India, June 27 -- A crucial link between the brain's cleaning system and deterioration of neurons associated with Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by University of Queensland researchers.

Professor Elizabeth Coulson, from UQ'sSchool of Biomedical SciencesandQueensland Brain Institute, said the research has revealed a direct link between early brain degeneration and impaired waste clearance in the brain, and could help explain how Alzheimer's begins to take hold.

"The research focused on specific brain neurons which are the first to die in Alzheimer's disease," Professor Coulson said.

"Our previous studies found the degeneration of these brain neurons and build-up of toxic proteins go hand-in-hand in Alzheimer's disease.

"The br...