Alzheimer’s campaigner awarded honorary doctorate for “immeasurable” contributions

For decades, she supported the work of Professor Sir John Hardy (UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology), who was the first to identify the role of the amyloid protein in Alzheimer’s disease over 30 years ago, spurred on by an invaluable contribution by Carol and her family.

Carol first reached out to Professor Hardy and his colleagues in the mid-1980s, when the scientists were asking people to volunteer for research to help them understand Alzheimer’s disease, which at the time was believed to be a symptom of old age.

Carol wrote about how her father and two of his siblings all developed symptoms and were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in their 50s, which she detailed in an annotated family tree.

Intrigued by the striking family history, Professor Hardy embarked on research to determine whether there were any genetic differences between those who had Alzheimer’s and those who didn’t. Five years later, his team discovered a mutation to the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene, which creates the amyloid plaques that form in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease – causing them to become overactive and signalling for ongoing inflammation, which can disrupt normal processes in the brain.

As a result of the findings, in 1992, Professor Hardy and his colleague, Professor David Allsop, published the amyloid cascade hypothesis, which helped explain the three key features seen in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease: the brain appearing smaller due to the death of brain cells, the build-up of amyloid protein, and tangles with tau (another brain protein).

It was this theory that helped pave the way for the first generation of disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s, with more treatment candidates now in development.

Carol and her husband Stuart advocated for the cause for years and even became honorary Vice-Presidents of the Alzheimer’s Society. However, at the age of 50 she started to experience symptoms and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the NHNN by UCL Professor Nick Fox.

Carol advocated for the cause for years and even became Vice-President of the Alzheimer’s Society. However, at the age of 50 she started to experience the symptoms that she had dreaded all her life and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the NHNN by UCL Professor Nick Fox.

From that point, her health began to slowly decline. And sadly, on 29^th March 2024, Carol passed away at the age of 70.

Professor Hardy presented Carol with an Honorary Doctorate, DSc (Med) of UCL, that her husband accepted on her behalf at a UCL graduation ceremony today.

Professor Hardy said: “Carol’s impact on our research is immeasurable and will continue to resonate for decades to come. These findings have given hope to millions. That is possible thanks to Carol, and what became her life’s work.

“Together with her husband Stuart, who we are proud to welcome to UCL today, she had a unique impact on our understanding of this neurological condition and of the potential for its treatment. Over the decades, it was my privilege to become a friend to her and her entire family.”

Links

• Professor John Hardy's academic profile
• UCL Dementia Research Centre
• UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
• UCL Brain Sciences

Images

• Carol and Stuart Jennings (image provided by the Jennings family)
• Professor Jennifer Hudson presenting Stuart Jennings with Carol's honorary doctorate (Credit: Marston Events)

Media Contact

Chris Lane

tel: +44 20 7679 9222  / +44 (0) 7717 728648

E: chris.lane [at] ucl.ac.uk