Vascular Dementia in the Spotlight: Experts and Public Unite at Successful RSE Event

Part of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Curious festival of knowledge, this interactive session brought together specialists and the public to explore how individuals can take a more active role in dementia research and improve their brain health. An underlying theme of the talks was the critical role vascular health plays in dementia prevention and treatment. 

With the number of individuals living with dementia expected to surpass one million in the UK by 2039, understanding the factors behind the disease and advancing research is more important than ever. Broadly speaking, dementia can be divided up into two main types – Alzheimer’s dementia is caused primarily by problems with the nerve cells in the brain, while vascular dementia is caused by problems with the blood vessels in the brain, but the two disease processes often occur at the same time. The Curious event focused primarily on vascular dementia.

Attendees heard from individuals living with dementia, gaining insights into their experiences, while also learning about the latest scientific advancements and public health strategies from leading researchers. 

Professor Joanna Wardlaw, Chair of Applied Neuroimaging; Head of Neuroimaging Sciences and Edinburgh Imaging; and Row Fogo Centre Director noted: “Blood vessels are extremely important for keeping the brain healthy and for preventing dementia. We were delighted that people affected by dementia and blood vessel diseases were able to share their experiences with the audience. We hope that the information included in the presentations and discussions, and shared by the panel members, will be helpful.”

Speakers such as Dr. Lucy Stirland, Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer in Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Edinburgh, highlighted the importance of patient involvement in research, noting that research proposals are shaped in part by those with lived experience. 

Other panellists such as Professor Wardlaw and Dr Fergus Doubal, Honorary Reader in Stroke Medicine and Consultant Stroke Physician explained the importance of lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or improving one’s diet for brain health.

The event explored not only lifestyle choices but also opportunities for the public to engage with dementia research. Representatives from national organisations like the NHS Scotland Neuroprogressive and Dementia Research Network, the British Heart Foundation and Brain Health ARC provided resources to help individuals get involved in patient-led projects. 

The event, live-streamed to reach a wider audience, called on participants to prioritise brain health and to work collectively toward advancing research that can prevent and ultimately cure dementia.

Feedback was glowing, with one attendee celebrating the “informality” of the event, as well as the “broad range of speakers and audience members”. Other attendees lauded the emphasis on patients’ personal experiences and the “generous handout of literature.” “Brain health is similar to heart health”, one attendee said; “we should do the same recommended activities to promote brain health and protect us from developing diseases, or at least slow down our dementia/stroke/disease development.”

The Curious festival, now in its sixth year, provides a platform for experts to share knowledge and inspire public engagement in scientific and health-related initiatives. This year's session on dementia aimed to spark ongoing conversations on how individuals and society can take proactive steps to improve brain health and shape the future of dementia research.

For more information on the ongoing work of the Row Fogo Centre for Research into Ageing and the Brain, click here.