Alzheimer's researcher receives high honour

A neuroscientist was awarded the Victoria Prize, last night, for his groundbreaking research into Alzheimer's disease.

Laureate Prof Colin Masters, one of the world's foremost neuroscientists, was presented with the10th Victoria Prize last night by the Governor of Victoria, Prof David de Kretser.

Masters won the $50,000 prize for his major achievements in isolating and characterising elements of the primary pathway causing Alzheimer's disease.

"Professor Masters is the champion of the amyloid theory of Alzheimer's," said Gavin Jennings, Minister for Innovation.

"This theory holds that the accumulation of toxic amyloid protein impairs memory, a finding that has pioneered new areas of research into Alzheimer's disease.

"The amyloid protein is now one of the most highly studied proteins in cell biology, with more than 800 international papers produced annually.

"Prof Masters is now translating his discoveries into therapeutic treatments which are currently undergoing clinical trials in Melbourne and Sweden."

Jennings said that understanding how the brain and mind work was a major challenge, with dementia set to overtake depression as the most common mental health disorder in the next five years.

"In 2003, 175,000 people in Australia were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, representing 6.5 per cent of the population aged 65 and over," he said.

"Each year, there are approximately 37,000 new cases of dementia diagnosed.

"The work that Prof Masters and his team are undertaking will hopefully stem the tide of dementia and improve the lives of all Victorians as they age."

Masters has instigated the Australian Imaging Biomarker and Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing, which is studying 1000 Australians in Melbourne and Perth. The study aims to identify reliable early warning signs for the disease and possibly develop prevention tools for dementia.