Central residents explored a giant inflatable brain at the Brain Health Community Day in Alexandra on Friday, January 26.

The giant brain came from the Brain Health Research Centre (BHRC) at the University of Otago and took up plenty of space in the Henderson Gallery from 10am to 2pm.

The day involved fun activities, free for all ages, which included making a neuron from coloured pipe cleaners, colouring in, brain teasers and interactive activities to show participants' brain wave activity while they were moving around or moving their wrist. 

Local children learned about neurons and how they work from University of Otago senior research fellow Dr Sharon Ladyman. PHOTO: The Central App

There were two free talks from experts at midday; Professor Greg Anderson spoke about how the brain is involved in fertility and Dr Sankalita Ray covered brain development and the use of genetics in diagnosis of rare brain disease.

Dr Sankalita Ray Das (on right) demonstrates the fit of the brain in your skull to Alexandra’s Dylan Robb (7). PHOTO: The Central App

An ageing population means more people will be affected by diseases such as Huntington’s, stroke, Parkinson’s and Alzheimers in the future. 

Brain research offers hope to individuals, families and society as scientific findings enhance the understanding of brain health and disease. 

The BHRC has 400 researchers and clinicians across 65 research groups who are committed to finding new treatments to harness the brain's restorative potential and testing innovative theories.

The gallery was filled with interested locals who chatted to experts about neurological diseases and the best ways to look after your brain health. PHOTO: The Central App 

The Brain Health Community Day visited Balclutha, Frankton and Wānaka prior to coming to Central.

To learn more visit the BHRC website.