Degeneration on Tap: What Happens When The Brain Breaks Down?

It has been established that the periphery (body) does talk to brain (mind) and vice-versa. These conversations remain subtly hidden during homeostatic conditions and bodily and mind functions run smoothly. However, in non-homeostatic conditions, the conversations flare up, both in a good and a bad way.
I study one such non-haemostatic condition, peripheral inflammation. I am trying to dissect the molecular mechanism for the bidirectional conversation between periphery and brain with respect to mood disorders. The inflammatory signature from the body travels up to the brain and affects the neuronal circuitry in a way which alters the mood.
My work is focused on characterization of the cell recruitment into the brain in the context of inflammatory stressors. This also includes studying the interaction of exogenous and brain resident immune cells and how these interactions relate to behaviour. The work links directly to experimental medicine studies in humans, which seeks to determine the immunobiological basis of psychiatric phenomena in the context of immune-mediated inflammation.

Dementia is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, yet treatments are still limited. Researchers are working tirelessly to understand dementia and neurodegenerative diseases, uncovering new disease mechanisms and treatment options. So, is waiting on new treatments our only option? I will discuss the risks linked to dementia, some which are outwith our control and some which aren’t. I will describe some of the most common risk factors we know of, including inherited genes and modifiable behaviours. Because by understanding the risks, we can find new ways to prevent disease.

Take a journey into the world of protein homeostasis - the brain’s quality‑control system. Proteins are tiny machines that keep the brain’s cellular engine running, but these machines can be surprisingly fragile; without proper maintenance they can misfold, clump together, and cause chaos. We will explore how brain cells keep their protein machinery in check, why this balance becomes harder to maintain with ageing, and what current research is doing to fight back. Along the way, we’ll discuss how healthy lifestyle choices matter for brain health.