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Interview with Dr. Peter Nirmalraj, EMPA Dübendorf

We had the special opportunity to interview Dr. Peter Nirmalraj from EMPA in Dübendorf about his fascinating research project.

In this video, you can find out what secrets blood can reveal and what Mr. Nirmalraj is able to decode in it.

Leqembi (lecanemab) approved in Europe

Good news: The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has now issued a positive recommendation for the marketing authorization application for lecanemab for the treatment of early Alzheimer's disease after re-evaluating its original opinion.

This follows the rejection of the first application in July. Lecanemab has already been marketed in the USA under the name Leqembi since 2023.

The approval of Leqembi represents a step forward in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and offers new hope for patients in the early stages of the disease. However, it is important to emphasize that Leqembi can only slow down the progression of the disease without providing a cure. A first step in the treatment of Alzheimer's, which will hopefully be followed by many more steps in the near future. Until then, a lot of research is still needed.

It is not yet known when a decision will be made on whether the active substance will be approved in Switzerland.

New dementia risk factors: vision loss and high cholesterol

Deteriorating eyesight and high cholesterol - these are two new dementia risk factors presented by the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care in its new study. According to the Lancet Commission, this brings the number of avoidable risks for dementia to 14.

For more information click here

Sprachen

Can Alzheimer's be transmitted?

An exciting article about language learning in the New York Times.

Find out why you should learn a new language here.

SAB 2023

Synapsis Foundation launches the "Swiss Network for Dementia Research"

The "Swiss Network for Dementia Research" association, which was founded in October 2023, kicked off its activities at the first board meeting on November 23, 2023.

Launched by the Synapsis Foundation, the association aims to improve networking between researchers and other stakeholders in the field of dementia throughout Switzerland. The association complements the foundation's activities to promote research. At the same time, it closes a gap in the Swiss research landscape. Until now, there has been a lack of services with regard to specifically support of a research-oriented dementia community as well as to the exchange of information, data and samples. 


"We need new impulses for dementia research", explains Prof. Andreas Lüthi, President of the association. "That's why we need to facilitate an intensive exchange between researchers from different disciplines in order to increase the level of innovation in the field of research." Although the media has reported on breakthroughs in Alzheimer's research in recent years, the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the loss of nerve connections and cells are not yet fully understood. There is an urgent need to gain new insights in order to effectively treat or prevent dementia in the future. 


The association focuses on networking between basic researchers and clinicians to translate new findings into clinical practice more quickly. The appointment of a representative of the Swiss Memory Clinics to the founding board of the Swiss Network for Dementia Research will ensure that suitable services are created in the future to achieve this aim. Initially the focus will be on establishing an online platform that will contribute to greater transparency and exchange in the field of research by providing a clear overview of projects, resources and initiatives. In order to promote networking, collaborations and the personal exchange of knowledge, the association will also implement various event formats, such as a Swiss conference on dementia research. In the long term, the association aims to contribute to the establishment of a Swiss dementia registry that enables the targeted acquisition and exchange of data on dementias. This will open up new perspectives both for the treatment of patients and for research. The activities of the Swiss Network for Dementia Research were made possible by a very generous legacy that the Synapsis Foundation received in 2022. Our sincere thanks go to the deceased, whose wish was to support Alzheimer’s research. By pooling forces, skills and resources, the association intends to further strengthen dementia research in Switzerland for the benefit of those affected and the society. The task now is to win over all relevant stakeholders to support the mission. The board and the office of the Swiss Network for Dementia Research are looking forward to this important but also challenging task.
 

Name and Logo Contest

The Synapsis Foundation is launching the Swiss Network for Dementia Research in order to promote networking and exchange between dementia stakeholders.

Contribute your ideas for a name, logo and slogan for the Swiss Network for Dementia Research, powered by Synapsis Foundation. The Swiss dementia community is invited to submit ideas by 31 August 2023.

Further information here.

Name and Logo Contest

The Synapsis Foundation is launching the Swiss Network for Dementia Research in order to promote networking and exchange between dementia stakeholders.

Contribute your ideas for a name, logo and slogan for the Swiss Network for Dementia Research, powered by Synapsis Foundation. The Swiss dementia community is invited to submit ideas by 20 August 2023.

Further information here.
 

First Alzheimer's drug approved in the USA

On July 6, 2023, lecanemab will become the first Alzheimer's drug to receive definitive approval.

Lecanemab combats not only the symptoms but also the cause of Alzheimer's disease. This approval is a major step forward in Alzheimer's research and gives Alzheimer's sufferers new prospects. However, the cost of the new drug is quite high, with a list price of 26,500 dollars in the USA.

When can we expect to see Lecanemab in Switzerland? The application to Swissmedic was submitted in May. A decision is expected by the end of 2024. Until then, lecanemab will only be produced in Switzerland.

Dorothee Dormann

Welcome Prof. Dormann

We are pleased to announce that we welcome Prof. Dorothee Dormann to our Scientific Advisory Board. We wish Mrs. Dormann much pleasure in her new field of activity.

The Annual Report 2022 is here!

In it you will find all the important events and key figures of the past year. Enjoy the reading.

Call for proposal 2023

This is the 13th time, the Synapsis Foundation is calling for the submission of innovative research ideas.

Projects by young researchers and established groups studying neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and frontotemporal dementia are supported. We welcome research proposals of high scientific qualitity that aim to gain new insights into underlying disease mechanisms or develop new tools for early diagnosis and treatment.

For more information about the 2023 call, visit the website.

Für Forschende

 

Parnetti

Welcome Prof. Parnetti

We are pleased to announce that we welcome Prof. Lucilla Parnetti to our Scientific Advisory Board. We wish Mrs. Parnetti much pleasure in her new field of activity.

Bruce Willis suffers from dementia

Dementia, a disease that can affect any of us and for which there is still no effective cure.

The Hollywood star has been diagnosed with "frontotemporal dementia", a form of dementia that mainly affects younger people and is also being researched in projects funded by us.

We wish all those affected and their families much strength

New video online on YouTube

Salvatore Galati PD Dr. med., explains to us very briefly and succinctly what his study is about in this video. His project is entitled: Relationship between awake theta activity and levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease:

in Parkinson's disease: a case-control study.

Click here for the video.

Feuerwerk

Happy New Year

Happy New Year — may you have good health, good experiences, and good company.

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