Fruit flies in Alzheimer’s tests

A Cambridgeshire charity has funded research into Alzheimer’s disease, using fruit flies.

The Shelford-based Alzheimer’s Research Trust has given The University of Cambridge £30,000 to investigate the link between this combination.

The insects share many of the same genes as humans, and scientists hope knowledge of the flies’ ageing process will help them understand the disease.

The Trust says with an aging population research has never been more crucial.

Age and Alzheimer’s

Age is the biggest factor in Alzheimer’s with the risk doubling every five years after the age of 65. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia with 465,000 people suffering from it in the UK.

Dr Maria Giannakou is using fruit flies to understand Alzheimer’s disease

Dr Maria Giannakou is leading the research at The University of Cambridge. She says scientists are beginning to understand what is causing the disease.

They are looking into how ageing affects a protein called amyloid that builds up to form plaques in the brain causing brain cells to die.

Fruit flies

Fruit flies are commonly used in all sorts of laboratory research because their life cycle is so short, which means the ageing process can be tracked relatively quickly.

Dr Giannakou explained that a fruit fly has a lot of the same genes as humans, and similar brain processes, making them a good comparison for study purposes.

The protein amyloid which builds up causing Alzheimer’s

A cure in Cambridge

Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at The Alzheimer’s Research Trust said that £1.8m is being spent on various studies in Cambridge. The studies are looking at the causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure of the condition.

When this fruit fly project is complete, the trust will decide whether to continue along similar lines or send their research in a different direction.

He said: “We need to tackle this disease as soon as we can because it is likely to increase as our population ages. Really, there is an urgency to tackle this.”

‘Frighteningly rapid’

Kenny Fryde from Chesterton, in Cambridge, is looking after his mother who has Alzheimer’s.
Although only recently diagnosed, he said they saw symptoms years ago.

Kenny described how his mother would suffer memory lapses and was convinced she was living abroad.

He described her as “a highly intelligent professional woman” but her mental deterioration was “frighteningly rapid”.

He went on: “She’s disappearing bit by bit.”

SOURCE: news.bbc.co.uk