Is curing Alzheimer’s disease an impossible ambition or a realistic scientific goal? That question is increasingly shaping cutting-edge dementia research, including work that begins inside operating theatres.
At Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, surgeons are removing a brain tumour from a sedated patient when a small section of healthy brain tissue is carefully preserved for research. The tissue, normally discarded, is collected with consent for dementia studies at the University of Edinburgh, one of only a few centres worldwide able to work with living adult brain samples.
“It’s as small as possible, but large enough to reach the tumour,” said Prof Paul Brennan, a neurosurgeon, explaining the delicate procedure that requires cutting through the brain’s cortex, the region responsible for memory and thought.
The sample is handed to Alzheimer’s researcher Dr Claire Durrant, who transports it to her laboratory within minutes to keep the tissue alive. “What we’re given is a precious gift on what is often the worst day of someone’s life,” she said.
In the lab, the tissue is sliced into thin layers and exposed to toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease—amyloid and tau—allowing scientists to observe how connections between brain cells are destroyed and to test ways of preventing that damage.
Alzheimer’s affects around one million people in the UK, yet its underlying biology remains only partly understood. Dr Durrant said current evidence suggests it is a disease that can, in principle, be cured. “I’ve never seen so much hope in Alzheimer’s research as I do now,” she said.
Recent drugs such as lecanemab and donanemab have shown they can slow the disease, though their impact is modest and they are not funded by the NHS. Still, researchers say these treatments mark a turning point.
Prof Tara Spires-Jones, director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Science at the University of Edinburgh, said the drugs have “opened the door” to more effective therapies. Her work focuses on brain immune cells and inflammation, reflecting a broader shift toward tackling Alzheimer’s from multiple angles.
She believes meaningful, life-changing treatments could emerge within five to 10 years, especially if the disease can be detected early. A full cure for people with advanced symptoms, she added, remains a tougher challenge.
“The human brain is extraordinarily complex,” Prof Spires-Jones said. “Ultimately, we’ll only know what’s possible by testing these ideas in people.”
