Research shows Alzheimer’s is entirely preventable
A poor diet and bad gut bacteria can increase the risk of dementia
We look at the best performing ASX stocks over the past month
The phrase ‘you are what you eat’ was coined almost a century before Alois Alzheimer made his breakthrough in identifying the brain disease, but the evidence is now clear that diet as well as age can affect the brain.
Scientists have dug into how gut bacteria might be causing Alzheimer’s Disease, with recent results linking Alzheimer’s with an unhealthy gut.
Aussie scientists are diving into the study too, trying to figure out how those harmful gut bacteria can actually sneak into the head and mess with our brains, leading to dementia.
Dr Ibrahim Javed from the University of South Australia says these tiny gut bacteria bits can indeed make their way to the brain, causing all kinds of inflammation that sets off Alzheimer’s.
In younger people this is less likely because the blood-brain barrier is much stronger, but as people age, the brain-barrier weakens, allowing harmful substances to damage neurons.
In addition, as the microbiome in the gut ages, it also loses the ability to fight disease.
However, Dr Javed believes we could slow down or stop Alzheimer’s by figuring out how bad bacteria damage neurons with their metabolites, and then creating drugs to block them.
Alzheimer’s is “preventable”
Researchers are also looking into how probiotics and dietary supplements – which contain good bacteria – can fight off bad bacteria and stop harmful substances from leaking out of the gut.
“Our research indicates that harmful gut bacteria can trigger early onset dementia, as well as accelerate dementia in patients already battling the neurodegenerative disease,” Dr Javed says.
“A poor diet is one of several factors that harms gut bacteria, increasing your chances of developing dementia.
“Ageing, lack of exercise, exposure to pesticides and genetics also play a role, although the latter is responsible for a very small number of cases.
“In most cases, dementia is preventable,” said Dr Javed.
Dr Javed adds that while many bacteria are harmless and some are actually good for us, bad bacteria can form biofilms that lead to gut infections, chronic diseases, colon cancer, and even brain disorders.
Alzheimer’s disease affects up to 55 million people worldwide and with an ageing population, this number is expected to double every 20 years, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International.
Early onset dementia, the one that starts before age 65, is becoming more common around the world.
But the good news now is that it’s mostly caused by things we can totally avoid – like eating junk food, living a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol, and being exposed to nasty stuff like pesticides and air pollution.
How ASX biotechs performed over the past month
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CODE COMPANY PRICE 1 WEEK RETURN % 1 MONTH RETURN % 6 MONTH RETURN % 1 YEAR RETURN % MARKET CAP LTP LTR Pharma 0.490 63% 75% 0% 0% $27,458,140 MSB Mesoblast 1.145 8% 50% 198% 7% $1,284,507,128 CU6 Clarity Pharma 4.020 2% 47% 204% 480% $1,272,046,442 BMT Beamtree 0.250 4% 47% 14% -11% $71,889,014 MDR Medadvisor 0.375 14% 44% 92% 70% $176,105,052 IMM Immutep 0.475 6% 34% 64% 38% $558,752,243 ALC Alcidion 0.059 0% 31% -14% -44% $77,863,447 IRX Inhalerx 0.040 0% 29% 33% -11% $7,590,678 CYP Cynata Therapeutics 0.270 10% 29% 116% 80% $49,398,741 AGN Argenica 0.730 12% 28% 74% 80% $93,955,576 NC6 Nanollose 0.028 33% 27% 12% -42% $4,988,185 SNT Syntara 0.019 6% 27% -41% -65% $22,686,604 BOT Botanix Pharma 