An agreement between Scottish Brain Sciences and a global leader in precision diagnostics is aiming to transform the ability of clinicians to identify the very earliest signs of Alzheimer’s Disease – long before symptoms can be seen.
Professor Craig Ritchie has told an international Alzheimer’s conference that phase 3 clinical trial results for donanemab, the antibody drug designed to target and clear the amyloid plaques considered key to progression of Alzheimer’s disease, reveal the drug’s “profound” clinical effect.
With the publication of Scotland’s new dementia strategy, the government’s Chief Scientist for Health, Professor Anna Dominiczack says it is now an important time to help make life-changing discoveries – encouraging Scots to volunteer for research into progressive brain conditions.
Professor Craig Ritchie, CEO of Scottish Brain Sciences co-hosts the second international brain health summit in St Andrew’s, bringing together experts across the NHS, academia, and industry for a two-day conference.
Scottish Brain Sciences Founder and Chief Executive, Professor Craig Ritchie, welcomes the Scottish Government’s new dementia strategy and says Scotland can now complete the picture with a separate national Brain Health Strategy.
Professor Ritchie spoke with The Times about the drive to advance research at a faster pace than manageable within the NHS.
New insights from research led by the University of Edinburgh reveal that the structures sending neurological signals and supporting normal brain function also enable the build-up of toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease – a finding which they say could prove vital in the search for therapies for slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
In recent years more and more evidence has been found of the link between head injuries – be it at work, at war or on the sports field – and the onset of neurological conditions several or many years later. A neuropathologist involved in leading research at the University of Glasgow says the message to those affected is that you can take steps, and you shouldn’t give up hope. However, Professor Willie Stewart also says he believes that there is one group of people at risk are remaining silent.
