Scientists at Bristol University have been given a £260,000 grant to help find out why people develop Alzheimer's disease.

Dr Patrick Kehoe and Professor Seth Love, who lead the university's dementia research group, were awarded the grant by Brace, Bristol Research into Alzheimer's and Care of the Elderly.

The grant will allow the group to continue with its research to look for answers to the underlying causes of the common late-onset form of Alzheimer's disease, which affects over half a million people in the UK.

The group was involved in one of the largest ever studies to discover genes that are involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease, and recently found two new genes.

Dr Kehoe, a senior research fellow, said: "This investment in our group is absolutely tremendous.

"Brace's timing could not have been better as we try to keep the current momentum going following the recent gene discovery."

Seth Love, professor of neuropathology and director of the South West Dementia Brain Bank, added: "BRACE has given us an excellent opportunity to establish how these new genes are involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease.