The Heath Tech Hub at UWE Bristol has created accurate models of brains affected by Alzheimer’s using 3D printing technology.
Two brain models have been produced, showing the physical effect of Alzheimer’s on the organ. Each brain took 72 hours to print, and is based on real brain scans.
The models have been printed for Bristol-based dementia research charity BRACE, the ReMemBr Group, and the South West Dementia Brain Bank to aid in their teaching and awareness of dementia.
By printing from real brain scans, we can clearly see which areas of the brain are affected by dementia diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
– Dr Elizabeth Couthard, Remembr Group
Dr Elizabeth Coulthard of the Remembr Group said: “By printing from real brain scans, we can clearly see which areas of the brain are affected by dementia diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The areas of brain that shrink are different in different dementias.
“The memory area, called the hippocampus, shrinks early on in Alzheimer’s disease. In contrast, the front of the brain shrinks first in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (Pick’s disease).”
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The Health Tech Hub is based at UWE’s Frenchay campus, and is focused on advancing technology that enables people to live independently and manage their own health and wellbeing, thus spending the least possible time in hospital. It is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Local Grow fund through the Local Enterprise Partnership.
More information on the Health Tech Hub can be found at healthtechhub.co.uk/