Search for Alzheimer’s answers

Alzheimer’s disease already affects almost 250,000 Australians. But researchers now fear that this could just be the tip of the iceberg, with brain scans revealing that almost one third of Australians aged over 60 have preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, putting them at a significantly greater risk of developing the deadly disease.

This research is a result of the Australian Imaging Biomarkers Lifestyle Study of Ageing (AIBL), the largest of its kind in the world, which aims to develop an early diagnosis technique for Alzheimer’s disease.

Professor Ralph Martins AO, who was instrumental in establishing the AIBL study 10 years ago, will examine the quest for an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease in The West Australian ECU Professorial Lecture Series on 15 July 2016.

“Alzheimer’s disease is a massive, and growing, global health challenge. To date all clinical trials of treatments have failed, which has been largely attributed to the interventions being undertaken too late in the disease process when the brain is already severely damaged,” Professor Martins said.

“This is why the AIBL study was established, so we can try to identify a way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease early in its progression when treatment can be more effective.”

Lifestyle factors

The AIBL study has also allowed researchers to examine the role lifestyle factors play in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

“We have been able to prove that both dietary patterns and exercise levels play an important role in modifying the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease,” Professor Martins said.

“By better understanding how these lifestyle factors influence the risk of Alzheimer’s disease we will hopefully be able to develop effective means of preventing or slowing the disease.”

Visit The West Australian ECU Professorial Lecture Series website to register for the free lecture.

Source: ECU

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Search for Alzheimer’s answers