In a modern, stately building overlooking Brisbane’s exhibition grounds, scientists are so close to a breakthrough in dementia treatments that the optimism is almost palpable.
Led by Associate Professor Tony White, Group Leader of the Cellular and Molecular Neurodegeneration Laboratory, researchers are quietly studying how brain cells respond to different treatments at the QIMR Berghofer Institute for Medical Research in Herston.
Although science still doesn’t understand the causes of dementia, experts know that for existing drugs to be effective, they must penetrate the barrier between the blood and the brain.
And that turns out to be the most challenging aspect of dementia research.
“The brain has a barrier between the blood and the brain to keep out anything the brain doesn’t want to get in, like bacteria or toxins, but that also means drugs can’t get into the brain,” he explains. Dr White.
“So we’re trying to find ways to open that barrier and allow the drugs to come in and that’s something we’re focusing on a lot here.
“There are a lot of people working on different drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, but most of these drugs don’t get into the brain.
“If we can find a way to open the blood-brain barrier to allow drugs to pass from the blood to the brain, that will be a major breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.”
What is dementia?
In a healthy brain, two proteins – amyloid and tau – happily share space.
But in people with Alzheimer’s disease, the compounds combine and begin to form plaques on brain tissue that kill healthy brain cells.
Dr White says these changes in the way proteins interact happen “very early” in life, but there’s still no way to detect them.
“But by the time you’re in your 60s and 60s, we start to see a buildup of amyloid in the brain and tau builds up inside neurons and these cause brain cells to degenerate and l inflammation of other cells in the brain.
Dr White’s team is one step closer to a brighter future for the estimated 500,000 people with dementia in Australia.
He was instrumental in the discovery of a copper-based drug that removes some of the amyloid plaque that forms on the brain.
This realization led to a drug that is still in clinical trials.
Dr. White’s current work with PhD student Joanna Wasielewska is also having success in using ultrasound to get more beneficial drugs into the brain to treat disease.
Although typically a disease that affects adults, there are approximately 70 diseases that also cause childhood dementia, a devastating diagnosis for which the QIMR Berghofer team is also focused on finding answers.
Small organs change research
In a small room next to the main lab is a fairly innocuous-looking storage unit.
From the outside, it could be mistaken for a small bar fridge, but inside are small rotating discs containing tiny brains.
Developed from tissue from people with dementia, the largest brains measure just 8mm and take up to two months to develop.
It’s these small organs that researchers use to test new ways to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Dr. Romal Stewart is responsible for the tiny specimens, which he says require daily attention for the first few weeks of their life.
“For the first two weeks or so, you have to do daily media shifts,” he says.
“At the start of the pandemic it was difficult and we were writing letters asking if we could continue to come to the lab.”
Such important research has been allowed to continue despite COVID restrictions.
Personal mission for researcher
Dr White began his career in dementia research 30 years ago and just a decade later tragedy struck when his mother Patricia was diagnosed with the disease when she was in her 70s.
“I worked in the field and figured out what was going on. I couldn’t suggest any drugs that would improve his results,” he said.
“My dad, who was caring for my mom at the time, often asked about the latest treatment and if there was anything on the horizon.
“But there was nothing that was going to be able to help him at the time.
“It was a tough time at the time because there wasn’t much positive, but I think things are changing now as we’re starting to see some positive research results.”
Dementia-free future possible
With a global team of scientists working daily on how to improve treatments for dementia, Dr White says there is “absolutely” hope for a future without the degenerative disease.
“Decades ago there was no future for people with cancer and when they were diagnosed it was practically a death sentence,” says Dr White.
“But now there are a lot of great treatments for cancer.
“You don’t have to slow down a lot to give people a better quality of life.”
A treatment that gives hope to the youngest
A dementia-free future won’t come in time for Bridget Smith’s father, but she hopes it could be something the mother-of-three can enjoy.
Garry Smith was admitted to hospital last year with lung problems, but that’s when his dementia suddenly and quickly became impossible to ignore.
“He forgot things from his past but certainly not things from his present like me and my boys,” said Ms Smith, who works in QIMR Berghofer’s communications team.
“The research that people like Dr Tony White are doing here is amazing.
“I’m 43. To say dad is so young at 76 to have dementia, I hope this research, even if it can’t help dad, maybe can help my generation.”
The QIMR Berghofer Dementia Research Team will host a Dementia Forum tonight from 5-7pm.
A recording of the event will also be posted on qimrberghofer.edu.au.
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