German scientists claim discovery in fight against Alzheimer's

German researchers on Thursday claimed they have found a way of blocking the formation of a toxin blamed for the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers from the chemistry department at Berlin's Free University said the discovery could prove useful in the development of medicines to combat the fatal brain disease.

Biochemist Gerd Multhaup said his team had largely managed to inhibit the formation of Amyloid-Beta Asse42, which destroys nerve cells and plays a key role in the onset of Alzheimer's.

They have patented the technique which subverts the formation of the toxin, he said.

The group's findings will be published in The Embo Journal science review at the end of April.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's but there are medicines aimed at mitigating the effects of the debilitating disease.