The Resilient Mind: Fighting Against Dementia

Brains do some pretty incredible things. They let us think, feel, remember… but, sometimes, they face challenges. That’s neurodegeneration: when brain cells get damaged and die faster than they should, affecting memory, movement, and thinking. That’s where I come in. I’m a neuroscientist, and I study what happens when brain cells start getting clogged up and lose connections in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Now, I know that sounds a bit grim, but the brain doesn’t just sit back and let it happen. And that’s what fascinates me: how the brain tries to compensate, to work around the damage and keep us functioning. One of the ways I study this? By shooting tiny bits of gold into human brain slices. Not just for fun (though, let’s be honest, it’s pretty cool), but to see how brain cells stay connected and adapt. If we can understand how the brain holds itself together, we might find ways to help it do an even better job.

As our population ages, an estimated 1 in 2 people will be affected by dementia either by having or caring for someone with the condition.  In this talk, Professor Tara Spires-Jones will describe advances in dementia research including new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, why they are not approved on the NHS, and work in her lab aiming to develop more effective treatments.