simple pill | Science | The Guardian

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

a little much with the nationalism, no?

 

[Chatter]

a little much with the nationalism, no?

No - I am simply stating that the UK and indeed Europe and the rest of the world carry out important scientific research, something that is often overlooked by some Americans who seem to think everything is discovered in the US. Indeed I am sure that countries such as China and India will in the future increasingly make major breakthroughs and discoveries that are to the benefit of everyone.

 

[Chatter]

As for the future of University Education and indeed Research a much more international dimension is emerging, if you look at British Universities they are investing in new campuses overseas, especially in the far East, whilst foreign universities are investing in London, whilst at the same time University Collaboration in terms of major research projects is increasing. In Europe, there is the European Laboratory for Partical Physics (CERN), European Physical Society, European Southern Observatory/European Northern Observatory, European Space Agency, The European Association for Astronomy Education, The Human Brain Project (Europe), the International Human Genome Project, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) to name but a few. Whilst Universities themselves are collaborating in other to fund more substantial research, examples being the N8 Group or Francis Crick Institute in the UK. Whilst in terms of students, an increasing number are foreign in many Universities as students are increasingly prepared go overseas to be educated.

Empires and allies | General | Times Higher Education

Imperial and Zhejiang explore collaboration

CERN | Accelerating science

ITER - the way to new energy

ESO

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias - IAC - European Northern Observatory

ESA

https://www.humanbrainproject.eu/en_GB

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

No - I am simply stating that the UK and indeed Europe and the rest of the world carry out important scientific research, something that is often overlooked by some Americans

I'm not sure anyone overlooked it, buddy. And the fact that it seems to have been unleashed in multiple spam attacks on this thread is rather bizarre, to say the least. Especially when it seems in response to anyone questioning the worth of the findings.

who seem to think everything is discovered in the US.

Can you provide some quotes. or is this like the neurotic fat girl who just cooks up bizarre fantasies about people talking behind her back?

Indeed I am sure that countries such as China and India will in the future increasingly make major breakthroughs and discoveries that are to the benefit of everyone.

yeah, I'm sure they will to, but that has very little to do with what I just wrote

 

[Chatter]

I'm not sure anyone overlooked it, buddy. And the fact that it seems to have been unleashed in multiple spam attacks on this thread is rather bizarre, to say the least. Especially when it seems in response to anyone questioning the worth of the findings.

I have already mentioned the findings, which a leading Professor at Kings College London described as ground breaking. If you disagree with him and the neuroscience department at Kings or the MRC at Leicester then I suggest you take the issue up with them, although they are people who have been involved in neuroscience all their working lives. In terms of Spam, most of it is in relation to British Science with reference to medical research, don't like it then go somewhere else or join the Republican Party and moan on about how Britain has death panels and poor medical treatment or try to suggest the UK is really violent because the British don't all carry guns.

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

I have already mentioned the findings, which a leading Professor at Kings College London described as ground breaking.

Ok?

If you disagree with him and the neuroscience department at Kings or the MRC at Leicester then I suggest you take the issue up with them, although they are people who have been involved in neuroscience all their working lives.

ok, you think the people are wrong who are doubting the importance of this. Cool. What I don't get is why you would make that a nationalist issue

In terms of Spam, most of it is in relation to British Science with reference to medical research, don't like it then go somewhere else or join the Republican Party and moan on about how Britain has death panels and poor medical treatment or try to suggest the UK is really violent because they don't all carry guns.

It just comes off as a rather bizarre and a rather insecure reaction to someone questioning the value of a specific discovery. The same with interpreting me pointing that out as some type of nationalist attack on the UK, especially from a conservative perspective