Alzheimer's Society research - proteins causing Alzheimer's disease. Tau proteins are found in the brain and normally have a role in giving stability to brain cells. But altered forms of tau can build up and clump together, forming 'tangles' in the brain which researchers think are linked to dementia. The green spots in this image are mutant human tau proteins, generated in a mouse brain, in an area known to be affected by dementia in a human brain. The markers used to colour the brain cells (yellow, red, blue) give an impression of constellations of stars around the Milky Way in the sky rather than proteins in the brain. Copyright: Dr Barbara Sarkany, University of Oxford.
Stem cell research offering hope for the future secures first prize
A gallery of “breath-taking” images and videos which shine a light on crucial dementia research have been released today by Alzheimer’s Society’s first ever research image competition.
Spotlight on Dementia challenges researchers funded by the charity to showcase their vital work through creative images and video. Entries explored diverse topics such as detecting dementia using virtual reality, the impact of young-onset dementia on people’s careers, and the potential involvement of the brain’s immune system in the processes behind dementia.
Alzheimer’s Society research – brain stem cells.
Researchers like Dr Charlie Arber use stem cells – cells which don’t have a special function yet – to grow human brain cells in a dish. This can help to understand how dementia starts. This flower-like picture shows a neural rosette – a group of cells which are half way to becoming a brain cells. The green strands are cells turning into brain cells around the edges of the rosette. Copyright: Dr Charlie Arber, UCL.
Dr Charlie Arber, a stem cell researcher from UCL took home the winning prize for his entry ‘Bed of Rosettes’ which shows a group of stem cells, called a neural rosette, becoming brain cells.
He said, “Alzheimer’s Society funding has allowed me to develop my work using stem cells to understand how dementia starts and I’m thrilled to win the first Spotlight on Dementia competition. Research offers hope across dementia diagnosis, treatment and care, and I hope this competition will help bring more funding opportunities and new people to the dementia research community.”
The judging panel, which included Tom Whipple, Science Editor at The Times and people affected by dementia, chose Charlie’s photo because they felt it added colour to an important area of dementia research – trying to understand how dementia starts and how we can treat it. They felt the image reminded them of Alzheimer’s Society’s iconic forget-me-not, a symbol of remembrance.
Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Spotlight on Dementia brings together science and art to reveal the wonder and variety of the research we fund. Each breath-taking entry tells a different story about the drive and enthusiasm of our stellar researchers working across dementia diagnosis, treatment and care.
Alzheimer’s Society research – people with young onset dementia can be ‘frozen out’. Rachel Allen, who researches young onset dementia and careers, represents the “freezing out” that people with young onset dementia can experience. Work, once enjoyable and meaningful, is now cold and harsh. Stages towards retirement can’t be negotiated as planned. Her image here depicts this – but the colourful letters signify that hope and purpose can continue. Careers continue to exist after a diagnosis. Copyright: Rachel Allen, University of the West of Scotland.
“Alzheimer’s Society is a vital source of support and a powerful force for change for people with dementia. The charity only funds the most cutting-edge dementia research and currently we fund over 155 projects worth £29.5m. We do this because we know research will beat dementia and improve the lives of people affected by the condition.
“Times are hard at the moment, but more funding is desperately needed to help us find breakthroughs and a cure. Decades of underfunding mean dementia research lags about twenty years behind the progress we’ve made in cancer, and we’re still waiting for the Government to act on its commitment over two years ago to double dementia research funding.”
This Autumn, Alzheimer’s Society is asking everyone to support pioneering dementia research. Just £10 could help to fund an early career researcher’s study, which could lead to the breakthroughs of tomorrow – visit alzheimers.org.uk/ecr.
To find out more about Alzheimer’s Society funded research and funding opportunities or to buy merchandise featuring the Spotlight on Dementia winning entry visit alzheimers.org.uk.
Charlie Arber’s image ‘Bed of Rosettes’ is available on mugs, T-shirts and tote bags.
