About the Centre

The University of Edinburgh based Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre was opened by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The centre, launched on World Alzheimer's Day, is funded by a five-year grant from Alzheimer Scotland.

A high quality research environment

The facility provides a high-quality research environment for investigations into the causes and treatment of dementia, and care provided by relatives and friends. It aims to commission and build a balanced portfolio of scientific and clinical research and develop and maintain a dementia brain tissue bank.

Clinical Research into dementia is making a difference now

Clinical research tests the effectiveness of a variety of treatments designed to help people live better with dementia and to slow the progression of the illness. 

There is currently a very limited range of drugs available to people with dementia and not everyone benefits from them. Finding new treatments that work would have a major impact on quality of life for those affected by dementia.

The Centre has close links with the Scottish Dementia Clinical Research Network to further this work.

Scientific Research into dementia is making a difference for the future

Scientific research works to improve our understanding of what causes dementia and the links between symptoms and changes in the brain. 

It also looks at developing methods of detecting very early signs of dementia, which could help us find a way to stop the illness progressing further, reverse its damage to the brain or possibly prevent it altogether.

Scottish Dementia Brain Tissue Bank

Many people with dementia and their families are keen to aid research by donating their brain tissue after death. However, until recently, Scotland has had very few facilities to do this. 

The centre has Ethics Committee permission from Scotland A REC and the brain tissue bank is now open for anyone in Scotland who has dementia to donate brain tissue for research. 

Brain Tissue donation has no effect on costs or timing of any funeral arrangements and is organised through the Alzheimer Scotland 24 Hour Helpline (0808 808 3000).

We can accept donations even from those who no longer the capacity to give informed consent. If you are interested in becoming a donor, please fill out the donations form opposite.