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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.
 

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.

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.
 

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.

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

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

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

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