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Alzheimer Scientists at the Brain and Mind Research Institute Discuss Latest Developments

A detailed discussion by top researches in the field into current Alzheimerâ™s and Parkinson's research features as article of the month in the prestigious journal, Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

Professor Jürgen Götz and Dr Lars Ittner are based at the University's Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease Laboratory at the Brain and Mind Research Institute, having moved from the University of Zurich/Switzerland three years ago.

In the article they review what we have learned from disease models of Alzheimer's and related dementias, and in particular how they have contributed to the early diagnosis and the prospect of a treatment strategy. They also discuss their groundbreaking work, together with research by others that has led to the identification of novel players and promising drug targets.

"At present, neither Alzheimer's nor related dementias can be cured," said Professor Götz. "Current treatment approaches include vaccination, anti-inflammatory drugs, and modulators for formation, aggregation and clearance of toxic proteins that accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer patients. Many of the new therapeutic strategies have their foundation in disease models as the work of Jürgen Götz and Lars Ittner highlights," he said.

The Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease Laboratory headed by Professor Götz works to identify the mechanisms that lead to progressive neurodegeneration and dementia, and study the effects of genetics, aging and associated disorders such as diabetes, as well as dietary aspects.

The researchers are convinced that by adopting a healthier lifestyle and introducing early diagnosis and a targeted therapy, Alzheimer's disease can be successfully treated in the near future.

The article appears in the current issue of Nature Reviews Neuroscience (Vol. 9, Issue 7, 532-544, July 2008)

A full copy of the paper is available online at: http://www.nature.com/nrn/index.html

For further information about the work of the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease Laboratory go to: http://www.bmri.org.au/alzheimer.html

Wenkart Scholarship awarded for Alzheimer research
Congratulations to Ms Laita Bokhari, PhD student in the group of Professor Götz of the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease Laboratory, who has been awarded with a scholarship of the Wenkart Foundation for her research project entitled "Novel Cellular Functions of the Alzheimer-Associated Protein TAU".

At the Faculty of Science Graduation Ceremony on 15 June 2007, Professor Jürgen Götz had the honour to present the Occasional Address. The ceremony took place in the Great Hall where 180 students received their graduation documents in the presence of their family and friends. The ceremony was presided by the Chair of the Academic Board, Professor Bruce Sutton

Dr. Nicole Schonrock has been awarded the prestigious HFSP (Human Frontiers Science Program) Fellowship to conduct studies on the regulation of the Alzheimer's hallmark protein APP in the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease Laboratory (Prof. Götz).