Dementia Researcher

In this podcast Adam Smith interviews Craig Ritchie, Professor Psychiatry of Ageing from The University of Edinburgh and Jim Pearson, Director of Policy & Practice at Alzheimer Scotland. They discuss the recently launched Scottish Brain Health & Dementia Research Strategy. Prepared by Alzheimer Scotland, The Scottish Dementia Research Consortium and Brain Health Scotland, and endorsed by a broad range of national organisations, the strategy sets the direction of travel for research in Scotland by defining key areas with strategic actions. They explore how the policy was developed, what it hopes to achieve and how support for Early Career Researchers is a key feature of the policy. Review the policy at: https://www.sdrc.scot/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Scottish-Brain-Health-Dementia-Research-Strategy-2021-min-1-1.pdf For more information on the organisations behind the policy: https://www.brainhealth.scot/ https://www.alzscot.org/ https://www.sdrc.scot/ Professor Ritchie is a Professor of the Psychiatry o

In this podcast Dr Claire Sexton, Director of Scientific Programs & Outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association interviews Professor Cindy Weinstein and Professor Bruce L. Miller. Discussing their collaboration on a new book ‘Finding the Right Words – a story of literature, grief, and the brain’. This podcast was originally recorded as an ISTAART webinar in August 2021. This is the moving story of an English professor studying neurology in order to understand and come to terms with her father's death from Alzheimer's. Finding the Right Words follows Cindy’s decades-long journey to come to terms with her father's dementia as both a daughter and an English professor. Although her lifelong love of language and literature gave her a way to talk about her grief, she realized that she also needed to learn more about the science of dementia to make sense of her father's death. To write her story, she collaborated with Professor Bruce L. Miller, neurologist and director of the Memory and Aging Center at the Universit

It's World Alzheimer's Day - a day when we discuss the disease, work to raise awareness and call for action. Today’s podcast is a special edition to announce a very important action from Race Against Dementia (RAD) supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK, the appointment of four new Research Fellows. In the show we talk to new Chief Executive Bridget Barker, who introduces their newly appointed Fellows. They share their research plans, what they’re most looking forward to about the programme and provide a few top tips for those applying for similar positions. Meet the new RAD Fellows: Dr Maura Malpetti, from University of Cambridge. Maura uses multimodal imaging techniques (multi-tracer PET and MRI) integrated with fluid markers, post-mortem validation, and prognostic modelling approaches in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Dr Aitana Sogorb Esteve, from the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London. Maura is looking for fluid biomarkers of synaptic dysfunction in genetic FTD and aiming to

This week we’re discussing Social Care Research, why it is important, and what is being done to try and ensure there is more of it. Social care is a term that generally describes all forms of personal care and other practical assistance for children, young people, adults and older adults who need extra support. However, as you would expect, we’re looking at its connection to dementia and how it supports older adults. We welcome back Senior Research Fellow and regular blogger Dr Clarissa Giebel from University of Liverpool as host, and first time guests Teresa Atkinson from University of Worcester, Dr Michael Clark from the NIHR School for Social Care Research and Tom Redfearn Public Affairs Manager at the Alzheimer’s Society. This podcast was recorded on the 25th June, and a few things have changed since then (which we should probably mention), the UK Government has announced its new plan for health and social care, and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dementia published its report Fuelling the Moonsho

Today marks the release of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia’s report on their recent inquiry about the state of dementia research. In this episode, Alzheimer’s Society’s Dr Clare Jonas, Jordan Clark and Dr Rich Oakley and the University of Manchester’s Dr Sarah Ryan discuss how an APPG inquiry works, the policy recommendations that the report makes, and how the dementia community can use this report to affect future research policy. For more information and to download the report visit: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/policy-and-influencing/all-party-parliamentary-group-dementia You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast This podcast also sits on YouTube with English Language Subtitles. _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your

Early career researchers face many challenges – from difficulties finding, funding, publishing and career progression to problems with research culture and individual forms of prejudice. University College London and the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) Professional Interest Area to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERS) is working to better understand the challenges and what helps. In this podcast Dr Anna Volkmer talks with five members of the ISTAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers. Discussing their work, and their newly launched survey. This weeks guests are Dr Beth Shaaban, Dr Sara Bartels, Wagner Brum, Dr Lindsay Welikovitch. Please note a Chinese and Portuguese translation of this podcast is available as a caption on the version uploaded to youTube - https://youtu.be/uhlxW9BCAUQ The survey discussed is aimed at early career dementia researchers, or those who have previously been an early career dementia researcher but ha