0.285 6% 27% 78% 239% $441,038,442 CTE Cryosite 0.980 15% 23% 65% 44% $46,857,180 ILA Island Pharma 0.067 10% 22% -5% -37% $7,965,765 EBR EBR Systems 1.105 9% 21% 77% 22% $351,222,894 NOX Noxopharm 0.074 9% 21% -38% 51% $20,748,894 OIL Optiscan Imaging 0.105 -13% 19% 5% 19% $87,710,784 TLX Telix 16.130 7% 19% 72% 41% $5,142,212,960 MAP Microbalifesciences 0.200 11% 18% -7% -35% $89,570,395 DXB Dimerix 0.340 0% 17% 143% 366% $189,637,748 EZZ EZZ Life Science 0.990 -7% 17% 59% 102% $43,080,804 RMD ResMed Inc. 32.670 0% 17% 41% -3% $20,928,997,104 PSQ Pacific Smiles Grp 1.910 1% 16% 75% 47% $303,205,682 SOM SomnoMed 0.255 2% 16% -25% -62% $55,107,605 PYC PYC Therapeutics 0.105 5% 15% 38% 85% $489,938,758 PEB Pacific Edge 0.090 13% 15% -10% -76% $73,014,421 TRI Trivarx 0.027 4% 13% -25% 35% $11,060,535 PGC Paragon Care 0.365 3% 12% 109% 46% $247,111,226 EYE Nova EYE Medical 0.280 10% 12% 105% 31% $65,214,633 RCE Recce 0.590 -5% 11% 30% -2% $122,392,346 PME Pro Medicus 114.030 1% 11% 28% 88% $11,764,507,206 ACR Acrux 0.066 8% 10% 57% 32% $19,478,029 BDX Bcaldiagnostics 0.110 -8% 10% 0% 24% $29,013,892 RAC Race Oncology 1.505 -9% 10% 58% -14% $254,209,922 NEU Neuren Pharmaceut. 20.700 2% 9% 37% 45% $2,647,131,363 ICR Intelicare 0.012 20% 9% -29% -29% $2,817,894 1AI Algorae Pharma 0.012 4% 9% -8% 14% $18,561,342 GSS Genetic Signatures 0.750 0% 9% 60% 15% $139,891,982 DVL Dorsavi 0.014 0% 8% 17% 17% $8,353,263 CTQ Careteq 0.015 7% 7% -40% -67% $3,533,209 FPH Fisher & Paykel H. 26.050 -1% 7% 27% 3% $15,148,433,314 CAJ Capitol Health 0.245 0% 7% 17% -18% $266,511,875 NAN Nanosonics 2.870 -4% 6% -32% -45% $878,639,051 REG Regis Healthcare 4.135 1% 6% 48% 87% $1,213,170,724 CUV Clinuvel Pharmaceut. 15.220 -3% 6% -8% -17% $774,103,169 PNV Polynovo 2.055 -8% 6% 43% 46% $1,414,977,140 HLS Healius 1.270 -5% 5% -25% -56% $947,560,426 CBL Control Bionics 0.046 -8% 5% 12% -45% $8,022,032 CSL CSL 277.670 -1% 3% 8% -9% $134,165,455,152 M7T Mach7 Tech 0.680 -3% 3% 4% 28% $160,425,296 PER Percheron 0.075 -4% 3% 23% 14% $67,615,873 PBP Probiotec 2.910 -2% 2% 21% 13% $234,211,409 IDT IDT Australia 0.097 -5% 2% 14% 21% $35,147,947 ATX Amplia Therapeutics 0.062 9% 2% -15% -25% $15,753,336 IBX Imagion Biosys 0.074 1% 1% -76% -88% $2,415,845 ANN Ansell 25.040 1% 1% 9% -7% $3,701,139,434 IXC Invex Ther 0.084 11% 1% 40% -17% $5,711,692 COH Cochlear 317.035 -3% 0% 22% 28% $20,855,305,687 VHT Volpara Health Tech 1.145 0% 0% 60% 53% $291,258,583 AMT Allegra Medical 0.029 0% 0% -42% -59% $3,468,720 CAN Cann 0.062 0% 0% -44% -65% $27,123,891 HGV Hygrovest 0.046 -2% 0% -13% -21% $9,674,288 AC8 Auscann Grp Hlgs 0.040 0% 0% 0% 0% $17,621,884 MEM Memphasys 0.009 13% 0% -14% -55% $12,309,680 MDC Medlab Clinical 6.600 0% 0% 0% 0% $15,071,113 EPN Epsilon Healthcare 0.024 0% 0% 20% 14% $7,208,496 ALA Arovella Therapeutic 0.105 -13% 0% 21% 75% $120,767,967 SHG Singular Health 0.105 -9% 0% 156% 98% $21,488,836 PCK Painchek 0.030 0% 0% -32% 11% $49,074,875 FCG Freedomcarehold 0.165 -8% 0% 0% 0% $4,179,684 AHI Advanced Health 0.092 0% 0% -12% 5% $22,600,111 SIG Sigma Health 1.255 1% 0% 83% 86% $2,031,673,338 EBO Ebos 31.970 1% 0% -9% -21% $6,231,893,444 IDX Integral Diagnostics 2.460 2% 0% 43% -27% $582,565,373 OPT Opthea 0.635 -2% -1% 72% -1% $424,197,526 ARX Aroa Biosurgery 0.495 -1% -1% -26% -48% $170,382,878 MVF Monash IVF 1.435 -4% -1% 10% 23% $566,918,692 DOC Doctor Care Anywhere 0.063 -3% -2% 29% 26% $23,098,461 ONE Oneview Healthcare 0.310 -2% -2% 55% 35% $215,996,048 MX1 Micro-X 0.091 1% -2% -30% 5% $49,828,697 IMU Imugene 0.069 -3% -3% -27% -43% $505,067,103 CGS Cogstate 1.260 1% -3% -14% -22% $231,416,093 RSH Respiri 0.031 7% -3% 0% -18% $33,915,806 AT1 Atomo Diagnostics 0.030 15% -3% 36% -3% $18,536,867 RHC Ramsay Health Care 48.370 -6% -3% -3% -20% $11,248,779,047 AHC Austco Healthcare 0.188 1% -4% 2% 63% $63,922,722 4DX 4Dmedical 0.585 -5% -4% -13% -33% $227,006,006 ACL Au Clinical Labs 2.270 -11% -4% -11% -36% $470,273,255 EOF Ecofibre 0.058 9% -5% -55% -70% $26,521,173 TRU Truscreen 0.019 12% -5% -19% -28% $10,499,231 VLS Vita Life Sciences.. 