BRACE newsletter, Spring 2012

1. newsletter
Spring 2012
www.alzheimers-brace.org
Anniversary Where your Research News
Events money goes and Views
Why not come along and How the projects you Professor Seth Love answers
celebrate - see page 13 fund are selected page 5 your questions on page 10
Thanks
Our 25th anniversary year
has made a great start and
we are making the whole of
2012 a celebration.
to you!
From the first working day of January, we have
been hearing of new supporters for our “Silver
Service” fundraising campaign, new events
organised by volunteers and new people to
represent us in sponsored activities.
You can read about the Silver Service campaign
on page 16 and find out about special fundraising
events on page 13.
What we most want to say to all our supporters
over many years is… thank you! BRACE started
from very small beginnings in 1987 and has raised
millions of pounds for research. This is because
thousands of people simply refused to be beaten
by the horror of dementia.
Because of their efforts, BRACE has been able
to pump desperately needed resources into
research. Scientists funded by this charity have
contributed to the astonishing progress made
by medical science and the growing hope is that
more powerful treatments will be available
within a few years.
Much more is needed, of course. For us, a Silver
Anniversary is no more an end than a beginning.
It is a time to reflect on how far we have come
and redouble our efforts for the next phase of
the battle.
Whether you have given money or time, or
persuaded others to join in, we are grateful for
all that you have already done. This newsletter
and our website will tell you the many ways in
which you can help us even more.
1 | BRACE www.alzheimers-brace.org

2. The fair is a regular
feature of the BRACE
calendar and is both an
important fundraiser and
an opportunity to make
more people aware of
our work. Last year it
again took place at the
Newman Hall in Westbury-
on-Trym, Bristol.
Our special guest was “BRACE is
popular TV newsreader
and radio presenter Ali a great
Vowles from BBC Bristol. charity”
Brian’s outstanding work
Ali opened the fair and Ali Vowles
stayed afterwards to
meet people and look
behind the scenes
around the stalls.
We are sorry to say goodbye to Professor Brian Pickering, who
stepped down from the Board of Trustees at the end of 2011.
Brian became a BRACE Trustee in 2004.
He became Chairman of the charity’s
own Scientific Advisory Committee, which
assesses all research proposals and makes
Brian Pickering had a distinguished career
at the University of Bristol, where he
worked from 1965 to 2001. He was variously
Professor of Anatomy from 1978, Head of the
Fantastic fair!
In October, BRACE enjoyed its most successful Autumn Fair for several years.
Ali said, “I was delighted watch people I care stall. We were delighted and delivered 2,000 flyers
recommendations to the Trustees. Brian Department of Anatomy 1978-92, Dean of to be able to take part in about suffer from it. that a strong contingent advertising it.
gave outstanding service to the charity and the Faculty of Medicine 1985-87 and Deputy the BRACE Autumn Fair. We should do all we can of pupils and teachers
Vice-Chancellor 1992-2001. He has been BRACE is a great charity to defeat it.” was able to come to run When the proceeds
its many supporters by ensuring that money
Emeritus Professor since 2001. and it was lovely to see the stall. were counted, total
was spent where it was most likely to be
what a good turnout it got Another major income topped £2,000,
effective in the fight against Alzheimer’s.
BRACE is grateful to Brian for all that he has for its fair. Alzheimer’s is contribution came from We were again indebted roughly £500 more than
He is succeeded in this role by Professor
done to help in the fight against Alzheimer’s. a terrible illness and, like Red Maids’ Junior School, to C J Hole (Henleaze), the previous year, a
Stephen Lisney.
most people, I have had to who provided the cake who sponsored the fair great success.
500 Club
APRIL JUNE AUGUST OCTOBER
Sat 14 Downend Village Fête, Sat 2 Collection at Almondsbury Sat 4 Collection at Sainsbury’s Sat 6 A
utumn Fair, Newman
Competition
winners
Programme of Events 2012
Downend Cricket Club, Garden Centre, Over Lane, Bloomfield Road, Hall, Westbury-on-Trym,
South Glos, 12pm – 4pm
Sun 22 London Marathon Sat 2
Almondsbury
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Brislington
Fri 17 and Sat 18
10am – 12.30pm
Fri 19 and Sat 20
– our own lottery The Autumn Newsletter
event, Page Park Staple Hill Collection at Morrison’s Collection Morrisons, winner of the First’s
BRACE has its own licensed lottery, and to
MAY 10am – 6pm Superstore, Fishponds Road Fishponds Competition was Mrs S C
enter costs just £1 per week payable by
Mon 14 RACE Annual General
B Stone from Mangotsfield,
standing order. The draw is made each week
Meeting, The Grange Hotel Bristol who won a BRACE
(Mercure Bristol North) 7pm JULY SEPTEMBER DECEMBER and the winner receives one quarter of the
Christmas Goodie Bag.
