Professor Brian Cox and our expert panel explore the science of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions that cause dementia.

More than 55 million people around the world are living with dementia, with the number set to rise in ageing populations. How close are we to effective, affordable treatments?  What are the genetic risks? Can we prevent it developing?

The panel takes a deep dive into dementia research and where it’s headed, from early detection to the latest drug trials and whether diet, exercise or even doing puzzles like Sudoku really make a difference.

Panellists

• Bart de Strooper – Professor and Group Leader, Cellular Phase of Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute and UK Dementia Research Institute
• Julie Williams – Professor and Group Leader, Cardiff University and UK Dementia Research Institute
• Rory Cellan-Jones – Health and technology writer and presenter of the Movers and Shakers podcast
• Sonia Gandhi – Professor of Neurology, UCL, Assistant Research Director, Francis Crick Institute and Consultant Neurologist, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

Watch the video version of this episode and read a transcript on our website: www.crick.ac.uk/podcast/ageingbrain

A BBC Studios Production for the Francis Crick Institute. 

Music by John Biddle

© BBC Studios / Francis Crick Institute 2025