Great Minds live event: New treatments for dementia
3 November 2023
The Great Minds event brought together experts and members for an update on the search for treatments for dementia. This unique event offered insights into the latest advancements in dementia research.
Progressive supranuclear palsy: a condition causing movement issues and dementia
4 July 2022
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a condition that causes symptoms relating to movement, especially eye movement, as well as dementia. Although people with PSP experience dementia, skills like decision-making, organisation and concentration are more impaired than memory. Read this blog post to find out more about this rare type of dementia.
Dementia decoded: brain scans
19 June 2022
There are several different ways to generate detailed images of the brain in a living human, each of which requires a specialised type of brain scanner. As technology advances, machines are developed that can even combine multiple types of scan in one. Learn about the different brain scanners that exist and how they work in this blog post.
Neuroinflammation: does the brain’s immune system hold the key to treating dementia?
6 June 2022
When the body’s immune system is activated – by anything from bacteria to toxic chemicals – it releases certain cells that trigger inflammation. This is the cause of the swelling, redness and pain that appear when you damage your skin. A similar process called neuroinflammation occurs beneath the skin when something threatens to damage the brain. There is a growing collection of evidence that neuroinflammation may play an important role in the progression of dementia.
Great Minds newsletter: May 2022
9 May 2022
The May 2022 edition of the Great Minds members' newsletter.
How are rates of dementia changing?
3 May 2022
The latest figures estimate that 57.4 million people are currently living with dementia across the world. Experts are trying to predict how this number will change in the coming years to better inform global public health messaging and resource allocation.
Dementia in other animals
19 April 2022
Humans aren’t the only species that can develop dementia – a condition known as cognitive dysfunction syndrome has been reported extensively in dogs as well as cats, horses, and rabbits.
How can data help prevent dementia?
4 April 2022
Data is an invaluable resource that can provide insights into health from a population level right down to each individual within it. By looking for trends in datasets, data scientists can answer questions such as how likely certain people are to get dementia, what the typical biological hallmarks of dementia are, and even detect the earliest signs that an individual’s health is deteriorating.
Accessing memories through music
22 March 2022
Music is around us all from a very early age, whether in the form of nursery rhymes or the music our parents danced around the kitchen to. But while music we listen to at an early age may not always shape our own taste as we get older, music is deeply intertwined with memories and can take us back to an exact point in time to relive the sights, sounds, and feelings.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a rapidly progressing form of dementia
15 February 2022
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is an extremely rare form of dementia that affects just one in every million people across the world. In CJD symptoms get worse very quickly, with 90% of patients dying within a year of their diagnosis. Read on to learn more about this extraordinary type of dementia.
Great Minds newsletter: January 2022
31 January 2022
The January 2022 edition of the Great Minds members' newsletter.
Corticobasal syndrome: a type of dementia affecting movement and thinking
13 December 2021
Also known as corticobasal degeneration, corticobasal syndrome is a rare type of dementia that causes both thinking and movement difficulties.
Can dance help defend against dementia?
29 November 2021
There are many things about dancing that make it great for our brains and bodies, but can its benefits extend as far as improving the thinking skills of people with dementia?
How has modern technology shaped dementia care?
15 November 2021
Our guest blogger Charlotte Murphy explores how modern technology is helping people with dementia and their caregivers adapt to their condition.
Huntington’s disease: a rare cause of dementia
12 October 2021
Huntington’s disease is an inherited genetic disorder affecting movement and cognition that gradually gets worse over time and causes dementia.
Great Minds newsletter: September 2021
23 September 2021
The September 2021 edition of the Great Minds members' newsletter.
What’s good for the heart is good for the head
20 September 2021
Exploring the link between brain health and heart health.
Brain areas decoded
17 August 2021
Many brain areas may be affected by dementia - this blog post takes a look at the most common of these.
Dementia terminology decoded
10 August 2021
Scientific literature is full of complicated terminology that can make it difficult for those outside the field to engage with the subject – and dementia research is no exception.
Is there a genetic link to dementia?
19 July 2021
Most cases of dementia are not directly caused by genetics and instead result from a combination of risk factors, but there are some forms where genetics play a key role.