Astrazeneca, Mental Health Research Institute, Australia Sign Research Agreement

AstraZeneca and the Mental Health Research Institute in Australia have entered into a research collaboration agreement, to develop new ways of identifying Alzheimer’s disease patients at early stages of the disease.

Researchers aim to find out whether testing cognition at short intervals (every one to three months) over an eighteen-month period, will make it possible to identify individuals just at the point at which they are beginning to suffer cognitive decline as a result of Alzheimer’s disease.

The study will be conducted in conjunction with The Australian Imaging, Biomarker & Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing (AIBL), which aims to improve understanding of the causes and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, and help develop preventative strategies.

Judith Jaeger, director of Neuroscience Early Clinical Development at AstraZeneca, said: We recognize that in addition to searching for new medicines, we urgently need to find new ways to identify those at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease before they begin to experience symptoms. In addition to developing a novel approach to diagnosing cognitive decline, we hope that our collaboration with the world-class researchers at The Mental Health Research Institute will provide insights that aid our search for new treatments and ways to prevent disease progression.