Dementia and neurodegeneration – Curtin Medical Research Institute

Understanding and preserving brain health

Although our understanding of dementia nad neurodegeneration has advanced considerably, effective therapies that halt or reverse them remain elusive, and the number of people living with dementia and related conditions is rising sharply as populations age. Continued discovery is critical - both to uncover the earliest biological changes that precede symptoms and to translate that knowledge into ways of protecting the brain throughout life.

Neurodegeneration research at Curtin MRI

Curtin MRI’s researchers tackle a broad spectrum of neurological and neurodegenerative conditions, from Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias to traumatic brain injury, disorders of hearing and balance, and chronic pain. Drawing on expertise in molecular genetics, structural and biomolecular modelling, neurometallomics, neurovascular and metabolic biology, drug discovery and pharmaceutical sciences, as well as nutrition and clinical research, the team is working to deliver better prevention strategies, earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and more effective treatments for the people and families these conditions affect.

Advancing dementia and neurodegenarative research

This program brings together fundamental laboratory science, translational projects and community-engaged research, with a particular focus on identifying lifestyle and biological risk factors that can be modified, safeguarding brain health from mid-life onwards, and advancing precision approaches to therapy. By partnering with clinicians, health services, industry and other research organisations, Curtin MRI aims to move closer to a future in which neurodegenerative disease is detected sooner, treated more effectively, and – for many – prevented altogether.