From the negative image of the Italian South generated worldwide by the events reported in Monday’s story, we move to a positive and hopefully far-reaching discovery made by scientists there: Giovanni Scapagnini, a biochemist at the Medical Faculty of the Università degli Studi at Molise, has found that a molecule present in seaweed may help to protect the brain from developing Alzheimer’s disease. It may also be effective in the treatment of the disease.

The molecule, homotaurine, may, according to Dr Scapagnini’s research, help preserve the hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with memory. In trials carried out in Europe and the USA brain toxins were reduced in patients treated with a drug containing the molecule. These toxins are believed to be a factor in the development of the disease. The patients’ reasoning also improved.

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative form of dementia for which there is no cure at present and memory loss is only one of its many distressing symptoms. It is most often associated with ageing but it can strike younger people too, although this is rare.
Often the family of a sufferer also become victims of the disease because its effects can be heartbreaking to witness. Over 35 million people are affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in the world and 7.3 million of them are in Europe. Over 1 million Italians are affected and it is estimated that there are 97,000 new cases in Italy every year. This amounts to a new case in Italy every 71 seconds. Dr Scapagnini estimates that by 2050 Alzheimer’s will affect three times as many people as it does today.

If you are in Italy between now and 31st January you can help Pronto Alzheimer, a helpline for sufferers and their families, by sending a text message to 48544 from any personal mobile phone connected to Wind, 3, Tim, Vodafone or Telecom Italia or by calling the same number from a Telecom Italia landline within Italy. Pronto Alzheimer will receive 2 euros for every message sent or call made.