Dr Sam Moxon - Tissue Stiffness, An Overlooked Aspect of Dementia?

Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for NIHR Dementia Researcher. When hear the word 'dementia' do you think of mechanics? No? Dr Sam Moxon does. So what do we mean by the “mechanical” effects of dementia. We're referring to the mechanical properties of the brain; specifically how “stiff” it is. Every tissue in our body has a defined stiffness. Bone, for example, is classified as having a high stiffness because it is very strong, firm and can withstand very high impact. It has to in order to be able to carry out its main functions of keeping us upright and protecting our much softer vital organs from impact damage. In contrast, the brain is an extremely soft and fragile tissue. That is why our skulls are so thick. We need to protect our brains from damage. Listen to this blog to find out more about tissue stiffness and its connection to the brain and dementia. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-tissue-stiffness-an-overlooked-aspect-of-dementia/   -- Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials scientist, and his expertise falls on the interface between biology and engineering. His PhD focussed on regenerative medicine and he now works on trying to improve on culture techniques for human stem cells, so that we can gain a better understanding of how diseases like Alzheimer’s manifest. His work at The University of Manchester looks at 3D bioprinting with stem cells. Outside of the labhe hikes through the Lake District and is an exert on all things Disney. -- Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice [email protected]