Australian Alzheimer's study launched

An Australian study to better understand the devastating and deadly Alzheimer's disease has been launched in Melbourne.

The $10 million Australian Imaging, Biomarker and Lifestyle (AIBL) Flagship Study of Ageing has brought together Australian researchers for a three-year study to improve understanding of the causes and diagnosis of the disease, to examine lifestyle and diet factors that may influence the onset of Alzheimer's and to help develop preventative strategies.

Every week, about 1000 Australians are diagnosed with dementia, a disease which costs Australia $6.6 billion annually. About 80% of dementia is caused by Alzheimer's disease.

According to research by Access Economics, the number of Australians with dementia is rising and is expected to exceed 730,000 (2.8% of the projected population) by 2050.

The AIBL study was launched at Neurosciences Australia by Christopher Pyne, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing.

It will be one of the world's largest studies of its type involving positron emission tomography (PET) scans using Pittsburgh Compound-B (PIB), a PET amyloid-imaging agent. The scans are used to show differences between the brains of Alzheimer's patients and healthy volunteers.

A thousand volunteers aged 60 years and over will be needed for the study, with 600 participants sought in Victoria and 400 in WA. Participants will range from healthy people with no known genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's disease through to people diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's disease.

The study was established by the CSIRO-led Preventative Health National Research Flagship, and involves Edith Cowan University, the University of Melbourne, Neurosciences Australia and the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria.

For further information, visit www.aibl.nnf.com.au.