Fri 13 and Sat 14 Sun 23 A Night to Remember’
‘ Sun 9 BRACE Carol Service, St proceeds. The other three quarters goes
Sun 20 ailsea Charity Walk, Start
N
Collection at Sainsbury’s 25th Anniversary evening. Mary Redcliffe Church, 3pm into the fund for research. The winner of the
Finish at Scotch Horn
Centre. Organised by Nailsea Kingswood The Tobacco Factory Tue 11 ollection at Tesco,
C Chemicals competition
Sat 14 Frenchay Flower Show, Theatre, Bristol, 6.30pm We are about half way to the maximum in the January Update
Backwell Rotary Club Kenn Road, Clevedon
Frenchay Common 1 – 5pm Sun 30 Bristol Half Marathon 500 members, and when we get there, the was Mrs G Seagrave from
Tue 22 RACE Golf Day, Henbury
B Wed 12 and Thurs 13
prize will be £125 a week and £375 will go Downend, Bristol who
Golf Club Sat 21 and Sun 22 Collection Tesco Golden
Portishead Flower Show and to research. won a £20 gift voucher.
Thu 24 RACE Anniversary Coffee
B Hill, Horfield, Bristol
Morning, St Monica’s, Cote Country Fair
What a great way to increase BRACE’s Congratulations to all
Lane, Westbury on Trym, regular income! Contact the BRACE Appeal our winners and good
10am to 12 noon
Sun 27 BUPA London 10k Run
For further information about any of these events please contact the BRACE Appeal Office Office for more information and luck with our latest
an application form. competition.
2 | BRACE www.alzheimers-brace.org call the BRACE appeal office on 0117 340 4831 Spring 2012 | 3

3. Ways to give
Where your money goes
BRACE is a “fundraising” How research grants Two projects in the latest
charity but it is also, of are approved round of funding have
Remember us in your will course, a “fund-spending” already been announced
charity. While you have The ultimate beneficiaries of our in the press by the
BRACE received over half a million
work are people anywhere in the
pounds last year in legacies. This been helping us build up world who might one day develop
universities concerned:
represents a large number of our funds, the charity’s dementia. To achieve this, we
supporters who, having covered the Bath University
needs of their families, left a gift to
Trustees have been making support research in universities
in the West Country and Cardiff. – Professor David Brown
support dementia research. sure that they are spent
Focussing on this region is a sensible
where they are needed. strategy for a charity of our size, Led by Professor David Brown, the
We can supply a short guide to scientists at the University of Bath
and we have helped create a
making or modifying your will. will study a protein called alpha-
At their meetings in November formidable and growing network
Please contact us if you would synuclein. This accumulates in the
2011 and January 2012, the of researchers.
like a copy. brain of patients who have dementia
Trustees approved grants of more
than £630,000. This was spread BRACE has its own Scientific with Lewy bodies, as well as other
A gift of your time across six research projects and Advisory Committee (SAC) under diseases such as Parkinson’s. This
We are also deeply grateful to two grants for specific purchases the chairmanship of Professor project is jointly funded by BRACE
people who give us their time and in three universities (Bristol, Bath Stephen Lisney, one of our Trustees. and Alzheimer’s Research UK, the
their talents. Volunteers are the and Cardiff). When a researcher approaches first time the two charities have
lifeblood of BRACE, whether they BRACE with a proposal, it is first collaborated in this way.
There are many ways to give to BRACE, are helping run events, taking part Research projects generally last assessed by the SAC to make sure
that it falls within our current Bristol University
and here are just a few of them. in sponsored activities or putting
this newsletter in an envelope to
between two and three years.
