Dementia is a devastating disease that affects millions of people all over the world. That’s why so many people are excited right now after researchers at the University of Southern California made a major breakthrough that could help them both understand and treat this disease.

A USC research team just conducted a study that found that dementia may be caused by leaky blood vessels in the brain. They believe that repairing these leaky capillaries could slow down the effects of dementia, or even treat it. The results of the study has been welcomed by the Alzheimer’s Society, who said that this could lead to both earlier diagnosis and better treatments.

“Our researchers have been working for years to investigate how blood vessel health links to dementia, and to understand how leaks in the blood brain barrier could increase the risk of dementia,” said Dr James Pickett, head of research at Alzheimer’s Society. “This study suggests these leaks are happening very early in the development of Alzheimer’s, sometimes even before toxic proteins build up, and could therefore be used to diagnose the disease earlier, or even be a target for potential treatments.”

The study looked at 161 people over the course of five years, and it concluded that those with the worst memory problems also had the most leakage, regardless of whether abnormal amyloid and tau protein were present.

“If the blood-brain barrier is not working properly, then there is the potential for damage,” explained co-author Arthur Toga, a director at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. “It suggests the vessels aren’t properly providing the nutrients and blood flow that the neurons need. And you have the possibility of toxic proteins getting in.”

Being able to diagnose people with dementia earlier could be huge in getting them better treatments.

“Earlier diagnosis would allow us to test drugs on people while there’s still a chance to reverse it,” said Pickett.