2.220 7% -6% 34% 43% $119,291,749 CVB Curvebeam Ai 0.170 -11% -6% -53% 0% $37,158,496 AHX Apiam Animal Health 0.340 -9% -6% 17% -32% $60,782,103 ACW Actinogen Medical 0.027 -7% -6% 10% -52% $68,226,874 OCC Orthocell 0.373 -7% -6% -9% 5% $78,497,557 IMC Immuron 0.094 1% -6% 18% 18% $20,519,851 SHL Sonic Healthcare 24.690 -11% -6% -16% -31% $12,014,903,365 CDX Cardiex 0.066 35% -7% -45% -69% $19,415,521 LGP Little Green Pharma 0.125 -7% -7% 0% -31% $37,720,076 IPD Impedimed 0.086 8% -8% -34% -36% $171,962,983 ANR Anatara Ls 0.036 -8% -8% 29% 28% $7,645,749 COV Cleo Diagnostics 0.170 0% -8% -6% 0% $12,597,000 OCA Oceania Healthc 0.505 1% -8% -23% -20% $363,659,668 PIQ Proteomics Int Lab 1.000 -6% -8% 10% 1% $129,583,690 TRP Tissue Repair 0.220 0% -8% -12% -19% $13,302,265 TRJ Trajan 1.000 10% -10% -19% -28% $152,216,085 LBT LBT Innovations 0.018 6% -10% 260% -30% $22,791,125 AVH Avita Medical 2.520 -9% -10% -28% -26% $153,592,800 IIQ Inoviq 0.475 -13% -10% -17% -5% $46,009,351 EMD Emyria 0.051 -2% -11% -31% -57% $20,858,459 CYC Cyclopharm 1.590 -5% -11% -22% -26% $146,936,040 1AD Adalta 0.025 4% -11% 25% 4% $14,395,556 PAB Patrys 0.008 14% -11% -11% -33% $16,459,579 SDI SDI 0.755 -12% -11% -9% -4% $93,309,441 FRE Firebrickpharma 0.070 6% -11% 1% -56% $11,296,324 CSX Cleanspace 0.310 3% -11% -7% 17% $23,974,610 SPL Starpharma 0.115 -4% -12% -15% -76% $45,324,468 SNZ Summerset Grp Hldgs 9.270 1% -12% 2% 9% $2,193,566,126 CMB Cambium Bio 0.007 17% -13% 40% -36% $5,362,646 RGT Argent Biopharma 0.375 -1% -13% -48% -95% $16,980,076 EMV Emvision Medical 1.935 0% -13% 13% 20% $164,442,902 CMP Compumedics 0.235 -6% -13% 24% 57% $42,519,108 GLH Global Health 0.100 -13% -13% -23% -44% $5,804,954 AFP Aft s 2.460 -2% -13% -25% -23% $257,971,000 ECS ECS Botanics 0.019 12% -14% -17% 0% $24,482,442 PAR Paradigm Bio. 0.245 -13% -14% -38% -73% $87,449,004 AVR Anteris Technologies 19.750 -4% -14% -2% -14% $380,794,080 VFX Visionflex 0.006 0% -14% -33% 50% $8,501,947 HMD Heramed 0.015 0% -14% -67% -82% $4,945,497 IMR Imricor Med Sys 0.440 -3% -15% -23% 71% $90,135,697 HXL Hexima 0.011 0% -15% -52% 0% $1,837,436 AGH Althea 0.026 -4% -16% -35% -46% $10,943,976 AYA Artrya 0.260 -15% -16% 27% 16% $20,069,518 IVX Invion 0.005 0% -17% -29% -29% $35,334,927 ATH Alterity Therap 0.005 0% -17% -29% -29% $31,470,692 IME Imexhs 0.450 -10% -17% -29% -18% $20,491,605 NSB Neuroscientific 0.044 -4% -17% -23% -56% $6,362,614 GTG Genetic Technologies 0.115 -8% -18% -43% -62% $15,866,070 UBI Universal Biosensors 0.135 0% -18% -18% -38% $38,748,767 MYX Mayne Pharma 5.415 -19% -19% 13% 47% $463,654,870 VTI Vision Tech Inc 0.130 24% -19% -40% -37% $7,118,265 RHT Resonance Health 0.065 -16% -20% 8% 55% $29,048,040 NTI Neurotech Intl 0.077 0% -20% 38% 54% $79,356,310 HIQ Hitiq 0.020 0% -20% 0% -33% $7,036,899 RAD Radiopharm 0.035 -13% -22% -53% -78% $16,112,847 PTX Prescient 0.045 13% -24% -38% -51% $36,239,391 CHM Chimeric Therapeutic 0.024 -2% -24% -22% -40% $19,697,352 OSX Osteopore 0.072 -17% -24% -40% -65% $8,389,522 AVE Avecho Biotech 0.003 0% -25% -25% -40% $9,507,891 TD1 Tali Digital 0.002 0% -25% 50% -25% $4,942,733 OSL Oncosil Medical 0.005 0% -25% -40% -66% $16,660,548 BIT Biotron 