Academic launch of the Centre for Dementia Prevention

This unique new centre brings together clinical, basic and social sciences to advance our understanding of the biological and environmental risk factors that contribute to dementia.

December 2015

On the 25th November at the Edinburgh College of Art a fantastic line-up of speakers, including Prof. Craig Richie and Prof. Jean Manson, co-Director of the Centre and Head of the Neurobiology Division at Roslin, introduced the CDP and its overarching goal of identifying modifiable risks and strategies to reduce the incidence of dementia.Current figures indicate that there are around 47 million sufferers worldwide and that number is expected to double by 2030.

There is already evidence that modifiable risk factors such as diabetes, mid-life hypertension, mid-life obesity, physical inactivity and depression contribute to almost 30% of cases of Alzheimer's disease, and as Prof Miia Kivipelto from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm noted, a relatively small reduction of these could have a big impact on the incidence of the disease. By combining clinical studies with basic neuroscience, which is furthering our understanding of how synapses are affected in neurodegenerative disease, and work in the social sciences focusing the experiences of ageing and living with dementia, the Centre sends a strong message of hope that we can learn to prevent dementia.

Both Henry Simmons from Alzheimer Scotland and the Chief Scientist for Health,Prof. Andrew Morris, praised the three Directors, Prof. Craig Richie, Prof. Charlotte Clarke and Prof. Jean Manson, for their vision in making this Centre a reality.

Find out more about the CDP here: www.centrefordementiaprevention.com