Where is Singapore dementia research headed?

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

This episode is on a topic that affects millions worldwide: dementia. We will explore the differences between how dementia presents in Asian versus Caucasian populations, and what this means when it comes to early intervention and future treatments. 

Professor Nagaendran Kandiah, director of the Dementia Research Centre (Singapore) at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at Nanyang Technological University is our guest. He also talks to Joyce Teo about Lecanemab and Donanemab, two drugs that can slow down Alzheimer’s disease by treating the root cause. Donanemab, for instance, has been approved, but not recommended for the National Health Service in England.

Highlights (click/tap above)

1:05 Differences in the way dementia shows up in Asians and Caucasians

6:01 A blood test to pick up dementia

11:59 Lecanemab and Donanemab, two drugs that have been approved elsewhere for those with Alzheimer’s disease

18:50 What can you do to lower your risk of vascular dementia?

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

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