We were excited to welcome Angela Bradshaw, Director of Research at Alzheimer Europe, to The Genetics Podcast this week. Angela shared her journey from academic research to collaborating on initiatives that tackle Alzheimer’s disease and dementia across Europe. With a career spanning oncology and gene therapy, and a personal connection to rare diseases and dementia, Angela offered a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in dementia research, diagnostics, and care.
A journey driven by curiosity and personal experiences
Angela’s passion for science started early, leading her to a PhD at the University of Cambridge, where she studied the role of blood vessels in cancer. From there, she delved deeper into gene therapy and age-related vascular conditions. However, when her daughter was born with a rare genetic skin condition and a close family friend developed vascular dementia, Angela's career path took a turn.
These personal experiences profoundly shaped Angela’s outlook, giving her a deeper appreciation for the human side of science. She began to see research not just as a way to make discoveries but as a means to directly impact the lives of patients and families facing tough, often overwhelming challenges. This shift in perspective ultimately led her to Alzheimer Europe, where she’s now focused on connecting research with real-world care and support for those affected by dementia.
The biggest challenges in Alzheimer’s research
Alzheimer’s disease is incredibly complex. It affects 9–10 million people across Europe today, and that number is expected to triple by 2050. In the podcast episode, Angela highlighted two areas that need urgent attention: improving diagnostics and making research more inclusive.
The promise of better diagnostics
The emergence of biomarkers, such as phosphorylated tau proteins, is paving the way for earlier and more specific diagnoses. These biomarkers can detect neurodegenerative changes years before symptoms appear, especially in middle-aged individuals. However, Angela cautioned that while biomarkers are promising, they need to be complemented by other diagnostic tools to ensure accuracy and patient trust.
Closing the diversity gap
Research has historically focused on narrow, homogenous populations, leaving significant knowledge gaps about how Alzheimer’s develops in different communities. Angela stressed the importance of studying underrepresented populations to understand how biomarkers and therapies behave across diverse genetic, lifestyle, and environmental contexts.
Challenges and breakthroughs in therapeutics
In recent years, there have been exciting advances in Alzheimer’s treatment. Europe is close to approving its first therapies that can modify the course of the disease, following similar approvals in the U.S. However, Angela explained that these treatments are complex and may not be suitable for everyone, particularly people with certain genetic variants like APOE4. She also emphasized that many experts now believe we’ll need combination therapies that address multiple aspects of Alzheimer’s to achieve the best results.
Angela also stressed the importance of investing in non-drug treatments and social support systems. She explained that not all patients will benefit from cutting-edge diagnostics and treatments, so it’s crucial to provide other forms of care and assistance. For example, she notes: "Patient organizations were a real lifeline when we were facing difficult diagnoses — they offered vital guidance, emotional support, and a sense of community, when we needed it most."
Pan-European collaborations: A model for global progress
Collaborating on Alzheimer’s research across Europe’s 30+ countries is no small feat. Angela described Alzheimer Europe’s role in bridging science with societal impact, often as a partner in large-scale initiatives. One example is the European Platform for Neurodegenerative Diseases (EPND), which improves data and sample sharing to accelerate biomarker development.
The future of Alzheimer’s research
Looking ahead, Angela is optimistic about emerging technologies like gene therapy, which could potentially deliver protective genetic variants directly into the brain. However, while these treatments hold promise, Angela acknowledged that challenges in delivery and long-term efficacy mean they may take a decade or more to reach clinical practice.
Angela’s insights highlight how important it is to tackle Alzheimer’s disease from all angles, including better diagnostics, treatments, policies, and patient care. This episode is a reminder that progress in healthcare isn’t just about scientific advancements, it’s about making a real difference in people’s lives.
Listen now:
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