This week Dr Sam Moxon interviews Dr Neal Barnard, American author, clinical researcher, Leading TED Talk speaker and founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). They discuss the affected of diet on the brain, and the importance of what you eat on brain and overall health. Dr. Barnard has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, the brain and chronic pain, including a ground-breaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes - paving the way for viewing type 2 diabetes as a potentially reversible condition. He has authored more than 100 scientific publications and 20 books (including some of the best ever selling Vegan health books) for medical and lay readers, and is the editor in chief of the Nutrition Guide for Clinicians, a textbook made available to all U.S. medical students. As president of the Physicians Committee, Dr Barnard also leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher

In today’s podcast Professor Selina Wray from University College London, meets four early career researchers, who know a great deal about the brain, human iPSC derived cells and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (not that isn’t a new type of electric car). We’ll be discussing their research, discovering more about super resolution microscopy, and how they’re researching the ubiquitin proteasome system, and its connection to dementia. We’re delighted to welcome our guests: PhD Students Liina Sirvio, Katiuska Daniela Pulgar Prieto from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London. Georgie Lines, PhD Student from University College London and Dr Emma Mee Haynes a Postdoctoral Research Associate also from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London. What is the purpose of ubiquitin proteasome system? In eukaryotic cells, proteasomes perform crucial roles in many cellular pathways by degrading proteins to enforce quality control and regulate many cellular processes such as ce

In this episode we share a recording of the AAIC Highlights live plenary session, organised and delivered as part of the conference on 30th July. Session chairs Dr Rebecca Edelmayer & Dr Percy Griffin from Alzheimer's Association speak with panellists Wagner Brum, Karen Dorsman, Alexander Ehrenberg, Dr Maureen Okafor and Dr Anna Volkmer To see the live recording of this session, and more from the conference visit https://www.alz.org/aaic Details on the guest from this recording, and a full transcription can be found on our website - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts Thank you to Alzheimer's Association for giving us permission to share this recording - please note that this audio should not be copied or duplicated, and the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the Alzheimer's Association. _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to

Usually at this time of year you would be expecting our daily Alzheimer's Association International Conference Round-up Podcasts - where we bring together ECRs and people attending to share their highlights. Unfortunately, this year, due time-zones and guest availability, it didn't work out. So instead, we asked Adam Smith to write and narrate a blog to share the main highlights and his own favourite sessions from the week. If you missed the conference, don't worry, it isn't too late to register and the content will be available for the next 30 days (to end August 2021) To book your place visit - https://www.alz.org/aaic Join ISTAART to get a free online ticket - https://www.alz.org/istaart using the code AAIC2021 to get 50% discount on membership. The text from this blog is available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-2021-highlights You will find a bio on Adam Smith and a link to his twitter feed, for more AAIC highlights here: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcas

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast is back for a second, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Five – Dr Claudio Babiloni interviews Dr Joe Kane Dr Claudio Babiloni is an Associate Professor of Physiology at Sapienza University of Rome. Claudio is investigating the brain rhythms underlying the regulation of vigilance and cognitive functions in aging, with a particular interest in the main progressive neurodegenerative diseases leading to dementia such as Alzheimer's, Lewy body, and Parkinson's diseases. The primary methods of this research are EEG and neuroimaging techniques. Claudio is representing the Electrophysiology PIA. Dr Joe Kane is a Clinical Academic Lecturer working at Queen’s University Belfast. Joe splits his time between research and clinical work as an old age psychiatrist. Having got

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast is back for a second, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Four – Dr Betty Tijms interviews Dr Claudio Babiloni Dr Betty Tijms is an Associate Professor at the Alzheimer center, department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC in the Netherlands. Jennifer’s research focusses on better understanding interindividual differences in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease that are related to developing dementia, through MR imaging and CSF proteomic analyses. She has recently, started work on cerebrospinal fluid proteomics as one of the most comprehensive measures to get more insight into interindividual differences in underlying pathophysiological processes. Betty is representing the Neuroimaging PIA. Dr Claudio Babiloni is an Associate Professor of Physiology at Sapienza Univer

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast is back for a second, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Three – Professor Jennifer Whitwell interviews Dr Betty Tijms Jennifer Whitwell is a Professor of Radiology at the May Clinic, Rochester having originally grown up and trained in the UK. Jennifer’s research focuses on the investigation of neuroimaging biomarkers, including MRI and PET, in different neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. She is particularly focused on using neuroimaging to better understand disease mechanisms and progression in patients with atypical clinical presentations of Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting the phenotypic heterogeneity present in this disease. Jennifer is representing the Atypical Alzheimer’s Disease PIA. Dr Betty

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast is back for a second, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Two – Professor Zahinoor Ismail interviews Professor Jennifer Whitwell Zahinoor Ismail is a Neuropsychiatrist; Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Epidemiology, and Pathology at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and O’Brien Institute for Public Health; Cumming School of Medicine; University of Calgary. Zahinoor works on Dementia prognostication and early dementia detection using non-cognitive markers, treatment of neuropsychiatric syndromes across the cognitive spectrum, pharmacoepidemiology. Zahinoor is representing the Neuropsychiatric Syndromes PIA. Jennifer Whitwell is a Professor of Radiology at the May Clinic, Rochester having originally grown up and trained in the UK. Jennifer’s research focuses on the i

