A BRISTOL scientist believes the city is entering a golden age for research into dementia.

The city has long been a leading centre for research into Alzheimer's and other forms of the brain disorder both nationally and internationally but a Bristol University professor believes that ongoing projects in the city could lead to treatments being developed to help patients.

Professor Seth Love examining a brain at the brain bank at Frenchay Hospital. Left, Chief executive of Brace Mark Poarch

And professor of neuropathology Seth Love credited a small Bristol charity for funding much of the early research that has led to the larger trials that could see huge strides being made in the treatment of dementia in coming years.

Brace, which is based at Frenchay Hospital, is celebrating its 25th anniver- sary of funding research into Alzheimer's in Bristol, Bath and Cardiff.

As well as celebrating the landmark, the charity which started when people were still doubtful about the impact research could have on dementia can celebrate its involvement with an initial study that could lead to a drug being made available to ease the symptoms and early progression of dementia.

Prof Love said that much of the research that is now being carried out into Alzheimer's in the South West Dementia Group has come out of research conducted in the brain bank on the Frenchay Hospital site.

"For quite a while now we have been one of the leading pre-clinical dementia research groups in the UK with a strong international reputation," he said.

"And to a large extent that is down to Brace who have been funding and providing core support for many years.

"Without Brace we would not exist. As a result of the work which has been done with the support of the South West Dementia Brain Bank and Brace funding, I think we are really entering a golden age in dementia research here in Bristol and are now in a position to take some of the research advances that we have made here with the brain bank with support from Brace and other charities and the research can be translated then into treatments for patients with dementia."

More:
The Post published Golden age for research into dementia in Bristol