By Glynnis Grainger
Santa Clara Bentley parishioner and leading Alzheimer’s researcher, Professor Ralph Martins, is developing new research to find a cure for the disease with the McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Foundation he heads.
Prof Martins work has contributed to the understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) as resulting from a build-up of amyloids in the brain.
“Over the last 10 years, I have, in collaboration with scientists in Melbourne, been able to show the build-up of amyloids in the brain in living people 20 years before any symptoms appear.
“Where this allows for early diagnosis of AD, and thus enabling prevention and treatment programs to be more effective, this procedure of brain imaging is expensive, and thus cannot be used to screen the population.”
To address this challenge, Prof Martins and his team have been developing an eye test which is relatively inexpensive and safe.
“This involves people drinking a glass of curcumin drink once-a-day for a week, and at the end of the week, a photograph is taken of the eye.
“People who have amyloids in their brain also have amyloids in their eyes.
“These amyloids can find the curcumin, and fluoresce it, enabling the camera to capture the picture. This is very exciting.”
His team have studied 40 people, taking pictures of their eyes, and examining amyloids in their brain, and have demonstrated that the amyloid in the brain is clearly replicated in the eye.
“It is looking very promising for the early diagnosis of AD,” Prof Martins said.
Prof Martins and his team are also exploring another powerful anti-oxidant, found in the Kakadu Plum, an Australian fruit found in North-West WA and in the Northern Territory.
“This is very exciting. Extracts from the Kakadu Plum protect brain cells from being killed by the beta amyloids.”
Prof Martins said Dr Liz Barbour from the University of WA works with the Kakadu Plum and was introduced to him by WA Chief Scientist Prof Lyn Beasley to explore the possibility of whether or not the Kakadu Plum would have benefits for AD.
“This work has been done on brain cells and if we can confirm these findings, it will lead to clinical trials for the prevention of AD,” Prof Martins said.
“I anticipate that the Kakadu Plum extract together with curcumin – another promising anti-oxidant – will be the magic bullet that will stop AD.
“My longer-term plan is to incorporate this combination of anti-oxidants in a biscuit, providing these biscuits to people at high risk such as the elderly and the very young.
“I have been fortunate and excited and thrilled that (famous cook) Maggie Beer has agreed to make this biscuit for me.”
Prof Martins said that curcumin comes in a capsule that is promoted in a way that is bio-available.
“Unfortunately, many curcumin products available in Australia are not bio-available,” he said.
“People should make sure that they have a product that does the job – the dose is important.
“I’ve found curcumin particularly attractive because I see it as an anti-ageing compound because in addition to its benefits for the brain; it plays a protective role against Type 2 diabetes and for a number of cancers. It also plays a very beneficial role to fight inflammation in the body, such as arthritis.”
Prof Martins announced that for the first time WA will have a Brain Institute – currently the only State which does not have one.
“This development is the result of the generous donation from (businessman) Ralph Sarich and his family. We are still seeking funding to complete the laboratory facilities that will house the McCusker Alzheimer’s research team of 65.
“In addition to Alzheimer’s, [the Brain Institute] will house the Ear Science Institute and the WA Neuromuscular Research Institute.
“The coming together of medical researchers, studying different brain disorders in this Brain Institute will result in neuroscience research in WA going to a higher level.”
Donations can be made to McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Suite 22, Hollywood Medical Centre, 85 Monash Avenue, Nedlands WA 6009, telephone 9347 4200, fax 9347 4299 or at www.alzheimers.com.au.