Midlands Science exploring Dementia for Science Week

Tullamore event will give local communities the opportunity to hear from leading expert Professor Sean Kennelly and explore the latest science on dementia and healthy ageing.

How can science help us better understand dementia, protect brain health and improve quality of life as we age?

These are some of the questions Midlands Science will bring to the forefront this November with a public Science Week event in Tullamore featuring leading dementia expert Professor Sean Kennelly. Taking place on Thursday, November 12, from 8pm to 9.30pm at the Bridge House Hotel, the event, Brain Health – What Science Means for the Future of Dementia, will bring important conversations about brain health and dementia research directly to communities across the Midlands. Organised by Midlands Science in association with the University of the Third Age and supported by Research Ireland as part of national Science Week, the event reflects the organisation’s ongoing commitment to bringing science into the heart of local communities.

For many families across counties Offaly, Laois, Westmeath and the wider Midlands, dementia is a subject with a very real personal impact. In Ireland 30 people are diagnosed with dementia every day.

As research continues to advance, understanding the condition, recognising the importance of brain health and learning about emerging developments in diagnosis and treatment have never been more relevant. Professor Sean Kennelly will share his expertise on dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and brain health, helping attendees understand the latest research and what it could mean for individuals, families and communities in the years ahead.

Professor Kennelly is a consultant physician in geriatric and stroke medicine at Tallaght University Hospital, Clinical Associate Professor of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin, and Director of the Cognitive Clinical Trials Unit at Tallaght University Hospital. His work focuses on ageing, dementia and brain health, including clinical trials investigating early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Jackie Gorman, CEO of Midlands Science, said: “Science Week is a wonderful opportunity to bring important scientific conversations into our local communities. Dementia and brain health are issues that affect people and families throughout the Midlands, and we want to ensure that people here are empowered and have the opportunity to hear from leading experts, learn about the latest research and ask questions in an accessible and welcoming environment. Events like this show how science can help us better understand the issues that matter in our everyday lives.”

The evening will be chaired by Dr Craig Slattery, biomedical scientist, science communicator and Assistant Professor of Toxicology and Regulatory Affairs at University College Dublin. Through his work in science communication, Dr Slattery helps make scientific research accessible to wider audiences and encourages people to engage with the science behind major societal and health challenges.

Dr Slattery said: “Science is most powerful when people can see how it connects with their own lives and communities. Dementia research is helping us ask important questions about how we understand, diagnose and manage these conditions. This event is an opportunity for people across the Midlands to hear about that work directly from an expert, gain a better understanding of brain health and be part of an important public conversation.”

The event is part of Midlands Science’s wider Science Week programme, which brings scientists, researchers and engaging science experiences to schools, community groups and members of the public throughout the region. By connecting audiences with researchers and experts, Midlands Science aims to encourage curiosity, make scientific knowledge more accessible and demonstrate how research can contribute to healthier communities and a better-informed society. The organisation is encouraging people from across the Midlands to attend what promises to be an informative and engaging evening, whether they have a personal interest in dementia, are supporting a family member, work in a relevant field or simply want to learn more about the science of the brain.

Science Week runs nationally from November 8-15, celebrating the role of science in everyday life and inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to explore the discoveries shaping our future. Booking on www.midlandsscience.ie