Alzheimer's charity hopes to raise awareness at free public event

The charity Alzheimer's Research UK will look to raise awareness about dementia when it hosts a free public event in Edinburgh later this month.

Organised in association with scientists from the charity's East Central Scotland Research Network, the event will take place between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Monday September 23rd at the University of Edinburgh's Chancellors Building.

The evening will involve three expert speaking on the development of dementia research, risk factors which can cause the cognitive condition and the link between stress and dementia.

Visitors will also be able to receive information from organisations running stands inside the venue.

Tim Parry of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: "This event is a great opportunity for people to learn more about dementia and the research being done on their doorstep.

"We rely on public donations to fund our pioneering research and it is important for us to tell people the progress we are making.

"I would invite everyone to come along, get more information about dementia and put their questions to the experts."

He added that there around 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK, including over 4,000 in Edinburgh.

Alzheimer's Research UK provides more than £20 million each year to research facilities, including ones at the Universities of Edinburgh, Dundee and St Andrews.

The charity recently announced that it is to fund research into how brain cells can be protected at the University of Bristol.

The study, led by Dr Nina Balthasar, will investigate how the protein tau builds up inside the brain and interferes with 'power stations' known as mitochondria which allow cells to function properly.

Dr Balthasar said the funding is a real boost to research in what is a relatively new area of Alzheimer's disease study.

She added that her team hope to find a way in which to make mitochondria more resilient so that the damage caused by tau can be limited.

Find out more about Alzheimer's disease care at Barchester homes.