Why is this important? - A window on the brain
What can go wrong with the brain?
Our brain makes us who we are, but how this happens is still a fascinating scientific puzzle. New scientific techniques, such as fMRI, can let us see how our brain remembers, thinks, speaks and feels. It also shows us what happens in different areas of the brain in people who suffer from a range of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, and also what happens when someone suffers a stroke, is in a coma, or is suffering from mental health problems.
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting around 417,000 people in the UK. In dementia, people start to lose various brain functions. They might become forgetful as memory functions are affected, or they might have problems with language, or their ability to make decisions. Think about how your everyday life might be affected if you had Alzheimer's disease.
As the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer's need more support from those who care for them. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias, but there are some treatments that can temporarily help with some of the symptoms.
The percentage of the UK population which is aged over 65 is continuing to increase. There are 1.5 million extra people in this age group than there were 25 years ago. Dementia predominantly occurs in the second half of life, usually after the age of 65. So as people live longer, a larger proportion of the population could be living with dementia which means that we will have to provide more support for those living with the desease.
Scientific research will help us understand what happens in Alzheimer's disease, and might help us discover how it can be prevented, and how to reduce people's symptoms.
Meet a scientist who studies the brain
For more information visit: www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk, www.alzheimers-research.org.uk, www.alzheimers.org.uk, www.mentalhealth.org.uk, www.mssociety.org.uk, www.parkinsons.org.uk.
Science for you to try!
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