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Ageing
Our Research: Cognitive Health in Ageing Evening
On the evening of the 16th July, participants from the Cognitive Health in Ageing (CHA) studies were invited to William Osler House at the John Radcliffe Hospital for an evening of talks, discussion, and the opportunity to catch up with fellow participants.
Can we stop ageing?
We’re pretty obsessed with the concept of ageing. Ancient civilizations supposedly sought an ‘elixir of life’, and today many of us get hung up on finding a way to ‘younger looking skin’… But what’s the science behind ageing? What determines the life expectancy of a species and – time for the 'big question' – can we stop ageing? We ask Alison...
Hazel Hall-Roberts
My research focusses on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, which are diseases where brain cells get sick and die. In particular, I study the role of microglia (a type of brain cell) and whether we can improve their function using drugs. My work uses human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), made by reprogramming adult skin cells, and...
Mechanobiology: the stress of life
We often think of our bodies in terms of cells and genes, but we shouldn’t forget that they’re also complex mechanical structures. From an Achilles tendon – that can carry half the weight of a Mini – to our constantly pulsing blood vessels, they’re feats of meticulous engineering. Scientists at the University of Oxford are showing how research...
Alison Woollard
Alison is an Associate Professor in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Oxford where she leads a research team working on the genetics of the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans. Her current work concerns molecular mechanisms of cell fate determination and morphogenesis during C. elegans development, as well as research on...
Can you stop Alzheimer’s before it even starts?
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is life changing for the person with the disease, as well as their family and friends. The changes don’t happen overnight. It starts with the small things and then it progresses. But what if there was a way of figuring out the early warning signs of slowing it down or preventing it? In this episode of The Big...
Discovering life-changing dementia treatments
Your beautiful, complex brain is a network of microscopic cells that connect together to form your thoughts and personality, and control your body. The network is fragile and requires constant upkeep, like a garden. The brain has its own gardeners, specialised cells called microglia. In this animation we look at how researchers at the...
I introduce, Inside the Mind
I am a researcher in the Neurobiology of Ageing group at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, and this is my first post on my first blog - Inside the Mind! I am hoping to write about issues relating to psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, ageing, and a whole lot more. Inside the Mind will hopefully encompass several issues...
Jennifer Lawson
I studied Psychology as an undergraduate, and then joined Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust to gain experience in mental health and in research. The plan was to eventually become a Clinical Psychologist, but I realised after a short while that I really enjoyed the challenges in research, and wanted to keep working in this area. I went on to...
Oxford Cognitive Health in Ageing – Thank You!
The Oxford Cognitive Health in Ageing projects were recently featured on the BBC Oxford Website, Oxford Mail, Oxford Times, BBC South News, BBC Oxford Radio and Jack FM! We had a fantastic response from the public – thank you to everyone who has been in...