Alzheimer Scotland Ambassador Professor Tara Spires-Jones launches new book on dementia
Tara Spires-Jones is the Professor of Neurodegeneration and the Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh has recently published a book with Oxford University Press, Fighting for our Minds: The Neuroscience of Defeating Dementia.
We are absolutely delighted to share that Alzheimer Scotland Ambassador, Professor Tara Spires-Jones, has published a book with Oxford University Press, Fighting for our Minds: The Neuroscience of Defeating Dementia. This publication tackles the reality of the dementia crisis head-on, noting that one in three people born today are predicted to develop dementia, and roughly half of us will be personally impacted by it.
We are always incredibly proud to work with Professor Spires-Jones, an eminent neuroscientist at the University of Edinburgh and leading expert in neurodegeneration. Our partnership has evolved over many years through her groundbreaking work at the University’s Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences and her work with the Alzheimer Scotland Brain Tissue Bank. Through generous post-mortem brain tissue donations, her team uses cutting-edge techniques to study how toxic proteins like amyloid beta and tau disrupt brain connections.
As a dedicated scientific Ambassador for Alzheimer Scotland, Tara’s role is to build a bridge between complex neuroscience and the public. A cornerstone of this, and our partnership, is the strong relationship our Active Voice groups have established with her. Through regular visits to the Spires-Jones Lab, members of the Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG) and National Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN) have been able to tour the facility, meet with the team, and see their vital research taking place firsthand. These visits also ensure that the Lab’s work remains grounded in lived experience. Understanding the daily realities of people affected by dementia provides invaluable context, prompts new questions, and constantly reminds the team of the real-world value of their work.
“It is always such an inspiration and a pleasure to work with Alzheimer Scotland’s SDWG and NDCAN members. Our conversations in lab tours, discussions with our students, and conferences were instrumental in giving me the confidence to write ‘Fighting for our Minds.’ The engagement and interest in the neuroscience of dementia research from all of you made me realise that other non-scientists might be interested in our work. Thank you!” – Professor Tara Spires-Jones
In her book, Professor Spires-Jones also explores the most recent treatments on the horizon, offering a powerful sense of hope for the future. This hope is shared deeply by members of SDWG and NDCAN. As proud partners in research, our members are always keen to support purposeful, dementia-related projects by sharing their personal experiences to help make sure this work focuses on what really matters to families.
“I feel so privileged to have been part of the tour of the Brain Science Lab in Edinburgh University. Their commitment to research into dementia is heartwarming and they understand the importance for their generation to find answers, effective treatments and perhaps a cure for generations to come.” – NDCAN member Marion
Professors, postdoctoral and PhD students are always keen to share their insights in an accessible way when our members visit the Lab. Dissecting fruit flies is always a hit, driven by the team’s infectious enthusiasm. These experiences offer a fascinating look into how live post-operative brain tissue is studied, alongside lessons on the fruit fly life cycle and its vital role in advancing Alzheimer’s disease research.
“Learning about the collection and usage of the access tissue donated by folk having a brain tumour removed was very special. The respectful approach and delicate handling shown by the researchers in all aspects of what they do is amazing.” – SDWG member Rynagh
Recently, Tara also featured on the BBC’s Scotcast, where she considered how close we are to stopping dementia in its tracks, through preventative measures and emerging treatments. During the podcast, she said, “We can stop dementia in a generation.” This kind of optimism and determination gives us all hope for the future. Tara’s team’s dedication to research continues to create meaningful impact for those we support, and we wish her great success with her book.
If you would like to hear more of Tara’s insights, you can listen to the full Scotcast episode on BBC Sounds at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0pcb7ks.
Active Voice Lead Wendy Rankin-Smith with Professor Tara Spires-Jones
