Opportunities in Dementia Dr Hilary Archer, Clinical Lecturer

Dementia HIT

Dementia HIT

Dementia HIT

Centre for Synaptic Plasticity Yoav Ben-Shlomo Andy Randall Risto Kaupinnen Shelley Allen Myra Conway Richard Cheston Graham Collingdale Sarah Cullum Who are we Where do we cover What are our collaborations What do we cover: All aspects of all dementias – what is our purpose – to further the understanding of all dementias and development of treatment (is there a mission statement) We are small part of a much bigger picture, Bristol Dementia Research Group

How do we do this? Key outcomes Can we prevent Can we diagnose accurately How do we achieve these things From bench to bedside – huge range of projects identifying the genetic and metabolic pathways involved in different dementias. One example is how we have looked at vascular risk factors in development of dementia. Metabolic and genetic pathways identified, which help us to (a) better understand disease processes and (b) potential targets for drugs treatment (c) Identify biomarkers of the disesase process Depends on part on the vast resource of the SWDBB which enables comparison of brain tissue from both healthy and brains from individuals with dementia. We are developing neuroimaging (in collaboration with the CRIC Bristol) and neuropsychological tools to allow us to Improve our ability to diagnose dementia (so we get it right), and Improve our ability to diagnose dementias early, to catch the disease process as early as possible Allow us to monitor improvement in symptoms and underlying disease to ensure that when treatments are developed that we know if they are working or not. This can lead to therapeutic trials of medication or other health interventions, which in turn allow us to see how we can change the underlying disease process which feeds back more information to our researchers working in basic science.

RADAR (Reducing pathology in AD through Angiotensin TaRgeting) Reducing pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease throughAngiotensin taRgeting Our lab work on human tissue has shown that there are changes in how blood flow is regulated in healthy brain compared to individuals with dementia. In addition to this we know that there is inflammation seen in the brain tissue and detrimental release of neurotransmitters. This work has led to a drug trial to see whether Losartan a medication used to treat hypertension, that also has anti-inflammatory effects can improve blood flow and alleviate the symptoms and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. In parallel, work carried out into neuroimaging and neuropsychology at the CRIC and at the Dementia Research Group has allowed us to develop ways of measuring the structure and function of the brain, that will enable us to measure whether this treatment has an effect.

Your Research group How can you help

How do we do this? Key outcomes Can we prevent Can we diagnose accurately How do we achieve these things RADAR: clinical trial looking at whether the blood pressure medication Losartan can slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. TOMMS?  

Contact email: Research.Volunteer@nbt.nhs.uk Contact us! Contact tel: 0117 414 8238 Contact email: Research.Volunteer@nbt.nhs.uk How do we get in contact