The latest round of grants means policy guidelines. If it is acceptable – Professor Seth Love, Dr
that BRACE funded research in principle, the proposal is then Maeve Caldwell and others
post to you. Currently we need
people to collect money outside currently in progress or due to sent to three carefully selected
A simple donation Regular giving start this year has a total value of peer reviewers, all experts in the The research group have applied
supermarkets and to help set up
appropriate area of research. recent advances in stem cell
Whether it is £1 or £100 or any A monthly donation, however small, sales or information tables at more than £1.5 million. Between
technology to convert cells obtained
other amount, we are glad of helps BRACE plan on the basis of events. If you think you may be able them, the scientists working on
your help. Most supporters either regular income. Just ask us for a to help please contact us. these projects are helping to turn The SAC then considers the proposal from human adult skin biopsies
and expert reviews in detail and into nerve cells of the type found
send a cheque by post or donate standing order form. the tide against dementia.
decides whether to recommend in a part of the brain known as the
through our website, using their Shopping online
debit or credit card. If neither Gift Aid it! It’s a great achievement and one funding. The final decision is taken nucleus basalis (nb). These nerve
An example of a “no cost way”, that belongs to volunteers, donors by the Trustees on the basis of the cells are a main source of the
method is easy for you, please
If you pay income tax in the UK, for anyone who ever shops online, and BRACE supporters of every kind. SAC’s recommendation. acetylcholine, a signalling chemical
ring us for advice.
please add Gift Aid. This will is our account at in the brain, and degenerate at an
If you want to give £1, £2, £3, £4, increase the value of your gift by www.spendandraise.com/brace We publish reports on different This rigorous process is necessary early stage in Alzheimer’s disease.
£5 or £10, you can now send it by 25% or more, but will not cost you If you follow this link you can shop research projects in our newsletter to ensure that the money you This will enable researchers to test a
text from your phone. Messages are a penny extra. We can supply a Gift at any of 150 or so major retailers. and details of BRACE-funded raise is spent where it is mostly range of hypotheses concerning the
free on all networks. All you need Aid form, but you can also add Gift It will cost you no more than you research are updated from time to likely to be effective in the fight earliest abnormalities in Alzheimer’s.
do is text “ALZH25”, followed by Aid to online donations and even would have paid anyway, and BRACE time on our website. against dementia.
the amount, to 70070. text donations. will receive commission.
4 | BRACE www.alzheimers-brace.org call the BRACE appeal office on 0117 340 4831 Spring 2012 | 5

4. News in brief...
Braceland?
Art for our sake Darin Melville works in a large suggested donation to BRACE.
Many thanks to the Front Room gym in Portsmouth and was Over 30 people turned out and
Art Trail in Totterdown for given an Elvis outfit as a gift! He Darin raised £65 and awareness
supporting us through their annual decided to do an Elvis-themed of the cause. Many thanks to
event last November. Aqua class for women with a Darin and apologies to the King!
A friend in Jerusalem
Photograph © Bristol Evening Post.
Terry’s TV Triumph Giving us
James I recently returned to His wife Nitza spoke no I was curious to hear that
Terry Moore of
Whitehall in
a dressing
Murray-White,
Jerusalem to sell a flat
where I had previously lived
English, so we tended to
speak at each other, until
the doctors were using
Rivastigmine patches with
Bristol raised
£1,105 by
down!
a filmmaker for 5 years. One of the our partners stepped in Nissim, and that they had appearing on
many plus points of the flat to translate. been developed at Hadassah Staff at Simplyhealth
and BRACE was the great neighbours, Hospital in Jerusalem, but
Countdown,
in Bristol raised an
the popular TV
volunteer, who adopted us and were Seeing them again was that after 4 months there programme.
astonishing £2,700
a part of the recent trip through their monthly
talks about always on hand to chew the was not much improvement. Terry, whose
dress down day.
daily cud of the Middle East we really looked forward
his personal and offer any help. to. On their steps, Nitza For me, seeing Nissim
mother had
Thank you, everyone
dementia, raised
experiences of greeted us warmly, but reduced to a shadow of
money through
at Simplyhealth, for
Nissim spoke 7 languages with the words “have you the man he was, was a choosing BRACE as your
Alzheimer’s. and could fix anything, from heard about Nissim – he terrible blow. My mother
sponsorship and
top charity in January.
donations.
