Dementia Research and Enterprise at Liverpool John Moores

Dementia Research and Enterprise at Liverpool John Moores University Davide Bruno d. bruno@ljmu. ac. uk

Overview • Liverpool John Moores University is a public research university located in Liverpool city centre • Close to 27, 000 student + staff population • Largest in Liverpool • Post-1992 University

Dementia Research and Engagement Pragmatic Approach Realistic Approach Centre for Collaborative Innovation in Dementia Institute for Health Research School of Art and Design Me. Nu

The Pragmatics

Centre for Collaborative Innovation in Dementia • The centre works with partners (industry, academia, people living with dementia, Pw. D) to innovate and validate solutions for real life challenges • Centre lead is Grahame Smith • Located in Liverpool city centre

Centre for Collaborative Innovation in Dementia Health & Social Care Service Users Business Academia

Centre for Collaborative Innovation in Dementia Success stories Innovate Dementia: European funded project to innovate dementia care with Pw. D at the centre HELIUM: European funded, increase efficiency of public funding Health Enterprise Hub Innovation Exchange to grow business in Liverpool

School of Art and Design • Design for Dementia • From Amazon: “(…) Design Guide to assist designers (…) to tackle the challenges of dementia in society” • Focus on Familiarity, dementia friendly neighbourhoods

The Realists

Institute for Health Research • Research, scholarship and knowledge exchange for lifelong health and well-being Understanding and changing behaviour Understanding and treating disease and illness Educating the workforce via evidence based practice

Institute for Health Research Food, Nutrition and Health Children’s Health Workforce Education Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs Therapeutics Green Spaces Cardiovascular Health Digital health Aging Sensors for Health

Me. Nu: Research in memory and neurodegeneration • Based at LJMU, led by myself • Part of a wide collaborative network https: //menulab. wordpress. com/

Dementia: A global problem Dementia prevalence expected to increase worldwide Emphasis on developing countries

Early detection of neurodegeneration Increasing importance of early detection Accuracy Cost Accessibility Acceptance Easy to use? Quick? Practical? Does it look scary? (Spinal tap) Do I have to learn something new? Does it look Useful to me? If familiar, probably yes.

Triple-A Approach • Employ cognitive testing (Accessible) • Transforming existing tools (Acceptable) • Increase Accuracy

Triple-A Approach • Mobile technologies (phones, tablets); HEIF funding • Adapt existing cognitive tests • Emphasis on serial position performance (Bruno et al. , 2013; 2015; 2016; 2017)

Serial Position Troyer (2011) • Predictive of cognitive decline in high functioning older adults • Predictive of MCI conversion over ~10 yrs • Predictive of hippocampal volume

Serial Position Troyer (2011) • Also predictive of cognitive decline • Sensitive to Glutamate levels; measures of blood-brain barrier breakdown; and tau pathology

Late-life Depression • Major depression and depressive symptoms are linked to dementia, both AD and Va. D • But it is unclear whether this is a prodrome, a risk factor, a combination • Also unclear why a person may progress and another may not

Late-life Depression • High-functioning depressed individuals 60+ • Genetic, cognitive and biomarkers profile • Main finding: Amyloid beta levels in CSF tend to fluctuate • Correlate with depression severity rather than intellectual impairment

On the Horizon • Use of serial position-derived measure in conjunction with polygenic risk scores and non-APOE genetic risk factors • The possible link between football play and CTE

Summary • Developing a few areas of inquiry in the dementia field • Some more pragmatic and focused on helping make a more dementia-friendly world • And some more speculative and with a cognitive/neurobiological impetus

Thank you Questions?