Dublin researchers have found a new clue, which might help the further understanding of what causes Alzheimer’s disease and lead to improved treatment in the future.

The team of Irish and international researchers believe they have identified a particular protein in the brain that triggers Alzheimer’s disease. They said treatment that reduces the formation of this protein could help those with the disease.

Alzheimer’s affects more than 40,000 people in Ireland and approximately 29.8 million people worldwide.

The findings, published in Nature Medicine, may lead to the development of new drug therapies.

Prof Ciaran Regan of the UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science said his team hoped that the findings would further the investigation into therapies that target the reduction of this protein. He added that Alzheimer’s disease is 'a major personal and societal tragedy'.