Neurodegenerative Disease and Dementia

This Theme’s Focus

Developing new tests for early detection of neurodegenerative disease
Early intervention and treatment for those most at risk
Validating new treatment targets and accelerating clinical trials of new therapies
Improved research infrastructure
Preventing dementia in the context of co-existing diseases and frailty

The health, economic and social burden of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases is huge. 1 in 3 people will develop dementia, costing the UK £30 billion annually (Dementia UK report). Social inequalities and co-existing medical conditions worsen dementia risk and long-term outcomes. The Neurodegenerative Disease and Dementia (NDD) theme will discover and develop, launch new diagnostics, biomarkers and treatments. We will widen patient involvement, build research capacity and maximize impact through experimental medicine studies and clinical trials that accommodate the variability of these diseases, co-existing medical conditions, and promote inclusion of under-served groups.

Our work encompasses the study of common NDDs such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body Dementia and Vascular Dementia, as well as rarer disorders (Huntington’s disease, Frontotemporal dementias and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy). Our research impact is complemented by training and capacity development, with many PhD students, new Academic Clinical Lectureships and partnerships with other Universities and industry.

NDD research is aligned to the 2019 NHS Long Term Plan, which aims to improve dementia care, with a cure for dementia now a Government priority. We share the public’s priorities of improved diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention.

Theme Leads

Professor James Rowe

Professor of Cognitive Neurology
Email: james.rowe@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk

Dr Caroline Williams-Gray

Clinician scientist and neurologist specialising in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and PD-associated dementia.
Email: chm27@cam.ac.uk

Meet our researchers

We will meet these priorities through:

Developing personalised treatments for all

Development of individualised and inclusive treatments for neurodegenerative disease and dementia, via a new platform to facilitate clinical trials in a broad range of clinically and genetically well-characterised patients.

Accelerated drug discovery and development

Opening the bottleneck in the transition of new treatments from the laboratory to clinical trials by efficient screening of candidate therapies and validation of new biomarkers to track their efficacy.

Using advanced brain imaging and informatics

Adopting new imaging technologies to identify biological targets for therapies, and using Artificial Intelligence approaches to maximise the diagnostic and predictive utility of routine brain scans collected in the NHS.

Working with patients and the public

Researchers in this theme work closely with patients and members of the public to strengthen lay participation in their research.

A recent addition to its PPIE work is the launch of Popped, an online portal where you’re invited to share your thoughts on research projects aimed at improving dementia care.

By gathering feedback from the public, researchers hope to guide research in ways that reflect the needs and priorities of people with dementia, their carers, families, professionals and anyone with experience or interest in dementia.

Latest News

Patient and WBIC scanner - NIHR Cambridge BRC image

Ultra-powered MRI scans show damage to brain’s ‘control centre’ is behind long-lasting Covid-19 symptoms

October 9, 2024

Study suggests the brain’s ‘control centre’ is behind long-lasting physical and psychiatric effects of severe Covid-19 infection

Graphic showing intelligence and data: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.

Artificial intelligence outperforms clinical tests at predicting progress of Alzheimer’s disease

July 15, 2024

Cambridge researchers have developed an artificially-intelligent tool capable of predicting in four cases out of five whether people with early signs of dementia will remain stable or develop Alzheimer’s disease.

Patient with clinician - NIHR Cambridge BRC image

Study estimates number of patients for potential new Alzheimer’s disease treatments

February 1, 2024

Clinical researchers at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust have collaborated to model how many patients might receive new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease currently under review.

Blood vials being placed in centrifuge - NIHR Cambridge BRC image

Lab-grown ‘small blood vessels’ point to potential treatment for major cause of stroke and vascular dementia

November 20, 2023

Cambridge scientists have grown small blood vessel-like models in the lab and used them to show how damage to the scaffolding that support these vessels can cause them to leak, leading to conditions such as vascular dementia and stroke.

