Race Against Dementia-backed study shows even subtle shifts in amyloid beta can cause synapse loss – with some brain cells mounting a repair response
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, Patron of Race Against Dementia, visited the University of Edinburgh to witness groundbreaking dementia research in action.
Race Against Dementia, founded by Formula 1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, applies an F1-mindset to fast-track dementia research. By uniting scientists and industry leaders, the charity fuels fresh thinking and relentless innovation to tackle one of medicine’s – and society’s – greatest challenges.
Her Royal Highness toured the Dyson RAD Dementia Research Acceleration Project Lab, where Dr Claire Durrant and her team are investigating the causes and consequences of synapse loss in Alzheimer’s disease.
In this lab, Claire works with live human brain slice cultures – tiny pieces of brain tissue that would otherwise be discarded during routine neurosurgical procedures. The team demonstrated its high-powered multiphoton microscope, which captures detailed images of how Alzheimer’s affects brain cells in real time.
When even greater resolution is needed, Claire’s team partners with Dyson engineers. Using specialist equipment at Dyson’s research and design centre in Wiltshire – normally focused on battery technology – Dyson engineers help analyse brain samples at the atomic and molecular level.
This partnership, forged by Race Against Dementia, brings industry expertise to the frontline of dementia research, accelerating progress towards a breakthrough.
“Every three seconds, someone develops dementia”
“Every three seconds, someone develops dementia. We’re working to close that gap – using live human brain cultures and advanced imaging to better understand how Alzheimer’s takes hold. The more we uncover, the better our chances of stopping this disease.” – Dr Claire Durrant, Race Against Dementia-Dyson Fellow
Early findings from Claire’s team suggest that even subtle shifts in amyloid beta trigger synapse loss and prompt repair – insights set to be explored further in an upcoming research paper.
Her Royal Highness also met other Edinburgh-based Race Against Dementia-funded researchers, including Dr Bhuvaneish Slevaraj, Dr Fergus Doubal and Maija Pyykkönen – each working industriously towards a cure for dementia.
Bhuvaneish, Fergus and Maija are focused on repurposing existing drugs to treat frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia. All aiming to speed up the development of treatments for dementia – a condition that affects one in three people in the UK.
The Duchess was welcomed by the Rt Hon Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Cllr Robert Aldridge; Lydia Beaton, Interim CEO of Race Against Dementia; and Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh.
Image by Neil Hanna