water pipes to solar panels. has Alzheimer’s”. The next also has Alzheimer’s: she
He was a sprightly ‘go to hour passed in a blur as she was diagnosed in 2007, and
guy’ in his late 70s and we explained the recent story its progression has been
met most days. and my partner translated. much slower. I see her
He was out at a day centre, regularly and monitor her
He and I would dissect the allowing her some much- care with her GP and other
political issues of the day; needed rest. The next day professionals. Through this
he would give me a little we hesitantly returned. involvement, I’m studying
back-story and I would Nissim was sat quietly in a the current science and
understand more about the recliner. He smiled as we have recently made a short
situation. In short, Nissim approached and held his film about my mum. I feel
was a foreign journalist’s
dream: a local with a keen
hand, but we seemed to
have slipped away into his
that Alzheimer’s is one of
the biggest challenges for Hitting the right note
sense of social justice, a vast store of memories, us in the 21st Century, and Kick-starting this year’s fundraising Members of Bristol Male Voice Choir raised an
man of deep convictions now inaccessible. I’m grateful that BRACE and
and passion, and passable other organisations exist Thank you, Tom Lakos, for kick-starting our Silver estimated £600, including Gift Aid, simply by not
enough English to convey to support and promote Service fundraising campaign. Tom, of ProTom sending Christmas cards. They gave the money
some of that. this crucial research into Fitness in Clifton, held a kickboxing event as a to BRACE instead. Thank you!
potential cures. fundraiser in February.
6 | BRACE www.alzheimers-brace.org call the BRACE appeal office on 0117 340 4831 Spring 2012 | 7

5. SPONSORED EVENTS ROUND-UP
Zara’s abseil Tony Barker Bristol Half “No mean feat for Emma is trek star Liverpool Marathon
Zara’s Nan has suffered from Tony was originally planning to run Marathon a 7 year old” Oxford scientist Emma Thornton Andy Walker, from Crosby, raised
Alzheimer’s for the last 13 years. in the Stockholm Marathon but was raised £1,200 for BRACE by trekking more than £3,000 for BRACE after
Zara says, “My Nan has fought this unable to take part due to a chest Thank you to all the 15 people Ruth Revell says, “My Nan (my 7 to the 4.5 km high lost Inca city his mother suffered a sudden
illness bravely - she contracted it at infection. Having recovered, Tony who ran for us in the Bristol year old daughter Emma’s Great of Machu Picchu in Peru. Emma onset of a complex form of
a relatively young age but has taken ran in the New Forest Marathon Half Marathon. Nan), recently passed away. In more was motivated to undertake Alzheimer’s. Andy was inspired
lots of new trial medication in order completing the race in 3hrs and recent times Nan had suffered from the gruelling climb after her to run the Liverpool Marathon
to help the research that goes on 57mins, beating his marathon One of them was Sophie Morgan, memory problems and dementia. grandmother was diagnosed with when his mother’s condition
at BRACE. She wouldn't still be here personal best by 40 minutes. Tony who said, “I really enjoyed the The chosen charity for Nan’s funeral dementia four years ago. deteriorated rapidly.
without the kindness and support and his wife Rachel wanted to raise Bristol Half Marathon. It was a was BRACE who had provided Nan
that BRACE have given her and she some money as a thank you to great atmosphere and running for with support during her illness. Emma said the thought of her Andy said, “I know that it is too
cannot praise them highly enough”. BRACE for funding her PhD and to charity made it even more special. Rather than simply donating some grandmother kept her going when late for my mum but there is still
support our on-going work. Being a neuroscience student I fully money to the cause we thought it the trek got tough. She added, “The much that can be done for other
Zara wanted to do something for understand the debilitating effects would be nice to do something to disease is so hard for the sufferer sufferers and their families. I chose
her Nan and for BRACE and so took of Alzheimer’s disease. I chose remember Nan by. and their family and it would be to raise money for BRACE instead of
part in a sponsored abseil 105 BRACE as it supports research.” great to one day have a cure or at one of the larger dementia charities
feet down the side of the building “Nan had a love of walking and the very least, some improvement because it specialises in funding
where she works. Zara admitted it was an active member of the in the medication. That’s why I scientific research.
