MRC-PPU brings leading experts and the public together to discuss the Ageing Brain
As part of this year's Dundee Science Festival the MRC-PPU hosted an interactive panel discussion on November 13th. A dark and stormy evening was illuminated within the university's Dalhousie Building by a lively evening in which an eclectic mix of experts provided the 80+ members of the public with some genuine food for thought. The event, entitled The Ageing Brain: A Risky Route to Wisdom?, provided a genuine tête a tête involving panellists and the public.
The panellists, whose diversity matched the wide range of questions, included neurologist Miratul Muqit MD, PhD (MRC-PPU), artist Elaine Shemilt FRSA, FRGS (University of Dundee), computer scientist Karen Petrie PhD (University of Dundee), philosopher Guy Fletcher PhD (University of Edinburgh) and NHS consultant John Starr MD, FRCP (Co-Director, University of Edinburgh Centre for Cognitive Ageing).
The event kicked off with each panellist attempting to convince the public that ageing was either a good or bad thing. The ensuing discussion, led by award-winning political journalist Ms. Fiona Ross, OBE, was a whirlwind of commentary ranging from questions about health (what is happening inside the brain when it ages?) to the practical (why can't computer chips be designed to help those brains that are ailing?) and philosophical (can our perceived state of happiness affect our brains molecularly?). The impact of neurodegenerative diseases in aged populations was a dominant theme throughout the discussion and research undertaken at the MRC-PPU by several groups, including that of Dario Alessi, Helen Walden and Miratul Muqit, to better understand these disorders was highlighted.
And so were we truly any the wiser about ageing and the brain? Judging by the discussions that followed, many were inspired by the evening whilst for others the debate will continue. One thing is clear and that is that we need better understanding of the molecular changes that occur in the brain with ageing and how that is linked to neurodegenerative disease. The research being pursued at the MRC-PPU may one day provide answers to this question, and provide hope that we can all enjoy growing older and wiser.
The panellists, whose diversity matched the wide range of questions, included neurologist Miratul Muqit MD, PhD (MRC-PPU), artist Elaine Shemilt FRSA, FRGS (University of Dundee), computer scientist Karen Petrie PhD (University of Dundee), philosopher Guy Fletcher PhD (University of Edinburgh) and NHS consultant John Starr MD, FRCP (Co-Director, University of Edinburgh Centre for Cognitive Ageing).
The event kicked off with each panellist attempting to convince the public that ageing was either a good or bad thing. The ensuing discussion, led by award-winning political journalist Ms. Fiona Ross, OBE, was a whirlwind of commentary ranging from questions about health (what is happening inside the brain when it ages?) to the practical (why can't computer chips be designed to help those brains that are ailing?) and philosophical (can our perceived state of happiness affect our brains molecularly?). The impact of neurodegenerative diseases in aged populations was a dominant theme throughout the discussion and research undertaken at the MRC-PPU by several groups, including that of Dario Alessi, Helen Walden and Miratul Muqit, to better understand these disorders was highlighted.
And so were we truly any the wiser about ageing and the brain? Judging by the discussions that followed, many were inspired by the evening whilst for others the debate will continue. One thing is clear and that is that we need better understanding of the molecular changes that occur in the brain with ageing and how that is linked to neurodegenerative disease. The research being pursued at the MRC-PPU may one day provide answers to this question, and provide hope that we can all enjoy growing older and wiser.