The future of dementia research Archives - BRACE Alzheimer's Research https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/category/the-future-of-dementia-research/ Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:25:33 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cropped-Brace-logo-retina-32x32.png The future of dementia research Archives - BRACE Alzheimer's Research https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/category/the-future-of-dementia-research/ 32 32 Emma Richards – PhD Student, Visual Attention and Information Processing Speed in Vascular Dementia, University of Swansea https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/emma-richards-phd-student-visual-attention-and-information-processing-speed-in-vascular-dementia-university-of-swansea/ Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:08:12 +0000 https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/?p=823 Emma Richards Visual Attention and Information Processing Speed in Vascular Dementia PhD Student: Swansea University Not all forms of dementia are primarily characterised by detrimental changes in memory. This is particularly the case for vascular dementia. Emma’s research has focused on determining the integrity of brain functions other than memory in vascular dementia and has…

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Emma Richards

Visual Attention and Information Processing Speed in Vascular Dementia

PhD Student: Swansea University

Not all forms of dementia are primarily characterised by detrimental changes in memory. This is particularly the case for vascular dementia. Emma’s research has focused on determining the integrity of brain functions other than memory in vascular dementia and has found that finding, paying attention to, interpreting and responding to information within the environment is significantly worse in this condition compared to cognitively healthy ageing. Furthermore, such processing is also significantly slower and much more prone to the detrimental effects of irrelevant and distracting objects within the environment. Such findings can help to explain what might be causing some of the signs and symptoms related to vascular dementia and why some people might find understanding and interacting with their surroundings very difficult, and indeed Emma’s research has informed the design development of dementia-friendly environments.

Furthermore, and more controversially, the type of tests Emma has developed with funding from BRACE, can be expected to contribute in future to the earlier diagnosis of vascular dementia. Many people have suggested that funding should not be awarded for research into early diagnosis because of the lack of a cure at present, but with great foresight, BRACE have funded such research where others have not, and the importance of giving individuals this choice of early diagnosis, even in the absence of a cure, is now clear.

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]]> Dr Adam Smith – Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Exeter https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/dr-adam-smith-post-doctoral-researcher-university-of-exeter/ Sun, 14 Feb 2021 15:09:00 +0000 https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/?p=828 Dr Adam Smith Post-Doctoral Researcher: University of Exeter Dr Adam Smith completed his PhD in summer 2019, working with Dr Katie Lunnon and Professor Jonathan Mill in the Complex Disease Epigenetics group. “Epigenetics” looks at how behaviours and the environment can cause changes to the way genes work in the body. These changes can lead…

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Dr Adam Smith

Post-Doctoral Researcher: University of Exeter

Dr Adam Smith completed his PhD in summer 2019, working with Dr Katie Lunnon and Professor Jonathan Mill in the Complex Disease Epigenetics group.

“Epigenetics” looks at how behaviours and the environment can cause changes to the way genes work in the body. These changes can lead to diseases such as cancer and potentially Alzheimer’s disease. Not all gene changes cause illness and not all changes are permanent.

Adam’s research focused on studying these epigenetic changes in relation to Alzheimer’s disease in one specific gene called ANK1. He found that at least three mechanisms that regulate ANK1 are altered in Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, Adam found that one of the mechanisms altered in Alzheimer’s disease was also altered in other brain diseases, including Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease, and BRACE have recently funded the research team to investigate the epigenetic link between Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease further.

Adam’s study is very important as it shows that epigenetic changes in the ANK1 gene are important in different dementias. One of the most exciting aspects of studying epigenetic mechanisms is that they are potentially reversible and so could be targeted when developing new treatment possibilities for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Adam says ‘My PhD was a fantastic opportunity, which I enjoyed immensely. Since completing I have taken up a permanent position continuing my research interest into the causes of dementia.’

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]]> Dr Marta Swirski – Research Associate at Bristol University’s Institute of Clinical Neurosciences https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/dr-marta-swirski-research-associate-at-bristol-universitys-institute-of-clinical-neurosciences/ Fri, 29 Jan 2021 15:10:00 +0000 https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/?p=831 Dr Marta Swirski Research Associate at Bristol University’s Institute of Clinical Neurosciences Marta took her dementia research PHD at Bristol University, between 2011 – 2015, which was fully funded by BRACE. Marta’s PhD project explored the relationship between two proteins, amyloid-beta (Aβ) and alpha synuclein (α-synuclein), that are found in the brains of people with…

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Dr Marta Swirski

Research Associate at Bristol University’s Institute of Clinical Neurosciences

Marta took her dementia research PHD at Bristol University, between 2011 – 2015, which was fully funded by BRACE.

Marta’s PhD project explored the relationship between two proteins, amyloid-beta (Aβ) and alpha synuclein (α-synuclein), that are found in the brains of people with dementia. These proteins have been under interest for several years due to their involvement in disease mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD).

A-synuclein is present in all nerve cells but becomes abnormally aggregated and forms Lewy bodies in PD, PDD and DLB. What causes the abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein is unclear, but research has indicated that a modification of α-synuclein promotes self-aggregation and nerve cell damage. In addition, Aβ play a role in the abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein. Marta used various laboratory techniques to measure specific forms of α-synuclein and Aβ in post-mortem brain samples at the South West Dementia Brain Bank. Her work demonstrated that presence of modified α-synuclein was associated with more severe disease and also strongly correlated with levels a neurotoxic form of Aβ. In addition, experiments conducted in cell culture showed a direct effect of Aβ on the modification of α-synuclein. These studies are critical in contributing to our understanding of disease mechanisms in dementia as well as aiding future potential targets for drug therapies.

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]]> Dr Laura Palmer – Manager of the South West Dementia Brain Bank (SWDBB) https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/dr-laura-palmer-manager-of-the-south-west-dementia-brain-bank-swdbb/ Fri, 18 Dec 2020 15:11:00 +0000 https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/?p=834 Dr Laura Palmer - Manager of the South West Dementia Brain Bank (SWDBB) Laura took her BRACE-funded, part-time PhD at the University of Bristol between 2006 and 2014. Laura’s PhD work investigated the role of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). This important enzyme pathway and signalling system…

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Dr Laura Palmer - Manager of the South West Dementia Brain Bank (SWDBB)

Laura took her BRACE-funded, part-time PhD at the University of Bristol between 2006 and 2014.

Laura’s PhD work investigated the role of the renin angiotensin system (RAS) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). This important enzyme pathway and signalling system acts in the body to control blood pressure (BP), fluid balance and hormone secretion. An independent RAS is also found within the brain; some of its components are thought to transmit information or alter the function of nerve cells and have been reported to influence behaviour and cognition. Research has shown that high blood pressure in mid-life can be a risk factor for AD and that some medications for blood pressure can lower the risk or improve outcomes for people with dementia. Of these medications, those that target the RAS may have added benefits to cognition.

Laura used brain tissue donated to the SWDBB to show that key RAS components exist in the brain and are altered in both AD and VaD (although in differing ways). As RAS-inhibiting drugs are frequently prescribed to patients to reduce their BP it is essential that we better understand the normal role of the RAS in the brain and its role in disease, to ensure that available drugs can be used most effectively. A number of aspects of this important BRACE-funded research have now been followed up including some proteins that are potential targets for drug treatments, as well as providing Laura with the academic training and skills required to become the Manager of one of the leading dementia brain banks in the UK.

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