Scientists unite to tackle looming threat of brain disease

Tasmanian researchers joined forces with the best brains in neuroscience this week to help solve the looming health challenges posed by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Australasian Neuroscience Society conference committee chair, Professor Brad Sutherland, and conference executive chair, Associate Professor Jenna Ziebell. Picture: Eagle Eye Tasmania

Tasmanian medical researchers have joined forces with the best brains in neuroscience this week to help solve the looming community health challenges posed by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

More than 500 delegates from Australia and New Zealand hosted colleagues from countries including Singapore, Japan, and Canada at the Australasian Neuroscience Society’s annual meeting at the Grand Chancellor in Hobart.

Conference organisers, Professor Brad Sutherland from the University of Tasmania’s school of medicine, and Associate Professor Jenna Ziebell from the UTAS Wicking Dementia Centre, said brain health was an issue that impacted families in every segment of society, and one that would become increasingly relevant for ageing populations like Australia’s.

“This is the leading neuroscience conference in our region where cutting edge research will be presented to help understand how the brain works in health and how it goes wrong in disease,” Prof Sutherland said.

“We now have people who are living longer, and as a result we’ve seen higher prevalence of dementia conditions like Alzheimer’s disease,” Prof Sutherland said.

“This conference brings together people from a wide range of disciplines who are studying different areas of brain function, but we can bring information from those other areas to help us understand more about dementia and potential treatments.”

Prof Sutherland said the opportunity for young Tasmanian scientists to present in front of some of the region’s leading neuroscientists was invaluable for career development, and to exchange ideas on how to tackle the mental health challenges of the future.

“We all feel down sometimes, or happy, and understanding triggers, causes and responses to those emotions is really important,” he said.

“These conferences address research into conditions such as depression and anxiety, and can help bridge the gap from what people are experiencing to overcoming what they are experiencing.

“And while mental health is a big area of study, because the brain is crucial for everything we do every day, it’s also really to understand how processes such as learning, education, and behaviour all work.”