Julie Williams on Alzheimer’s disease

The Life Scientific

BBC

Technology, Personal Journals, Society & Culture, Science

4.6 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 28 March 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

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Summary

There are almost a million people in the UK living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s is the most common form. But the disease actually starts long before any noticeable symptoms appear, and over the past decade, studies have shown that it is much more complex than previously thought. Julie Williams has been at the forefront of this effort, uncovering the genes that make us susceptible, and has transformed our understanding of this devastating disease. She has brought researchers together to create bigger datasets and more powerful studies. Her current work with scientists from other fields, like immunology and computational biology, is looking at the mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease. Julie tells Jim about her early interest in science, her time as Chief Scientific Advisor to the Welsh government, and her belief in ‘team science’ – collaborating and sharing research findings across international borders and disciplines. Produced by Florian Bohr

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself.
0:03.7	My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a Load of Sport Podcasts.
0:08.4	I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with a leading journalist, experienced
0:12.2	pundits and the biggest sport stars.
0:14.3	Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the players'
0:18.5	mouths.
0:19.5	But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sport world.
0:25.0	What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to
0:28.8	dedicated sports fans across the UK.
0:31.4	So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more.
0:35.9	Hello and welcome to the podcast edition of the Life Scientific.
0:39.9	I'm Jim Elkelele and this is the show where I talk to some of the world's leading scientists
0:44.7	and you get to find out what drives them.
0:47.0	Enjoy the episode.
0:48.8	Hello, there are almost a million people in the UK living with dementia and Alzheimer's
0:54.4	is the most common form, but did you know that the disease actually starts long before
0:59.6	any noticeable symptoms appear?
1:01.9	So it's vital that we know how to detect and treat it at an early stage.
1:07.3	My guest today has been studying the genetics of Alzheimer's for almost three decades and
1:11.8	her research has transformed our understanding of this devastating disease.
1:16.3	Julie Williams is a professor of neuropsychological genetics at Cardiff University.
1:21.8	She grew up not far from there in the small village of Kevin Coyd and spent the majority
	...

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