Lab tour with Alzheimer Scotland

This week,  the Edinburgh Neuroscience team were delighted to have the opportunity to join a lab tour. CDBS Lab Manager, Jane Tulloch was hosting a group of visitors from Alzheimer Scotland (AS) who had an array of lived experiences of dementia - those living with the disease, carers, advisors and health professionals.

Touring the Spires-Jones and Durrant labs,  we learned about how researchers are exploring why synapses are damaged in Alzheimer's disease and whether boosting the resilience of synapses can protect the brain.  Professors, Postdocs and PhD students shared the complexities and intricacies of their work. They utilise some of the most advanced technology and techniques in Europe, including studying living human brain tissue, confocal and two-photon microscopy and use of fruit fly models.

There was also an opportunity for those in the AS group, such as  Margaret and Rhina, to share their inspiring stories, the impact of diagnoses  on their lives as well as the hugely important and necessary advocacy work they do as part of the Scottish Dementia Working Group.

It was an invaluable an insightful experience for all involved and a reminder of why we do what we do.