Healthy Brains Event

Visitors were treated to a range of hands-on activities and interactive displays, giving them some fascinating insights into the workings of the human brain and what goes wrong when someone develops dementia.

There was plenty for all ages to see and do:

How the brain works: Visitors discovered more about the inner workings of this most complex of organs, including making a pipe-cleaner brain cell to take away.

What is dementia: Visitors learnt about the changes that happen in the brain as the disease progresses and the impact this has on people’s memory and view of the world.

How scientists work: Researchers from the University of Leeds talked to visitors about their work on the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease. There was also an opportunity to try out some of their research techniques complete with lab coat and gloves!

Prevention and cure: Visitors were able to find out what lifestyle changes they could make to keep their brain healthy and protect against dementia. They also got to test out their fitness levels with our exercise challenge.

Have your say: Visitors joined in the debate on the priorities for future research and the impact of dementia via our ‘Thought Wall’. Even our younger visitors contributed with some really imaginative drawings of how we could help people with dementia in the future.

Meet the Alzheimer’s Society: Volunteers from the Leeds branch of the Alzheimer’s Society brought along their wealth of experience of what it is like living with, or caring for somebody with, dementia. Visitors could have a chat and also find out about being a Dementia Friend.

Peers Support Group and Leeds City Museum: Visitors could explore a 'memory box' and find out more about the activities of the Leeds City Council Peers Support Group.

Children’s trail: ‘Brian the brain’ helped guide our young visitors around the hands-on activities and added some extra activities of his own.

The event was organised as part of the Engaging with Dementia project, funded by the Alzheimer’s Society and in partnership with Leeds City Museum.