Indian researcher bags Alzheimer's drug discovery award

The 27-year-old will be travelling to San Francisco to receive the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation's 'Young Investigator Scholarship Award' at the 7th Annual Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration Conference next month.

"I feel very proud that I have proved world class research in the area of medicine can be done in India," Dr Golechha told PTI here today.

He has been recognised for his outstanding research on 'naringin', a bioflavonoid found in grape fruits and citrus fruits.

In his study, he found that naringin possesses significant "anti-Alzheimer activity" and will form the basis of further research to develop as a cure for the degenerative disease related to old age, which worsens as its progresses and eventually leads to death.

Alzheimer's is a common form of dementia afflicting millions around the world and has no known cure at present.

It is estimated that by 2025 at least 34 million people worldwide will be affected by the disease.

"Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that generally affects the elderly population. Till date the treatment was symptomatic but naringin will act at pathological level and have lesser side effects," he said.

"I hope this award creates further avenues for budding scientists in my country to be recognised for their work and facilitated to follow their dreams," said Golechha, who completed his Master