Tom Russ

Dr. Tom Russ is a Reader in Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Edinburgh, affiliated with the Division of Psychiatry within the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine. He holds roles as an honorary Consultant Psychiatrist (NHS Lothian), Director of the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, and Network Champion of the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Research Network. His research focuses on dementia epidemiology, genetic factors, and clinical implications of aging-related neurological conditions.

Education: BSc (Medical Science with Psychology), MBChB (Medicine), PhD (Dementia Risk Factors), and Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from the University of Edinburgh.

Research interests include dementia diagnosis, temporal trends in dementia prevalence, music therapy in dementia care, and ethical considerations around personhood in neurodegenerative diseases. His work bridges clinical practice and academic research, emphasizing translational studies.

Key affiliations include the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland, Global Burden of Disease Dementia Panel, and leadership roles in mental health ethics committees. Awards include Fellowships from the Royal College of Psychiatrists (FRCPsych) and the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Supervises projects on dementia epidemiology and ethics, with recent grants supporting interdisciplinary studies on aging biomarkers. Active in the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre and collaborates internationally on neuroprogressive disease research networks.