Alzheimer's cure is close: Experts hail new drug breakthrough

A CURE for Alzheimer's is moving closer with trials of breakthrough drugs that could halt the crippling effects of the disease.

A research team in Switzerland has discovered how potent new compounds work in the body to fight the brain condition without causing harmful side-effects.

The major development, which offers hope to millions of sufferers, was described as "tremendously encouraging" yesterday.

It makes it possible to tailor treatments so they target the toxic plaques that clump together in the brain and cause confusion and memory loss.

This has been achieved by working out how an enzyme triggers the destruction of neurons in the brain. Dirk Beher, co-author of a report on the research, said: "We have obtained extraordinary knowledge about how the enzyme gamma secretase can be modulated. This knowledge will be invaluable for developing even better targeted drugs to fight the disease."

Clinical trials of two new classes of drug had to be abandoned in 2010 because the compound being tested completely blocked the function of gamma secretase, resulting in serious side-effects, such as internal bleeding and skin cancer.

Senior author Dr Patrick Fraering said: "Scientists have been trying to target gamma secretase to treat Alzheimer's for over a decade.

"Our work suggests that next-generation molecules, by modulating rather than inhibiting the enzyme, could have few, if any, side-effects. It is tremendously encouraging."

http://www.express.co.uk/news/health/419367/Alzheimer-s-cure-is-close-Experts-hail-new-drug-breakthrough

One of these days a real cure will be happening and I still will not believe it.

Praying with all my heart on this drug.

What astoundingly great news! It's a tragedy to see people lose themselves to this disease. I really hope it proves to work.