was scary, but her courage netted Ramblers so it would seem apt that wanted to raise money for BRACE,
hundreds of pounds for BRACE. the challenge should be walking because they use the money to “There are many unanswered
related. Having already climbed the fund research in to dementia. The questions with Alzheimer’s which,
highest mountain in Wales Emma charity is also fairly local to where as I experienced, leave you
Run to the Beat had decided she would also like to
try climbing the highest mountain in
I grew up in Somerton, Somerset feeling very confused wondering
how something so devastating
and it’s where my grandmother and
David Jackson took part in “Run to England. At a height of 978 metres Mum still live today.” can happen so quickly. The more
the Beat”, a half marathon with live and a distance of 6 miles that's no time and expertise we dedicate
music played around the course. mean feat for a 7 year old.” Emma was joined on the four day to Alzheimer’s research the more
The course started and finished at trek by her university friend and likely we are to find a cure.”
the O2 Arena. David says, “It was The challenge was completed in colleague David Crawford-Jones.
really hard going, but the thought August and not only did Emma We are very grateful to Andy for
of the money I was raising for complete Scafell Pike she also We would like to thank Emma for his monumental fundraising effort.
BRACE helped me over the finish conquered Great End, Ill Crag and the huge effort she has made to People like Andy make scientific
line, in a personal-best time!” Broad Crag on the same walk. raise funds for research, and for research possible through their
sending us several great photos! amazing generosity and sheer
determination.
8 | BRACE www.alzheimers-brace.org call the BRACE appeal office on 0117 340 4831 Spring 2012 | 9

6. Q: Are treatments currently
under investigation/trial
only for Alzheimer’s disease, or
Q:
Some foods are thought to
be beneficial for the brain.
What is the latest advice?
is there anything that might help
A:
Seth Love is
Professor of with other forms of dementia? A balanced diet, avoiding excessive
intake of 'unhealthy' fats (e.g.
A:
Neuropathology associated with butter, palm oil, whole
at Bristol Very little research is being
milk, red meat) and including oily fish and
undertaken into the prevention there is
University of dementia in patients with Lewy body
monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats
(e.g. in olive oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil) considerable
and scientific disease but recent years have seen rapid
is good not only for your heart and blood evidence
adviser to progress in our understanding of some
vessels but also your brain. that people
of the molecular abnormalities that as
BRACE. Here he who have
responsible for this group of conditions and Although there is considerable evidence
answers some the testing of experimental therapies in a so-called
that people who have a so-called
of the questions models of this disease. It is likely that some Mediterranean diet are at reduced risk of Mediterranean
you have been
asking us. Research news and views of these will be translated into treatments
that can be trialled in human patients but
it will probably take several years to reach
developing dementia, it remains unclear
precisely what elements of the diet are
critical in this respect, and whether other
diet are at
reduced risk
of developing
Q:
that stage and it is too early to say whether aspects of lifestyle associated with this dementia
Our research What are the most In the past, the use of enzymes to break they will be effective in preventing the diet may also play a part. There is some
down amyloid β in Alzheimer’s disease development of dementia. In Bristol, a
is directed encouraging areas of trial of GDNF infusion (by CED) for severe
evidence from the US that a 'medical food'
has been prevented by the difficulty of called caprylidene may be of benefit
at improving research at the moment? effectively and selectively delivering the Parkinson's disease will commence in the in Alzheimer's disease but this needs to
blood flow next few months. The trial will be led by Dr
A:
treatment into the brain. be confirmed.
through Alan Whone and Professor Steve Gill.
I have to confess bias in answering
the brain in this question, reflecting the emphasis
We have been working with Professor Steve
We are also hoping soon to measure the
Q:
dementia… Gill, Head of the Functional Neurosurgery
of our work in the Dementia Research
We have Research Group in Bristol, to explore the extent of blood flow abnormalities in
Group. Despite promising data from animal
possibility of a novel technique called Parkinson's disease, their contribution to Is it true that, in later
identified studies by other groups, clinical trials of life, learning a language
convection-enhanced delivery (CED) to the development of dementia and the
several, drugs that interfere with the production of
already- amyloid β have so far been disappointing,
deliver this treatment. CED relies on relies reasons why blood flow through parts of the or doing crosswords can
the use of ultrafine infusion catheters to brain is reduced in many patients.
licensed drugs as have attempts to remove amyloid β help protect the brain from
deliver chemicals along a pressure gradient
with the by immunisation.
rather than a concentration gradient, and Treatment of vascular dementia is largely cognitive decline?
