This led to speculation that these protein clumps were responsible for the symptoms of the disease.Professor Klein’s study, published in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, indicates that the real culprits are much smaller protein molecules called ADDLs. New estimates suggest the numbers affected will rise to 13.2 million by the middle of the century, three times the 4.5 million affected today.For many years, medical researchers have known that the brains of Alzheimer’s patients slowly become clogged with large proteins known as amyloid fibrils. The 29-year-old will stay with the Tigers until December while Geordan Murphy is on World Cup duty with Ireland.. A mystery that has baffled scientists for decades, the cause of the devastating memory loss suffered by people with Alzheimer’s disease, may have been solved by researchers studying the biochemical changes in the brains of patients.

The back-rower Victor Costello, a late withdrawal from the Welsh game because of a calf strain, is in the squad as are the prop John Hayes and the wing Denis Hickie, both of whom missed the summer tour to Australia, Tonga and Samoa because of groin injuries.* Tim Stimpson, the Leicester and England full-back, has reportedly signed a three-year contract with Perpignan. McGeechan announces the rest of his side today.Meanwhile, Ireland have retained just three players from the weekend win over Wales for their own Test against Italy a week Saturday in Limerick.David Humphreys, Geordan Murphy and Brian O’Driscoll are the only survivors from the 35-12 win at Lansdowne Road last Saturday who are included in a 22-man squad. “Obviously I was pretty pleased but pretty nervous at the same time.”He joins the regular captain, Bryan Redpath, the hooker Gordon Bulloch, the winger Kenny Logan and the record cap winner Gregor Townsend from the current squad in winning a half century of caps for Scotland. Scott Murray will captain Scotland in their World Cup warm-up against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday as he becomes only the 16th player to win 50 caps or more in the nation’s dark blue.
It completes a remarkable comeback for the Edinburgh Rugby player, named the country’s player of the year for 2002, after he was dropped during this year’s Six Nations Championship because of poor form.The Musselburgh-born 27-year-old admits being named captain was the furthest thing from his mind when he found himself out of Ian McGeechan’s side “It was a big surprise,” he said. “It feels like they’ve given me a kick in the arse,” he said.. The club have signed the Rochdale forward Paul Smith on a two-year contract from next season.The former Australia full-back Robbie O’Davis wants to end his career in England after being asked to take a 75 per cent pay-cut at the Newcastle Knights. Ryan will replace Dale Fritz, who is retiring.Huddersfield have denied that they are in danger of losing Brandon Costin to Leeds.

“There is no foundation in it,” said their chief executive, Ralph Rimmer. The Rugby League ordered Halifax to pay £270 costs over the article, which referred to Bulls’ fans as “retards”.Castleford have signed the Australian second-rower Sean Ryan from Hull on a one-year deal. “He will be playing for us next season, as this isn’t a case of him being guilty of taking drugs.”Halifax have been fined £1,000, suspended for a year, for derogatory comments about Bradford supporters in their club programme. Burton declined to give a urine sample after a National League Two match – an offence which normally carries a two-year ban – but a League panel has accepted that there were extenuating circumstances, connected with a family bereavement.”We fully back Danny, although we don’t agree with him refusing to take the test,” said his coach, Roy Sampson.

Saints have secured a work permit for the New Zealand Test centre, already due to arrive next year, to join them on loan from Canterbury for the rest of this season.The Hunslet forward Danny Burton has been suspended until the end of the year after failing to take a drug test. “I’ve no doubt he can handle playing in Super League.”Willie Talau could make his St Helens debut this weekend. He has impressed in the Under-21s since signing a dual-code contract with Leeds, after trials at Bradford. “Liam has done everything we have asked of him since coming to the club,” said the Leeds coach, Daryl Powell.