25 November 2009

Aberbrothock Skea Trust donates £2,000 to Alzheimer's Research

Photo opportunity: 2pm on Monday, November 30th at the Clinical Research Centre, Ninewells Hospital Dundee. Dr Calum Sutherland will accept a £2,000 cheque from George Mathieson of the Aberbrothock Skea Trust

Arbroath-based Aberbrothock Skea Trust is donating £2,000 to the Alzheimer's Research Trust, the UK's leading dementia research charity, towards a study being carried out by scientists at the University of Dundee.

George Mathieson, a Trustee of the Aberbrothock Skea Trust, will present the cheque to Dr Calum Sutherland, who is leading the research, at the University of Dundee Medical School, Ninewells Hospital on Monday, November 30th.

Dr Sutherland explained, "We are investigating the biochemistry of specific proteins found to be involved in Alzheimer's disease. These proteins also play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes and we want to find out exactly how the two conditions are connected.

"Understanding the links between Alzheimer's and diabetes will help us identify people at risk and give us new ideas about how to slow the progression of both diseases."

Mr Mathieson added, "We are pleased to be able to support the work of the Alzheimer's Research Trust by making this contribution to the innovative research Dr Sutherland and his team are carrying out here in Scotland. We hope this will lead to new developments in the treatment and eventual cure of dementia."

Dr Marie Janson, Director of Development for the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "We are very grateful to the Aberbrothock Skea Trust for this generous donation and its much valued support of our work. The project Dr Sutherland is undertaking offers new hope to those people living with the daily reality of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia and the devastating effects it has on their lives.

"Over 56,000 people in Scotland have dementia, a number forecast to rise as the population ages, and we desperately need to fund research in order to beat this dreadful condition."

Notes to editors:

The Alzheimer's Research Trust provides free information on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: phone 01223 843899 or visit www.alzheimers-research.org.uk). The charity relies solely on public donations to fund its research.

There are 700,000 people living with dementia in the UK today, a number forecast to double within a generation.

The Alzheimer's Research Trust is currently supporting 120 projects across the country.

The Aberbrothock Skea Trust was established in 2008 on the merger of Aberbrothock Charitable Trust and Amy Barnet Skea Charitable Trust. The Aberbrothock Charitable Trust had been established by the late Brigadier and Mrs Oliver of Arbroath in 1971 with a direction that the income of the Trust be used to promote purposes for the benefit of the community, which are recognised in law as charitable. Mrs Amy Barnet Skea, formerly of Arbroath, died on 1 July 1993 leaving the residue of her Estate to be held in a Charitable Trust with the income of the same to be made over to charitable institutions as chosen by her Trustees.

For further information, photos or to speak to Dr Calum Sutherland, George Mathieson or Dr Marie Janson, please contact the charity's Community Press Officer, Sue Armstrong on 01223 843304 or email press@alzheimers-research.org.uk.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277