Scientists say they have made a crucial breakthrough in understanding a common type of dementia and Parkinson's disease.

The researchers from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, have genetically produced the first-ever mouse model with the type of brain degeneration seen in Lewy body disease and Parkinson's disease.

They argue that this could help in the battle to slow or prevent these conditions and lead to more targeted drugs to treat them.

The research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, was jointly funded by the Alzheimer's Research Trust and the Parkinson's Disease Society.

"Current drugs given to people with Lewy body and Parkinson's disease simply treat the symptoms," said Professor John Mayer.

"This model is the first platform to understand how the brain cell deterioration takes place. We will use this model to identify targets for new drugs to slow or prevent the disease."

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, described the research as a "crucial breakthrough".

"Further research using these models will enable us to find new drug targets. People with Lewy body disease suffer memory loss, visual hallucinations and movement difficulties.

"Unfortunately research is severely underfunded, and much more is needed if we are to defeat this devastating disease."

Dr. Kieran Breen, director of research and development at the Parkinson's Disease Society, added: "The formation of Lewy bodies is a key event in the development of nerve cell death associated with Parkinson's disease.

"Understanding how these are formed will help us to figure out what happens when nerve cells die in Parkinson's and from this to develop therapies that will ultimately provide a cure for the condition."