On behalf of the Kavli Institute, NTNU and Norwegian Health Association (NHA), King Harald this week opened Norwegian Health Association Centre for Dementia Research. “There are many, both in Norway and in the rest of the world, who have great hopes that science will give us the opportunity for curative treatment for Alzheimer’s and other dementia diseases.” said secretary general Bo Gleditsch in Nasjonalforeningen for folkehelsen (NHA). Through this collaboration, the NHA joins forces with the Kavli Institute, the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science (both at NTNU) and St. Olavs Hospital. The initiative makes it possible to bridge the Nobel laureates Edvard Moser and May-Britt Moser’s brain research to groundbreaking research on Alzheimer’s disease.
The centre’s goal is to understand the mechanisms that give rise to Alzheimer’s disease, as well as to develop effective diagnoses, treatments and medicines against the disease. “In the short term, we see that our basic research through studies of time sense, sense of place and memory is relevant for understanding Alzheimer’s and thus getting closer to finding ways both to cure and prevent the disease. Now, through NHA, we also gain the connection to relatives and patients.” says Edvard Moser. May-Britt Moser emphasises how important it is to co-locate the different research forces. “Research is not just about sitting alone like an Einstein solving mathematical formulas. It requires a great deal of creativity and needs diversity in approaches, discussion and communication. We now have this opportunity for translational research with these teams, which are in close proximity to each other here in Trondheim.” she says.
“This is a societal mission, it is something we must do together. We are entirely dependent on society wanting us to do this, that people are involved, both to help those who are affected now, and to support the research required so that new generations will not have to experience the same.” says Kobro-Flatmoen, director of the centre. Gøril Rolfseng Grøntvedt is also a center director. She works in clinical research and has close contact with dementia patients. “Previously, we thought that dementia diseases were a natural part of aging, and thus we lagged behind in research compared to other diseases. We started much later, but now there is more attention, and more money is being allocated to this type of research. Thus, we can get much further in a shorter time than before, and that gives us hope!” “This collaboration, with so many of the best researchers, gives hope to everyone affected by dementia today and in the future.” says Bo Gleditsch, secretary general of Nasjonalforeningen for folkehelsen (NHA).