Dementia Research Centre
Encyclopedia
The Dementia Research Centre (DRC) is part of University College London
's Department of Neurodegenerative Disease. The DRC is part of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
in Queen Square
, London
and is affiliated with the Hospital's Specialist Cognitive Disorders Clinic. It is a major centre for clinical trials to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease
, and a major centre for research into dementia
.
The DRC's research includes:
The departmental head is Prof Martin Rossor. Prof Elizabeth Warrington FRS
is Emeritus Professor. The DRC is also home to Prof Nick Fox, who pioneered serial volumetric magnetic resonance imaging in Alzheimer's disease.
The DRC run several support groups for people suffering from dementia, their family, carers and healthcare professionals. These groups include:
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
's Department of Neurodegenerative Disease. The DRC is part of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery is a neurological hospital in London, United Kingdom and part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust...
in Queen Square
Queen Square
Queen Square is a square in the Bloomsbury district of the London Borough of Camden, England. Queen Square was originally constructed between 1716 and 1725.- Name :...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and is affiliated with the Hospital's Specialist Cognitive Disorders Clinic. It is a major centre for clinical trials to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, and a major centre for research into dementia
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
.
The DRC's research includes:
- Collaborative work that led to identifying the first Alzheimer's disease gene
- Identifying pre-symptomatic cognitive and imaging changes in Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
- Developing new MRI imaging techniques to improve diagnosis and track progression of Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
- Research into rarer causes of dementiaDementiaDementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
such as frontotemporal dementiaFrontotemporal dementiaFrontotemporal dementia is a clinical syndrome caused by degeneration of the frontal lobe of the brain and may extend back to the temporal lobe...
, multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
, Huntington's diseaseHuntington's diseaseHuntington's disease, chorea, or disorder , is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and dementia. It typically becomes noticeable in middle age. HD is the most common genetic cause of abnormal involuntary writhing movements called chorea...
, progressive supranuclear palsyProgressive supranuclear palsyProgressive supranuclear palsy is a degenerative disease involving the gradual deterioration and death of specific areas of the brain....
and prion disease
The departmental head is Prof Martin Rossor. Prof Elizabeth Warrington FRS
Elizabeth Warrington
Elizabeth Warrington FRS, is a British neuropsychologist specialized in the study of dementia. She holds a PhD in visual processing and is now an emeritus professor of clinical neuropsychology at the University College London...
is Emeritus Professor. The DRC is also home to Prof Nick Fox, who pioneered serial volumetric magnetic resonance imaging in Alzheimer's disease.
The DRC run several support groups for people suffering from dementia, their family, carers and healthcare professionals. These groups include:
- Familial Alzheimer's support group
- Posterior cortical atrophyPosterior cortical atrophyPosterior cortical atrophy , also called Benson's syndrome, is most usually considered to be an atypical variant of Alzheimer's disease. The disease causes atrophy of the back part of the cerebral cortex, resulting in the progressive disruption of complex visual processing. PCA was first described...
(PCA) support group