This course from The University of Edinburgh and Brain Health Scotland explains how brain functions can be damaged by neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and how to aim for better neurological health.

It can be difficult to grasp the devastating effects of neurodegenerative diseases without a basic understanding of how the human brain functions.

This four-week online course created by The University of Edinburgh and Brain Health Scotland walks us through the fundamentals of the brain before exploring the destructive processes of brain diseases.

Lessons are led by Craig Ritchie, a professor of psychiatry of aging at the University of Edinburgh.

Ritchie is also the director of Brain Health Scotland.

Dr. Sophie Bradley, Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, and Emma Stevenson, a professor of sport, exercise science, and nutrition at Newcastle University also offer supplementary lessons and input.

Discover more about the fundamentals of neuroscience and how diseases like Alzheimer's develop and affect the brain.

Our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases has grown exponentially, and the future of protecting brain health looks promising for both patients and researchers.