potential to directed at dealing with the underlying
A:
Our research is directed at improving enables a high concentration of the infused
reverse the chemical to be delivered uniformly through disease such as hypertension, elevated
blood flow through the brain in dementia, There is good evidence that people
abnormal a large volume of brain tissue. cholesterol and diabetes, and in preventing
and in using enzymes to break down the who have spent longer in education Rapid advances
blockage of small blood vessels by reducing
constriction amyloid β in the brain. We believe that are at lower risk of developing dementia,
The technique has been successfully used to the stickiness of platelets. There are are being
and are these approaches have a strong likelihood and some evidence that regular physical
treat severe Parkinson’s disease by infusion studies in progress of drugs that cause made into our
currently of clinical benefit and, in particular, that
the relaxation of muscle cells in the
and mental activity may be protective.
drugs with the potential to improve blood
of a chemical known as GDNF. Initial studies understanding
seeking involving CED of an enzyme that breaks down walls of blood vessels (e.g. nicardipine);
flow are ready to be tested in patients. At present we do not know for certain of the
funding to test amyloid β have been very promising and over some of these studies have yielded
whether such activities slow the progression biological basis
these drugs in the next few years we are hoping to obtain encouraging results.
Reduced blood flow through the brain is an of disease in patients who already have of some of the
clinical trials. early abnormality in Alzheimer's disease, enough preclinical data to justify trialling AD but common sense would suggest that
Rapid advances are being made into our rarer types of
contributing to clinical deterioration and this approach in patients with AD. regular physical and mental activity is
understanding of the biological basis of dementia
probably to disease progression. Some likely to improve the quality of life and the
Other encouraging new areas of research some of the rarer types of dementia that
of the reduction is caused by structural morale of patients with early disease.
in Alzheimer’s disease include therapies predominantly affect the frontal and
changes to the blood vessels but a large
directed at removal of the neurofibrillary temporal lobes in the brain. These advances
part of the reduction results from abnormal
tangles that form in nerve cells, the use in understanding will certainly lead to the
constriction of the vessels. We have
of insulin administered into the nose (to development and testing of novel treatment
identified several, already-licensed drugs
improve the utilisation of glucose and correct strategies for these particular diseases
with the potential to reverse the abnormal
other metabolic abnormalities in the brain), within the next few years.
constriction and are currently seeking
and the use of drugs other than enzymes to
funding to test these drugs in clinical trials.
increase the breakdown of amyloid β.
10 | BRACE www.alzheimers-brace.org call the BRACE appeal office on 0117 340 4831 Spring 2012 | 11

7. 25th
Anniversary Anniversary
Coffee Morning events
Thursday Volunteers have organised
some special events to mark
24th May 2012 our anniversary. A list of all
events (as known at time of
10am - 12 noon publication) can be found on
11.00 am ‘Tobacco to Strawberries’ page 2, and a full list is kept
A short talk on the history of the updated on our website.
Wills Family and St Monica Trust These include regular
by Shelley Bailey, favourites such as the Golf
Operations Manager, St Monica Trust Day and Autumn Fair.
Q: Q:
Tombola, One of the special
Progress is being made Different figures are quoted Home-made Cakes, anniversary events will
towards earlier and more publicly for the incidence of Books, Plants, Cards, happen as we go to print.
Fabric Haberdashery This is the Three Men’s
accurate diagnosis. Will this dementia. What is the risk level Company concert on 24
enable clinicians to do more to for different age groups, and Main Hall, St Monica’s, March. The celebratory
Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym,
help people with dementia? does this include people who are Bristol BS9 3TN
events still to come are
the Anniversary Coffee
developing the disease but are
A:
Morning on 24 May and
It seems likely that the earlier not yet showing symptoms? Tickets £5.00
‘A Night to Remember!’
we can intervene (e.g. to reduce Please apply to the BRACE Appeal Office for tickets.
on 23 September. Details
A:
accumulation of amyloid β or improved Postal applications should be marked ‘Coffee Morning’.
of both events are given
In answering this, I would emphasise An SAE (11cm x 22cm) would be appreciated.
blood flow through the brain) the greater on this page.
that figures are sometimes given for
the chance of benefit.
the incidence of dementia and sometimes
for its prevalence. It is important to be clear BRACE proudly presents
Many New imaging studies indicate that people
investigators
believe that
start to accumulate amyloid β many
years, even decades, before they develop
exactly what is meant by incidence and
prevalence. A NIGHT TO REMEMBER!
