In dementia, some studies have used vaccination against abnormal proteins that build up in the brain in Alzheimer's disease. It's one of the approaches that has been very effective in other diseases such as cancer. Immunotherapy involves boosting the body's own defences to fight disease. Read more about Alzheimer's Research UK stem cell research centre Immunotherapy These brain cells can also be used to test potential treatments at a very early stage. They've then triggered these stem cells to become brain cells.īy studying these cells, scientists have gained important insights into how the damage to the brain begins and how it might be halted.

Scientists have taken skin cells from people with certain types of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, and 'reprogrammed' them into stem cells in the lab. They can develop into many different cell types, including brain or nerve cells. Here are some of the areas researchers are working on and their findings so far. And with increased funding over the past few years, there are now many more research studies and clinical trials taking place.Īlthough a cure may be some years away, there are some very promising advances.

Huge strides have been made in understanding how different diseases cause damage in the brain and so produce dementia. Research is aimed at finding cures for dementia-causing diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. In fact, because dementia is caused by different diseases it is unlikely that there will be a single cure for dementia. There is currently no 'cure' for dementia.

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