University College London

Applying a systemic approach that extends beyond the brain to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis

Traditional dementia research often isolates single aspects, biomarkers or symptoms, overlooking complex interactions shaping disease risk and progression. Lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction, reflecting systemic processes, may explain links between Alzheimer’s and metabolic,...

Towards a deep-learning genomic tool for risk stratification and diagnostic support in sporadic ALS

Abstract Background A variety of common and rare genetic factors have been implicated in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and the evidence is that a genetic component is present in most affected individuals. However, our current understanding of ALS genetic...

Aligning patient navigation activities with the early cancer care agenda in LMICs: a framework for implementation across the cancer continuum

Delays in cancer care are a persistent challenge in low- and middle-income countries, often driven by social and systemic barriers. This challenge is particularly acute in LMICs where cancer mortality-to-incidence ratios remain disproportionately high and health system fragmentat...

The Transition to Mental Health Services From the Perspectives of Neurodivergent Young People, Caregivers and Mental Health Professionals: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Approach

Abstract Purpose The prevalence of mental health conditions is increasing globally, with mental health difficulties the leading cause of disability for young people aged 12 to 25 years. Neurodivergent young people are up to three times more likely to develop a co-occurring mental...

9.4‐Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in focal epilepsy patients with high‐resolution surface‐based profiling of focal cortical dysplasias

Abstract Objective The detection of subtle epileptogenic lesions such as focal cortical dysplasias (FCDs) is a clinical challenge in the management of drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (DRFE). Ultra‐high‐field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers increased signal‐to‐noise ra...

Modified dextran as pH responsive electrospun fibres for dexpanthenol delivery in wound healing applications

Abstract Modified dextran has emerged as a promising biomaterial for drug delivery applications due to its tuneable degradation, and biocompatibility. This material is routinely used in the development of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems; however, this promising modified...

Does the selective bolding of characters within words improve reading performance in skilled adult readers? Evidence from eye movements

Abstract Reading is core to functioning in our daily lives. Therefore, it is not surprising that numerous tools have been developed to help maximize reading efficiency in both skilled and less skilled readers. In this registered report, we examined the potential of selective bold...

Cutting Along a Symmetric Quadrilateral to Construct an Embedded Flexible Dodecahedron

Abstract Until recently, the simplest known flexible polyhedron embedded in Euclidean three-space was Steffen’s polyhedron on nine vertices. However, in 2024, an embedded flexible polyhedron on eight vertices was discovered. It attains the known lower bound for the number of vert...

Dual effect of α-synuclein disease variants on condensate formation

Abstract α-synuclein is a pre-synaptic protein implicated in synucleinopathies including Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies, where it accumulates in intracellular aggregates termed Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Recent studies have re...

Rehabilitation and management interventions for people with chronic musculoskeletal condition/s and mental distress: a systematic scoping review

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and mental distress present significant challenges for rehabilitation services. Currently, mental and physical healthcare is often segregated despite growing recognition for integrative interventions. This review aimed to map o...

Blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration in an indigenous African cohort using both Simoa and NULISA platforms

Background: In low- and middle-income countries, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) constitute a growing public health burden. Indeed, the lack of awareness and easy screening tools, such as blood-based biomarkers, leaves many patients undiagnosed. In this study, we...

Perfectionism: Secondary pupils’ perceptions of pressures contributing to perfectionism, and its relationship with emotional wellbeing

This sequential mixed methods study explored experiences and perceptions of perfectionism in a sample of secondary aged children and adolescents. Phase 1 assessed the relationship between different domains of perfectionism and depression and anxiety in 114 pupils reporting high l...

Multiscale characterization of cortical signatures in positive and negative schizotypy:a worldwide ENIGMA study

Positive and negative schizotypy reflect distinct patterns of subclinical traits in the general population associated with neurodevelopmental and schizophrenia-spectrum pathologies. Yet, a comprehensive characterization of the unique and shared neuroanatomical signatures of these...

A prospective double-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing conventional jig-based versus robotic arm-assisted medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Aims This study reports the interim outcomes of a randomized controlled trial comparing the accuracy of component positions, early functional outcomes, patient-reported outcome measures, and complications in conventional jig-based unicompartmental knee arthroplasty with navigatio...

Secondary patella resurfacing following primary total knee arthroplasty

Aims Our aims were to assess joint-specific outcome (JSO), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and patient satisfaction following secondary patella resurfacing (SPR), and to define a patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS). Methods This retrospective study was conducted over...

Same-sex marriage and migration: politics of belonging, state regulations, and new ways of doing family across borders

The expansion of marriage rights for same-sex couples has coincided in many countries with increasingly restrictive marriage migration policies. These differentiated approaches to marriage – relatively inclusive towards LGBTQI + people and their families, yet increasingly exclusi...

Sleep as a window into thalamocortical pathology: generative modeling implicates NMDA receptor hypofunction in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Abstract 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a strong genetic risk factor for neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, yet the underlying synaptic mechanisms remain unclear. Sleep EEG suggests thalamocortical dysfunction, but scalp data alone lack mechanistic re...

Subicular spatial codes arise from predictive mapping

Abstract The successor representation has emerged as a powerful model for understanding mammalian navigation and memory; explaining the spatial coding properties of hippocampal place cells and entorhinal grid cells. However, the diverse spatial responses of subicular neurons, the...

EP464 - ECE_2010 - Hyperphagia severity in adult patients with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome-a mixed-methods cross-sectional study in the United Kingdom

Background Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is a rare genetic disease frequently associated with hyperphagia, an insatiable feeling of hunger, persistent food-seeking behaviours and abnormal food intake. This can have behavioural, emotional, social and health consequences, and may lea...

COFAS Grade is not Associated with Outcomes following Infinity Total Ankle Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Study with Minimum Five-Year Follow-Up

Background: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is increasingly used for end-stage ankle arthritis, with modern fixed-bearing designs demonstrating improved survivorship. The Canadian Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (COFAS) classification stratifies patients by intra-articular and...