The trigger for Alzheimer’s disease can be passed between people through contaminated surgical tools, a landmark study suggests. Until now, scientists believed that the disease was mostly a consequence of old age and partly influenced by genes. The new findings raise the prospect that patients could develop dementia as a result of a hospital operation, a blood transfusion or dental work such as root canal treatment. The study, published in Nature yesterday, is the first evidence that the “seeds” of Alzheimer’s — microscopic protein molecules — could be transmitted between humans. The discovery was described by the study’s lead scientist as a paradigm shift in the understanding of how Alzheimer’s develops. John Collinge, professor of neurology at University College London, said: “You could have three different ways you have these protein seeds generated in your brain. Either they happen spontaneously — an unlucky event as you age — or you have got a faulty gene or you’ve been exposed to a medical accident. That’s what we’re hypothesising. It’s a paradigm shift.” More than 500,000 people in the UK live with Alzheimer’s, which accounts for just under two thirds of dementia cases. It is thought to kill 40,000 people a year and to cost the economy about £16 billion. The team found no evidence that Alzheimer’s itself was contagious but said that medical procedures could result in protein build-ups that presage the disea

The pilot of a British Airways plane engulfed by flames on a Las Vegas runway has been praised for his calm and brave response as disaster struck on what was due to be the penultimate flight of his 42-year career. Chris Henkey, 63, has been identified as the pilot at the controls of a stricken Boeing 777-200, whose engine burst into flames with 170 people on board during take-off en route to Gatwick. He managed to abort the take-off of flight 2276 in just nine seconds before the jet became airborne at McCarran international airport. Within five minutes, all passengers and crew were evacuated via emergency chutes. The blaze, which was hot enough to melt some of the plane’s windows, was put out by around 50 firefighters. A total of 14 people were treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital in America’s gambling capital, including Mr Henkey, who was checked for smoke inhalation. All hav

British taxpayers face a £90 million bill to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers between European countries in a scheme that David Cameron said could encourage more people to risk their lives travelling to the continent. The prime minister has repeatedly said that Britain had opted out of emergency compulsory quotas that will distribute refugees around EU nations. The scheme was formally announced yesterday by Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president. Downing Street said last night, however, that British taxpayers would still end up footing part of the bill. Britain is exempted because of longstanding European treaty opt-outs from EU asylum policy, but the government is required to pay the bills. The refugees chosen for “relocation” will be from Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea and countries taking them will receive €6,000 per person. Hungary, Greece and Italy will be paid €500