New research conducted by Monash University promises to aid in the removal of toxins in dementia suffers, which could lead to a new treatment that reverses the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in the future.

Researchers are investigating new ways to treat Alzheimer's by targeting the blood-brain barrier, which acts as a door to the brain, and is responsible for pumping toxins in the blood away from the brain.

Monash University’s Dr Joseph Nicolazzo is examining how pumps in the blood-brain barrier become dysfunctional in Alzheimer’s patients.

The subsequent diminishing of the pumping action is believed to result in a build-up of the toxin amyloid in the brain, killing nerve cells in the brain and leading to memory loss in patients.

The researchers are investigating how to get the pumps working again, and to safely filter out the toxins in the brain.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia affecting 300,000 Australians,” Dr Nicolazzo said.
“While there are medications that can assist with memory, there is currently no cure that can reverse the disease.
“We hope that unravelling how to get the pumps working again to decrease amyloid build-up in the brain will lead to new drugs that may cure Alzheimer’s disease.”
It is believed 900,000 Australians will be affected by Alzheimer's disease by 2050.