Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.Scientists at Melbourne's Howard Florey Institute have made discoveries relating to dementia in Huntington's disease that indicate the potential for anti-dementia drug approaches.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
The scientists uncovered a clue about the causes of dementia in Huntington’s disease by showing that mice susceptible to Huntington’s disease have problems with learning and memory before the diseases’ typical movement problems appear.
The scientists also discovered that in Huntington’s diseased brains information processing between neurons is disrupted but the neurons do not die, which means the brain may respond to new anti-dementia drugs that can restore memory.
Research leader Dr Anthony Hannan said his team’s investigations were significant as they could lead to the development of memory restoring drugs designed especially for people with Huntington’s disease.
While more research is needed, Hannan noted that Alzheimer’s disease patients may also have defective nerve connections in the brain similar to Huntington’s disease. If this is true, it might be possible to develop anti-dementia drugs that enhance information processing for both disorders.