Clinical Trials, Lewy Bodies & what Sleep can tell us

12/09/22 • 29 min

Recorded at the Dementia Research Charity #Chatathon 2022 - Adam Smith interviews Olga Borejko, Project Manager at King's College London and Victoria Grace Gabb, Research Associate at University of Bristol & Southmead Hospital

Olga Borejko - I manage a portfolio of clinical studies and commercial trials for patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s disease, at Old Age Psychiatry, King’s College London. I’m responsible for setting up the studies, recruitment and completing clinical/cognitive assessments with patients. My main research interest lies within understanding better how clinical and biological markers affect the disease trajectory in DLB patients. Specifically, how biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology affect the rate of cognitive decline in DLB patients (ENLIST-UK & EPND study, my PhD). At KCL, we are also involved in clinical trials looking at disease modifying treatments, which aim to reduce amyloid beta plaques in patients with prodromal AD (Abate study).

Victoria Gabb - I work at the Bristol Brain Centre in Southmead Hospital in sleep and dementia research, looking specifically at sleep and circadian rhythms in older adults during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body disease compared to older adults without cognitive impairment. A lot of the work we're doing at the moment is looking at how we can identify sleep and circadian changes in the home environment using technology such as actigraphy, EEG headbands, and mobile apps.

The 2022 Dementia Research Charity Chatathon LIVE was held on Friday 2nd December - A non-stop 12.5 hours livestream hosted by Adam Smith interviewing 68 Dementia Researchers and Special Guests working across all areas of discovery to beat Alzheimer's disease and all forms of dementia.

Raising money for research and providing insights into the latest research taking place across the UK and Worldwide. This year we are raising money for four amazing charities who all fund research - Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society, Race Against Dementia and The Lewy Body Society.

For more information and to donate visit http://www.chatathon.uk

For more information and to donate visit http://www.chatathon.uk

Previous Episode

Why is Dementia Research Important?

Recorded at the Dementia Research Charity #Chatathon 2022 - Adam Smith interviews Chris Roberts & Jayne Goodrick.

Chris Roberts and Jayne Goodrick are from Wales. Chris was diagnosed with mixed dementia in early 2012 but has not let this diagnosis get in the way of leading a full life.

He and his amazing wife Jayne, spend most of their time promoting and providing education to others about dementia. Chris regularly give talks on what it’s like to live with dementia and how research plays an important role in unlocking new treatments and better care, supported by Jayne who provides unique insights as someone living with the disease in a different way. Together they believe in dementia rights, inclusion, co-production and the promotion of better services for everyone living with dementia.

Chris is an Ambassador for the UK Alzheimer’s Society, Join Dementia Research Champion, Affiliate member of Dementia Action Alliance UK, Honorary Lecturer, Bangor University, Wales and a Member of the NICE Dementia Clinical Guideline Review Committee.

For more information and to donate visit http://www.chatathon.uk

Next Episode

Smart Brain Imaging to understand Dementia

Recorded at the Dementia Research Charity #Chatathon 2022 - Adam Smith interviews Scott Mitchell, Alzheimer's Research UK Ambassador and widow of the incredible Dame Barbara Windsor along with researchers Dr Maura Malpetti, Race Against Dementia ARUK Fellow at University of Cambridge and Zeynep Şahin, PhD Student at King's College London.

Dr Maura Malpetti - My research focusses on inflammation in frontotemporal dementia and related disorders. I use innovative brain imaging techniques and blood tests to measure central and peripheral inflammation in people living with these conditions, relating these markers to clinical outcomes and other measures for disease progression (i.e. brain shrinkage, junk proteins etc).

Zeynep Şahin - Exploring the eye as the window to the brain, with imaging and machine learning: Can Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retinal structure and vasculature be used to diagnose and subtype prodromal neurodegenerative disease and visual neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Scott Mitchell - After graduating and taking on various TV and theatre roles, Scott met his future wife, actress Dame Barbara Windsor, who he shared his life with her for 27 years, before she passed away in 2020.

In 2014, Barbara was given the devastating news that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a day that would change both hers and Scott’s lives forever. Although initially kept private, Scott and Barbara went public with the news in 2018. Scott was offered support and advice, entering the 2019 London Marathon with a team of Barbara’s friends and ex-cast mates from Eastenders, known as Barbara’s Revolutionaries. Alongside Alzheimer’s Research UK, Scott raised vital funds for Dementia Revolution. To date it is the record-breaking charity partner for the London Marathon, raising over £4 million. Scott also ran the 2021 marathon, again raising more money for ARUK, which he is now an ambassador for.

Most recently Scott was massivley influential in persuading the goverment provide an extra £95m for dementia research, and start the 'Babs Army' campaign to urge more people to sign up for clinical trials in the UK via Join Dementia Research.

For more information and to donate visit http://www.chatathon.uk