dementia. This is thought to initiate a starring
disease- The term incidence describes the number of
modifying
cascade of secondary changes that
damage nerve cells and eventually cause
people who are diagnosed for the first time The Opera Dudes
therapies are each year. According to a recent US study Sophistication Style and Swing!
clinical disease.
and combined data from several European
much more
studies, the incidence of dementia rises
with The Jimmy The Lip Allstar Band
likely to be Part of the problem with therapies designed
from under 0.5% per year for people in their
effective
if they are
to prevent dementia by interfering with
the initial stages in this cascade is that 60s, to 1-2% of those in their 70s, over 4% of Sunday 23rd September 2012
we may be too late in applying them. those in their 80s, and over 8% of those in 6.30pm Sparkling Reception
started before their 90s.
Many investigators believe that disease- 7.30pm Show
symptoms
modifying therapies are much more likely
develop. to be effective if they are started before
The term prevalence covers all people Tobacco Factory Theatre,
who have the disease, whether they have Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol BS3 1TF
symptoms develop.
been diagnosed only in the past year or Free parking at Aldi from 6.00pm
Early, accurate diagnosis also helps patients have had the disease for several years. The Dress: smart and sparkling!
and carers to develop more effective coping prevalence of dementia rises from about
strategies and gives patients, in particular, 0.5-1.5% of people in their 60s, to 4-5% of Tickets £25
more control over the planning of their lives. people in their 70s, 12-20% of those in their available from
80s and 25-30% of those in their 90s.
Before 1st July 2012
These figures relate to people who have BRACE Appeal Office Tel 0117 340 4831
actually developed dementia, not those who From 1st July 2012
will in time develop the disease but are not Tobacco Factory Theatre Box Office
yet showing symptoms. Tel 0117 902 0344 www.tobaccofactory.com
12 | BRACE www.alzheimers-brace.org call the BRACE appeal office on 0117 340 4831 Spring 2012 | 13

8. BRACE Annual Autumn Fair 2012
Meeting 2012
Newman Hall, Grange Court Road,
Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol.
Monday 14th May 2012 Saturday 6th October 2012
Doors open 7pm, from 10am to 12.30pm.
main meeting starts at 7.30pm Always a cheerful and well-attended event, with
a wide range of stalls and refreshments.
The Grange Hotel (Mercure Bristol North,
formerly the Ramada Bristol North), We are pleased to announce that
Old Gloucester Road, Northwoods, Stephanie Cole
is to be our special guest at this year’s fair.
near Winterbourne.
This is close to Bradley Stoke and has ample free Stephanie, a
car parking. The hotel is a 19th century manor patron and strong
house set in landscaped gardens in countryside supporter of BRACE,
just outside the Bristol urban area. is a well-known
Directions are available from the hotel website stage and television
or the BRACE Appeal Office. actress. She is
currently appearing
This is not an AGM, but a presentation of in Coronation Street
but is also familiar
the charity’s work, and all our supporters
to many for her
are welcome. Please let us know in advance roles in programmes
if you would like to attend, to help us such as Doc Martin
with our planning. and Tenko.
Lord Mayors helping BRACE BRACE donation and contact form
Return to BRACE Appeal Office, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE
Bristol has had a mayor since 1216 but it was only in 1899 that You can donate by credit or debit card online – www.alzheimers-brace.org
Queen Victoria granted a Lord Mayoralty to Bristol. There are
only 23 Lord Mayors in England at the present time and of these lease find enclosed a donation of £____ to BRACE.
P
Thank you for your donation. If you are a UK taxpayer Gift Aid declaration – for past, present and
only London, Bristol and York are styled ‘The Right Honourable’. please complete the Gift Aid Declaration and BRACE future donations to BRACE
can recover the tax at no extra cost to you. Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts
The Lord Mayor of Bristol is one of During their term in office, which A number of Linda’s helpers,
BRACE’s patrons in an ex-officio ends in May this year, both Geoff together with a representative Please contact me: I’d like to know more about: of money made today in the past 4 years
capacity and since BRACE started and Bernice have attended a from BRACE, Lynda Checkley, were in the future. Please tick all boxes you wish to apply.
