This year's Edinburgh Neuroscience Public Christmas Lecture will be held on Tuesday 17th December at 6pm at the Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Research Campus, Midlothian, University of Edinburgh. Folding and Unfolding: The Molecular Origami of Dementia What does the rare Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) have in common with much more prevalent conditions such as Alzheimer's disease? Despite variations in their specific causes and the particular ways they affect individuals, these degenerative illnesses have important similarities. In particular, they are all characterised by a misfolding of key brain proteins. Proteins are vital parts of both the structure and function of our brains and they are long molecules that fold into particular shapes that affect their functions. Misfolding of proteins appears to be an important aspect of several diseases. Prof Richard Knight (National CJD Unit) and Prof Jean Manson (The Roslin Institute) will cover two broad topics in this talk. Firstly, the basic nature of proteins, their misfolding and the general nature of some of the relevant human brain diseases. Secondly, how laboratory science can attempt to explore the mechanisms of these diseases, thereby increasing our understanding and, potentially, leading eventually to treatments. Folding and Unfolding: The Molecular Origami of Dementia Tuesday 17 December 2013, 6.00pm Tuesday 17 December 2013, 7.00pm The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Research Campus, Midlothian, University of Edinburgh Speakers: Prof Richard Knight (National CJD Unit) Prof Jean Manson (The Roslin Institute) For more information and to book a place, please visit the Edinburgh Neuroscience website by clicking the link below: Edinburgh Neuroscience Public Christmas Lecture 2013 If you can't make the talk in person you can watch it via livestream at: Watch the lecture Publication date 18 Jun, 2015