University of Nottingham - Model mice aid in dementia work

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have made a breakthrough in the battle to slow or prevent Parkinson's disease. They have genetically produced the first mouse model to exhibit the type of brain degeneration seen in Parkinson's and Lewy body disease, another type of dementia. The research could be used to develop targeted drugs to treat the conditions. John Mayer, who carried out the research, said: "At the moment drugs given to people with Lewy body and Parkinson's disease simply treat the symptoms. This model is the first to understand how brain cell deterioration takes place. We will use this model to identify targets for new drugs to slow or prevent the disease."