Undergraduate Course: Advances in Dementia Research (BIME10081)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Dementia is the umbrella term for the decline in cognitive abilities associated with various underlying neurodegenerative diseases. As our population ages, an estimated 1 in 2 people will be affected by dementia either by having or caring for someone with the condition. There are very limited treatments for diseases that cause dementia due to a lack of fundamental understanding of the pathophysiological processes of the causative diseases. Advances in research in several fields including neuroscience, genetics, and epidemiology have resulted in the first treatments that can slow progression of Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia. However, new treatments only moderately slow progression and have serious side effects. In this elective, students will learn about the history of dementia research, recent advances in research into dementias, and discuss future challenges in developing life-changing treatments and preventions.
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| Course description |
In this elective, students will learn about the history of dementia research, recent advances in research into dementias, and discuss future challenges in developing life-changing treatments and preventions. Lecturers actively working in dementia research will present their work and the wider context of the field. Throughout the course, there will be a focus on the need to consider equity, diversity and inclusion in dementia research including studying representative populations in human studies and considering sex and genetic background in work in model systems. Students will read and present recent primary research papers in the field, building skills in critical appraisal of research and scientific communication. Further, students will choose a topic of interest in the field and write an essay on current controversies, challenges, and future directions.
Lectures/Discussion Session topics:
Introduction to Dementias
Dementia risk factors - genes, environment, lifestyle
General Mechanisms of neurodegeneration - pathological protein accumulation
Alzheimer's pathology 1- amyloid
Alzheimer's pathology 2 - tau
Alzheimer's mechanisms - synapses
Alzheimer's mechanisms - microglia
Alzheimer's mechanisms - astrocytes
Vascular dementia
Synucleinopathies (DPL, PD, PDD)
Primary tauopathies (FTD-tau, PSP, CBD, etc)
Overlap in disease mechanisms
Advances in Biomarkers for dementias
Current and future therapeutics
Student led/ feedback sessions:
Group presentation of research paper (practice session with formative feedback)
Group presentation of research paper (marked) Mid-term examination (short essay response to one question from a list of 3 - Not formally assessed,
feedback provided as formative feedback for final exam) Discussion with person with Lived experience of dementia (special guest)
Formative feedback session on essay outlines Structured discussion of future experiments in dementia research (design a dream project)
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 30,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 5,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 6,
Summative Assessment Hours 5,
Revision Session Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
145 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
40 %,
Coursework
60 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Group presentation of a primary research paper (20%)«br /»
- Groups of 4-6 people will be assigned a primary research paper«br /»
- Groups will give a 15 min presentation critiquing the paper followed by 10 min of questions«br /»
- Students will be marked individually so all students should contribute to the presentation«br /»
- Each group will present in a formative session for feedback with facilitators before the marked presentation«br /»
- Primarily relates to learning outcomes 2 and 4 «br /»
«br /»
Essay on a key knowledge gap in the field (40%)«br /»
- The essay must identify a key knowledge gap and propose future work to address the gap«br /»
- Students choose knowledge gap related to material covered in lectures. Feedback will be given on essay topics.«br /»
- Word limit 1500 (excluding figure legends, references)«br /»
- Formative feedback will be given on outline of essay in a discussion session«br /»
- Primarily relates to learning outcome 3 «br /»
«br /»
Final exam - 2 short essay answers to questions chosen from a list of 5-6 questions (40%)«br /»
- Word limit of 1500 words on each answer (excluding figure legends, references)«br /»
- Formative feedback will be given on a mid-term assessment of similar structure«br /»
-Primarily relates to learning outcome 1«br /»
«br /»
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| Feedback |
Each group will present in a formative session for feedback with facilitators before the marked presentation
Formative feedback will be given on outline of course essay in a discussion session
Formative feedback will be given on a mid-term assessment of similar structure to final exam
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| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Advances in Dementia Research | 120 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explain the current state of knowledge of risk factors for dementias, the neurobiology of diseases that cause dementias, and the current landscape of biomarkers and therapeutics.
- Critically appraise primary research papers in the dementia field.
- Explain knowledge gaps in the field including identification of future important challenges/questions and how they might be addressed.
- Communicate complex ideas in the dementia field in writing and in presentations.
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Reading List
Textbook chapters
Ames, D., O'Brien, J. T., & Burns, A. (2017). Dementia, Fifth Edition. CRC Press. Chapters 1, 10-12, 23, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 55, 61, 62
Husain, M., & Schott, J. M. (2016). Oxford Textbook of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia. Oxford University Press. Chapters 20, 29, 30
Each Lecture/discussion session will have 2-3 journal articles as recommended reading in advance of the session.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critical and reflective thinking Effective scientific communication Effective working in groups
Knowledge of the field
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| Keywords | Dementia,Alzheimer's,neurodegeneration |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Tara Spires-Jones
Tel: (0131 6)51 1895
Email: Tara.Spires-Jones@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Fiona Thomas
Tel: (0131 6)51 5232
Email: Fiona.Thomas@ed.ac.uk |
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