Read more about our researchers who have been awarded AMS Fellowships

Researchers awarded prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowships

May 18, 2023

Four NIHR Cambridge BRC researchers have been elected to the…

elderly hands - Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

Dementia signs detected as early as nine years ahead of diagnosis

October 13, 2022

Cambridge scientists have shown that it is possible to spot signs of brain impairment in patients as early as nine years before they receive a diagnosis for one of a number of dementia-related diseases.

Scientists identify the cause of Alzheimer’s progression in the brain

November 1, 2021

New research has used human data to quantify the speed of different processes that lead to Alzheimer’s disease and found that it develops in a very different way than previously thought.

Previous Next

Neurodegenerative Disease and Dementia Case Studies

Screening for dementia in the community

October 16, 2024

Based on evidence with observational, cognitive and imaging…

Could Virtual Reality help detect the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease?

October 16, 2024

Researchers at the University of Cambridge, supported by…

a woman sitting at a desk looking at a brain scan at WBIC - NIHR Cambridge BRC image

Can looking at the brains communication channels help detect dementia earlier?

October 16, 2024

Our brains are able to communicate with the rest of our body…

Neuroinflammation predicts disease progression in PSP

October 16, 2024

Researchers have been able to show that Progressive Supranuclear…

MRI brain scan on computer - NIHR Cambridge BRC image

Studying brain activity in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

October 16, 2024

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative…

Previous Next

Neurodegenerative Disease and Dementia Publications

Serum immune markers and disease progression in an incident Parkinson’s disease cohort (ICICLE-PD).

July 31, 2016

Atomoxetine restores the response inhibition network in Parkinson’s disease

June 24, 2016

Shared genetic contribution to Ischaemic Stroke and Alzheimer’s Disease

February 23, 2016

Hippocampal dysfunction defines disease onset in Huntington’s disease

February 1, 2016

Comparative epidemiology of incident Parkinson’s disease in Cambridgeshire, UK

January 22, 2016

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The NIHR Cambridge BRC is part of the NIHR and hosted by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Cambridge. We are at the heart of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Europe’s largest health research area.

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8 Jan

The Cambridge-led IVORY trial has shown that targeting the immune system, by giving a low-dose of aldesleukin, could prevent future heart attacks by nearly 8%.

Learn more about the study >>https://bit.ly/4aLzW6Q

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6 Jan

📣 The Milner Consortium Call returns with its sixth call for research proposals. Academic researchers – join our Q&A webinar to learn more and ask questions about the Call!

🗓️ 22 Jan ⏰ 10am 📍 Online

🔗 Register: https://ow.ly/5PMb50XCIuF

🔗 More info: http://www.milner.cam.ac.uk/consortiumcall/

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5 Jan

👉 Want to help shape a future trial focused on preventing falls in older people?
👉 Are you an older adult and/or family member/carer? 👉 Free on Wed 21st Jan 2026 at 13.30 for an online group?
👉 Contact James Piercy - james@brainhrc.org
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31 Dec

🎉Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!🎉
Thinking of making a #NewYearsResolution?
Are you interested in giving feedback on the #research we do?
Live in the #EastOfEngland?
Then why not join our Patient & Public Involvement Panel >> https://bit.ly/3LlRX1c
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24 Dec

Merry Christmas and a happy #NewYear from the #NIHR #Cambridge BRC!!
#Thankyou to all our amazing staff, everyone who has supported us and all those who took part in #research this year!
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22 Dec

🥳 As 2025 draws to a close, we’ve put together a snapshot of some of our key research stories over the year.
🥳 We’d like to thank everyone who took part in, or contributed to our research over 2025!
To learn more >>
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Neurodegenerative Disease and Dementia

This Theme’s Focus

Theme Leads

Professor James Rowe

Dr Caroline Williams-Gray

We will meet these priorities through:

Developing personalised treatments for all

Accelerated drug discovery and development

Using advanced brain imaging and informatics

Working with patients and the public

Latest News

Neurodegenerative Disease and Dementia Case Studies

Neurodegenerative Disease and Dementia Publications

Contact Us

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