In a jointly funded project between the Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS) and the Alzheimer's Research Trust, experts are hailing a 'crucial breakthrough' in dementia research, as British scientists have successfully modelled the brain degeneration of a very common type of dementia and Parkinson's disease using mouse models. The research has been published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Lead researchers Prof John Mayer, Prof Jim Lowe and Dr Lynn Bedford of the University of Nottingham (supported by both the PDS and the Alzheimer's Research Trust) said:

"Current drugs given to people with Lewy body disease and Parkinson's disease simply treat symptoms, without preventing or slowing down the diseases. This mouse model is the first platform to understand how the brain cell deterioration takes place. We will use this model to identify targets for new drugs to slow or prevent the disease."

Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research and Development at the PDS, said:

"The formation of Lewy bodies is a key event in the development of nerve cell death associated with Parkinson's disease. Understanding how these are formed will help us to figure out what happens when nerve cells die in Parkinson's and from this to develop therapies that will ultimately provide a cure for the condition. The majority of Parkinson's research in the UK is currently funded by the Parkinson's Disease Society through voluntary donations, and we hope that advances such as this will stimulate further spending on Parkinson's research."

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