Scientists show key role for inflammation in Alzheimer’s

Southampton scientists have found that an immune response in the brain plays a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s, and that a vaccine designed to tackle the disease was able to suppress the response. The findings culminate a decade of research following up on a phase I trial of the vaccine, funding by Alzheimer’s Research UK and Medical Research Council (MRC). A subsequent, phase II trial was halted when some participants developed brain inflammation – but the University of Southampton team believes the findings suggest the trial may have been more successful if performed earlier in the disease process. Published in the journal Brain online today (Wednesday 14 August), the new findings come after the team examined brain tissuefrom people who took part in a clinical trial of the AN1792 vaccine over a decade ago. The trial, which involved people with mild to moderate stage Alzheimer’s disease, was designed to test...