September is World Alzheimer’s Month, a chance to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions. Throughout the month, we have been shining a spotlight on our brilliant research community, highlighting and celebrating the breadth of research taking place at the UK DRI.

We’ve reached a pivotal point in dementia research, and our scientists are accelerating advances, by tackling neurodegeneration from all angles. Across the spectrum of neurodegenerative conditions, our researchers are discovering the underlying mechanisms and causes, developing treatments, and delivering solutions to help us to achieve a future of healthy brain ageing for all.

---

Discover. Develop. Deliver.

This month, we’ve taken a deep dive into some of the important research led by our scientists. We spoke to Dr Sophie Morse, whose innovative research seeks to harness ultrasound technology as a safe and non-invasive treatment for neurodegeneration.

Prof Joanna Wardlaw is setting up the first phase III trial in cerebral small vessel disease, aimed at improving cognitive symptoms. She told us about the trial, which aims to repurpose two cheap and accessible drugs already licensed to treat heart and circulatory diseases.

Prof Timothy Constandinou is working on pioneering radar technology (pictured above) that is about to be deployed into people’s homes for the first time. We caught up with Tim to find out more about the potential impact of these devices.

In the search for a possible solution for people who are affected by Huntington’s, Prof Vincent Dion has developed an innovative gene editing technique, harnessing technology based on CRISPR to correct the mutation and halt the progression of the disease. We spoke to him to learn more.

Prof Will McEwan and his team are working to develop effective and safer immunotherapies for neurodegeneration by taking manipulating mechanisms by which our cells eliminate viruses.

At the forefront of translating discoveries into life-changing treatments for motor neuron disease and frontotemporal dementia, Prof Adrian Isaacs discusses his research journey so far and how the fruit fly is revolutionising our understanding of these conditions.

---

Meet the UK DRI’s newest Emerging Leaders

This World Alzheimer’s Month we’re delighted to introduce three new UK DRI Emerging Leaders: Dr Maura Malpetti, Dr Anna Mallach, and Dr Valeria Jaramillo. All have been awarded prestigious fellowships before joining the programme. The new researchers join the existing cohort to make a total of 13 current Emerging Leaders.

Find out more

---

Effects of reduced blood flow in early Alzheimer’s reversed by repurposed drug

A new mouse study led by Prof David Attwell (BHF-UK DRI Centre for Vascular Dementia Research) has found that a repurposed drug could reverse the effects of the decrease in brain blood flow that occurs in early Alzheimer’s.

Find out more

---

Promising new Alzheimer’s treatment targets and destroys tau aggregates

A team of scientists co-led by Prof Will McEwan (UK DRI at Cambridge) and the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology (MRC LMB) have developed new therapies that selectively remove aggregated tau proteins, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and improve symptoms of neurodegeneration in mice.

Find out more

---

Speeding up and slowing down brain waves whilst in rapid eye movement sleep

Brain waves can be manipulated whilst in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a sleep stage associated with memory and cognition, a new study led by Prof Derk-Jan Dijk and Dr Valeria Jaramillo (UK DRI Care Research & Technology) has found. Novel technology, using sound stimulation, allows scientists to speed up brain activity which becomes slower in people with dementia during this sleep stage.

Find out more

---

Keep in touch

Stay updated on all the latest breakthroughs in dementia research and exciting initiatives from the Institute by signing up to the UK DRI’s monthly e-newsletter ‘Inside Eye on UK DRI’.

---

Article published: 20 September 2024
Image credits: Imperial College London, Timothy Constandinou, UK DRI Ltd., MRC LMB