The LBS funded two Innovation Grants with Parkinson’s UK for research which increased understanding of Lewy body dementias.
Dr Jose Bras and his team at University College, London received a grant of £35,000 to analyse the DNA of 700 people with DLB in order to look for subtle genetic changes which have led to further understanding of the condition.
It is not clear as to how and why Lewy bodies develop or their connection with the death of nerve cells. At this time no treatment has been discovered to that will prevent the formation of Lewy bodies or cell death. Dr Tilo Kunath of the University of Edinburgh is using stem cells to create nerve cells for testing new drugs and understanding more about Parkinson’s disease. The LBS granted Dr Kunath £18,172 to support this work.