Discovering Dementia

The human brain is hugely complex, making it difficult to study in living people & to replicate in the lab. Donated post-mortem brain tissue remains one of the most important resources for neuroscience research. Its collection is essential if we are to understand the basic underlying causes of diseases like dementia, to discover how they relate to symptoms experienced by patients and to develop new treatments. I want to introduce you to Brain Banking, its future progress and challenges

Although we normally think of dementia affecting older people, there is a group of fatal genetic diseases that also cause dementia in children and young adults. Mistakes in DNA cause the cells waste disposal and recycling centre to stop working, which has a devastating effect upon the brain. We are working to discover what goes wrong in these diseases and to find ways to treat these children, who would otherwise die a lingering death

‘I am still here’ is an interactive art installation aiming to communicate a better understanding of the symptoms of dementia. This collaboration between artists, scientists and those directly affected sets challenges that confront the audience with numerous symptoms associated with dementia. Integrating sensory and multimedia components, playful elements also bring humorous moments to an otherwise intense experience. We look forward to presenting the first taster session at Pint of Science