“Adopting” BRACE at work/school/other I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or
up nearly 25 years ago the many number of our events. Notably our also invited to the Mansion House
Volunteering to help with collections or events Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least
Lord Mayors have been great, and annual Carol Service at St Mary for afternoon tea with the Lady
Taking part in a sponsored event equal to the amount of tax that charities will reclaim on my gifts
much appreciated, supporters of Redcliffe Church and Linda Alvis’s Mayoress which the Lord Mayor for that tax year. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on
our charity. None more so than the annual Christmas Bazaar which was also attended. It was a wonderful, Please add me to your newsletter mailing list every £1 that I give.
current Lord Mayor, Geoff Gollop opened by the Lord Mayor. informal afternoon and our thanks SIGNATURE Date
Full name
and his wife Bernice, The Lady to the Lord Mayor and Lady Please notify BRACE if you: • Want to cancel this declaration
Mayoress. The Lord Major said Linda has been a supporter of Mayoress for their hospitality. • Change your name or home address • No longer pay sufficient tax on
Address your income and/or capital gains.
Both my parents suffered from BRACE for a number of years and,
Alzheimer’s so I know, first hand, since BRACE have been involved We look forward to a long
If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to
receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all
how it affects both the sufferers with her Christmas bazaar, has relationship with future Lord Mayors your Gift Aid donations on your Self Assessment tax return or ask HM
and the family. I am therefore helped us raise over £2500. Linda and thank Geoff and Bernice for Post Code Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.
pleased to support BRACE and said, “it was a great honour to have all their support during their term
If you would like us to contact you, please supply:
all it is doing to fund research the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress in office. We will keep a record of your donation/enquiry but will not contact
you unless you have agreed that we can.
into this disease. open the event and it was nice that daytime tel no
they were able to stay and meet a Please tick this box if you would like to receive a
lot of the helpers and supporters.” and/or email written acknowledgement:
14 | BRACE www.alzheimers-brace.org call the BRACE appeal office on 0117 340 4831 Spring 2012 | 15

9. Silver Service campaign Photo
– a great start fundraiser
Last autumn we announced
that we were launching our
“Silver Service” campaign.
This is a special 25th
anniversary fundraising Yate photographer Matt Harris
drive aimed at raising the (Olympia Photography) is raising
symbolic sum of £25,000. funds as part of our Silver
Service campaign.
In brief, it is an invitation to groups He is offering to take family
and organisations of all sorts to photos on 12th 13th May and
adopt a fundraising target of £500 donate the money to BRACE.
between now and the end of 2012. There are sessions for up to
The list of those who have already 10 families (3 or more people) at
signed up shows the wide range of £50 pounds a time. A free 12x8
those who could help. Businesses, photo is included.
schools, churches, social clubs,
sports clubs… You can contact Matt on 07557
411681 or via his web site
One of the supporting businesses is www.olympiaphotography.co.uk
Avanti Cleaning Solutions, a family
business in Bristol that sells janitorial Paul Dickinson after completing his run
products. Its Sales Marketing
Coordinator, Rachel Connor, says,
Annual BRACE
“We are extremely proud to be
supporting BRACE in their Silver
Golf Day 2012
Service campaign. We supply a
Stableford Bowmaker
number of care and nursing homes
which provide care for those with competition for teams of four
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
so it is a subject that is important
22 May 2012
to us.” Henbury Golf Club, Bristol
The first fundraising event of the BRACE is a member of BNI Bristol Grace,
year was organised by Tom Lakos of a group of businesses which has given us
ProTom Fitness – see News in Brief on great help starting the Silver Service.
From left: Richard Manning (Be Streets
page 7 for the full story.
Ahead estate agents, visiting), Mark
Poarch (BRACE), David Jones (Mark
A week later, Paul Dickinson of Richard Insurance Brokers), Paul Dickinson
Dickinson Business Finance started (Dickinson Business Finance), Rachel
his fundraising by taking part in the Connor (Avanti) and Nick Crocker (The
Weston Tough Ten, a sponsored ten Carpet Cleaner, Chapter Director).
Photograph © Marko Dutka.
mile run in February. Entry
£200 per team,
Other participants in the campaign There isn’t room for the
growing list of supporters here, including green fees
include churches in Clevedon and
South Gloucestershire, a firm of but you can find them on a special and evening meal
solicitors, a chain of insurance tab on our Facebook page. We
shall include news and photos Contact the BRACE Appeal
brokers and GWS Media, the
of some fundraising events in the Office on 0117 340 4831 for
company that designs the BRACE
next newsletter. more information
website.
16 | BRACE www.alzheimers-brace.org