0.052 -7% -26% -43% 86% $46,918,326 UCM Uscom 0.023 -4% -26% -53% -51% $5,625,515 RHY Rhythm Biosciences 0.067 -14% -28% -64% -87% $16,904,579 MVP Medical Developments 0.395 -7% -30% -48% -49% $33,659,035 LDX Lumos Diagnostics 0.039 -20% -30% -43% 160% $20,696,197 ADR Adherium 0.019 0% -31% -56% -56% $7,020,720 ZLD Zelira Therapeutics 0.480 -8% -32% -54% -47% $5,446,634 ZLD Zelira Therapeutics 0.480 -8% -32% -54% -47% $5,446,634 BP8 Bph Global 0.001 0% -33% -33% -75% $1,954,116 ME1 Melodiol Glb Health 0.003 20% -33% -95% -99% $1,426,974 NYR Nyrada Inc. 0.065 0% -34% 195% -22% $12,558,609 PAA Pharmaust 0.180 -5% -37% 114% 117% $69,284,466 VIT Vitura Health 0.098 -7% -39% -68% -71% $51,828,641 NXS Next Science 0.260 -32% -40% -15% -51% $84,591,580 ENL Enlitic Inc. 0.320 -33% -47% 0% 0% $27,550,120 VBS Vectus Biosystems 0.140 -40% -49% -56% -73% $6,651,170 JTL Jayex Technology 0.002 100% -60% -78% -83% $562,557
LTR Pharma rose by over 20% on May 22 on no specific news.
However the company’s shares have been rising after announcing in late March that all patients recruited for its pivotal bio-equivalence clinical study of SPONTAN nasal spray received their second and final dose, completing the recruitment and dosing stage of the clinical study.
SPONTAN is a unique nasal delivery technology that bypasses the digestive system and is designed to overcome the issues of oral tablets for (erectile dysfunction).
The spray works by having a significantly faster onset of action of just 10 minutes.
The study is a critical milestone in LTR’s path to commercialisation. Data collected from the study will used to support the pre-submission meetings with the FDA and prescriptions of SPONTAN via the early access scheme in Australia.
Mesoblast has reduced costs and payroll, allowing its Phase 3 programs for SR-aGVHD (steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease) and CLBP (chronic lower back pain) to continue this quarter.
Net operating cash spend was US$11.7 million for the quarter. This is a 28% reduction from the same quarter last year.
The goal is to reduce net operating spend by 23% ($15 million) in FY24 compared to FY23. Some of these savings will be reinvested in commercial and clinical activities for SR-aGVHD and CLBP.
In Q3 FY24, Beamtree performed as expected, showing a revenue growth of over 20% and a positive operating profit for FY24.
For the quarter, the ARR (annual recurring revenue) was over $25 million, up 20% year on year.
Group revenue grew by 21% for the first nine months of FY24, compared to 24% in the same period last year.
Customer renewal rates remained high at over 95%, indicating low churn.
Operating costs grew by 12%, mainly due to investments in products and international expansion.
Beamtree had an operating profit of $0.1 million in Q3 FY24, compared to a $0.5 million loss in Q3 FY23.
Cash at the end of March was $4.3 million.
MedAdvisor jumped +15% yesterday after providing guidance for the full year ending this June.
Based on the strong start to Q4 FY24 and anticipated activity levels over the remainder of this quarter, the company expects to deliver positive revenue, EBITDA and NPAT for the full year.
Revenue is set to come in between $120m-$123m, an all time record (versus $98m in the pcp).
EBITDA is set to come in between $6.8m -$7.6m (versus loss of -$3m in the pcp).
NPAT is set to come in between $0.5m -$0.8m, first ever profit for the firm, (versus loss of -$11.3m in the pcp).
At Stockhead we tell it like it is. While LTR Pharma is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this article.
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