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This week Adam reports from a conference showcasing dementia research at Cardiff University’s School of Medicine.

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The G8 Dementia Summit opens in London this week, with the stark warning that the number of people living with the disease worldwide is set to treble to a staggering 135 million by 2050. Most of us will already know a colleague, friend or family member whose loved one has the condition. So the race is on to find a cure, or at least new treatments and drugs which can slow its progression. Science Café attended a special event, organised by Alzheimer’s Research UK, to showcase some of the work being done to tackle dementia.

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It was held at Cardiff University’s School of Medicine, in the Hayden Ellis Building where Professor Julie Williams and her team carry out ground-breaking research into the disease. Adam took a tour around the labs, where pioneering technology enables the neuroscience team to collect and manage vast amounts of genetic information.Ìý

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Increasingly scientists are studying the link between high blood pressure and dementia. Adam talks to Prof Pat Kehoe, who began his research into dementia at Cardiff, but now operates from Bristol University. He believes that bringing blood pressure under control early on could significantly delay the onset of the disease.Ìý

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One important element for conducting research into the brain is having a good supply of human brain tissue. Brains For Dementia Research is an initiative funded by both the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK, which allows people to arrange to donate their brain to research. Its director, Professor Paul Francis explains why it’s needed.

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Unusually, the event was open to the public. Research like this is not always accessible to those who have a vested interest.Ìý There was plenty of interest in the new developments, but sadly some felt that the ‘breakthrough’ was still too slow in coming.ÌýÌý

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