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Scientists have discovered that two 're-purposed' drugs can slow the progress of dementia and Parkinson's.

Giovania Mallucci from the Medical Research Council at the University of Cambridge, told 5 live Breakfast:

"They're a new use for old drugs but using a completely different target to what's been done previously."

"If it works it will help to arrest the course of the disease and help to slow it down. If you change the progression of a disease like Alzheimer's then you really change the suffering of the patient and their family and that is a worthwhile goal."

The hope is there could be a simple pill-based treatment for stopping the progression of dementia.

This clip is originally from 5 live Breakfast on Thursday 20 April 2017.