Talks and Q&A with Dr Branduff McAllister and Dr Sarah Carpanini from our Wales Research Network.
This session focussed on research looking at why some genes are linked with dementia. Our speakers shared how studying these genes could indicate why damage occurs in the brain in dementia, and highlight potential new treatments.
Speakers
Dr Sarah Carpanini is a Research Associate at the Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University. Her talk will focus on immune cells in the brain called microglia. These cells respond to changes in the brain and help to clear up waste. In Alzheimer’s, it’s been suggested that microglia go rogue and begin to cause damage. Dr Carpanini is exploring one particular protein to understand why this damage happens, and whether there are ways to prevent it from happening in the future.
Dr Branduff McAllister is a Research Associate at the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University. Dr McAllister’s talk will focus on Huntingdon’s disease, which is an inherited condition that leads to problems with movement, and also with memory and thinking. He will speak about three DNA repair genes he’s identified that can influence the age at which Huntingdon’s symptoms first appear. By studying these genes, he hopes to find new avenues to explore in the development of new therapies and treatments for the condition.
For more information or questions about the event, please email the Public Engagement team engage@alzheimersresearchuk.org
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