SCIENTISTS have developed a compound that prevents Alzheimers destroying brain cells, it has been revealed.

The development brings the prospect of a cure closer and will offer hope to thousands of sufferers in the North-East and North Yorkshire.

The treatment has been shown to improve memory and learning ability that was already damaged.

The researchers at the University of St Andrews, working with scientists in America, say they have developed man-made substance capable of blocking a nerve cell interaction known to lead to the symptoms of the disease.

The laboratory test results have prompted the Alzheimers Research Trust to help fund a further three years research.

Trust chief executive Rebecca Wood described the findings as exciting.

"A drug that can stop Alzheimers disease from killing brain cells is a holy grail for researchers working to overcome the devastating condition which affects more than 500,000 people in the UK," she said.

The number of sufferers is expected to double to more than one million with the general ageing of the population over the next generation.

Alzheimers is linked to the build-up of amyloid protein, which eventually forms senile plaques.

The amyloid protein inflicts damage by interacting with an enzyme called Amyloid Beta Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ABAD) and releasing toxic substances which kill brain cells.

Researchers at St Andrews initially focused on developing the three-dimensional shape of ABAD and understanding how amyloid attaches itself to the structure.

Dr Frank Gunn-Moore, senior lecturer at the universitys school of biology, said: "Alzheimers sufferers produce too much amyloid and ABAD in their brains.

"Based on our knowledge of ABAD, we produced an inhibitor that can prevent amyloid attaching to it in a living model."

Dr Gunn-Moore, who led the research, added: "We have shown that it is possible to reverse some of the signs associated with Alzheimers disease.

"The work is now being continued to try and refine the inhibitor into a potential drug.

"Our research holds a possible key for the treatment of Alzheimers disease, particularly in its early stages."