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast is back for a second, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part One – Dr Joe Kane interviews Professor Zahinoor Ismail Dr Joe Kane is a Clinical Academic Lecturer working at Queen’s University Belfast. Joe splits his time between research and clinical work as an old age psychiatrist. Having got his taste for academia during his PhD studies working in of Lewy body dementia on the DIAMOND-Lewy programme of studies. Joe is representing the Lewy body dementia PIA. Professor Zahinoor Ismail is a Neuropsychiatrist; Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Epidemiology, and Pathology at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and O’Brien Institute for Public Health; Cumming School of Medicine; University of Calgary. Zahinoor works on Dementia prognostication and early dementia detection usi

In this weeks podcast, Adam Smith speaks with Alzheimer’s Association Director, Scientific Programs and Outreach, Dr Claire Sexton. Discussing this years Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 16-30 July 2021. Taking place in-person in Denver, Colorado, USA and online - the world’s leading basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community will share breaking research discoveries that will lead to methods of prevention and treatment and improvements in diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease. Hear how the conference has adapted to ensure that vital science continues to be shared. How the new hybrid conference will work, get information on the themes and plenary speakers and how to get tickets. To book your place visit - https://www.alz.org/aaic Join ISTAART to get a free online ticket - https://www.alz.org/istaart A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-2021-preview

Whilst everyone may experience dementia and its symptoms differently, the pathway to diagnosis is very similar for most people, but could all that be about to change? This week Adam Smith, speaks to a Psychiatrist, a Neurologist and a Scientist. They discuss the current diagnosis pathway, the tests involved, and how that could change as with the development of blood based biomarkers. Exploring the science behind the new tests, their development, and how these new tests could be used in frontline services to improve accuracy, support clinical trials and to improve care – and is the NHS ready? This week’s guests are: Dr Elizabeth Coulthard, Consultant Neurologist and Associate Professor at University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust. Dr Josie Jenkinson, Consultant Psychiatrist for Older People and Clinical Academic at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust. Dr Amanda Heslegrave, Senior Research Fellow focussed on Biomarkers in Neurodegeneration at the UK Dementia Research Institute at University C

This week is #LonelinessAwarenessWeek – to raise awareness of the challenges of social isolation, and how this can lead to loneliness, and the connection to Dementia, we worked with The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART), and the Global Brain Health Institute (GHBI) to record this special podcast. The impacts of SI/L (social isolation/loneliness) on the health and longevity of older adults is substantial. Researchers have found that social isolation or loneliness in older adults is associated with a 50% increased risk of developing dementia. With 5-25% of people over the age of 65% saying they experience SI/L, prior to the pandemic, it is now surprise that the situation has only worsened in the last 18 months. Journalist, Writer and GHBI Fellow, Fernando Aguzzoli Peres discovers different perspectives of the challenges that come from SI/L, and the Research that is working to understand the issue and help. To get a first-hand of the difficul

This week regular guest host Dr Anna Volkmer talks with the joint co-ordinating editors of the Cochrane Dementia Group. Listen to hear about the work of Cochrane, how they support evidence-informed decision making in healthcare, their work on undertaking systematic reviews and how you could become involved. This weeks guests are: Dr Terry Quinn, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Honorary Consultant and Joint co-ordinating editor of Cochrane Dementia Group. Terry is a clinician working in stroke and older adult services in Glasgow is also the national lead for ageing research in Scotland. Dr Jenny McCleery, Consultant Psychiatrist & Joint co-ordinating editor of Cochrane who describes herself as first, and foremost a Clinician. In her day-job she works as part of a community team for Older Adults at Oxfordshire Health NHS Foundation Trust. Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group, is part of Cochrane’s Mental Health and Neuroscience Network. They aim is to provide the highest quality evidence about the c

Resident blogger, Dr Sam Moxon, Biomaterials scientist at The University of Manchester talks with Dr Eric Hill, Senior Lecturer in Stem cell biology and Bioethics from Aston University and Dr Paul Roach, Senior Lecturer in Biomaterials and Interface Science from Loughborough University, about their £3m Neu-ChiP Project. The Revolutionary Neu-ChiP project will see an international collaboration of scientists layer networks of stem cells resembling the human cortex onto microchips. They will then stimulate the cells by firing changing patterns of light beams at them. Sophisticated 3D computer modelling will allow them to observe any changes the cells undergo, to see how adaptable they are. This imitates the ‘plasticity’ of the human brain, which can rapidly adapt to new information - providing huge insights into the development of human neuronal networks. The applications of this work are have far reaching potential. _________________________ Dr Paul Roach Bio https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profi