Fruit fly treatment 'could reverse cognitive impairment'

US scientists have claimed that a treatment developed with fruit flies could lead to effective easing of Alzheimer's disease symptoms.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that as fruit flies age, they begin to show impairments in learning and memory, according to an article in the Journal of Neuroscience.

In addition, it was found that a particular drug treatment could actually prevent this cognitive impairment from developing.

Study leader Dr Sean McBride says that these results indicate that there is a definite window of time in which cognitive impairment develops, but function can be restored with proper treatments.

He added: "This is a critical finding since in humans Alzheimer's is diagnosed only clinically after the onset of cognitive impairment.

"The results from our study suggest a new route to explore for the treatment of familial Alzheimer's disease."

According to the Alzheimer's Society, the number of people with some form of dementia ids expected to reach one million by the year 2025.

Find out more about Alzheimer's disease care at Barchester homes.