Tom trained in medicine and psychiatry in Edinburgh, the Highlands, and London and completed a PhD in dementia epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh. He is a Reader in Old Age Psychiatry in the Division of Psychiatry (Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences) and an honorary consultant psychiatrist in NHS Lothian. He is Director of the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre (School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Science) at the University of Edinburgh and also Clinical Research Champion of the Neuroprogressive & Dementia Network, NHS Research Scotland.

• Air pollution and other environmental risk factors for dementia
• The implications of the climate crisis on dementia risk
• Global dementia epidemiology

My main research interest is the impact of air pollution (among other environmental risk factors, including the growing climate crisis) on dementia risk, taking a life course epidemiology approach. This emerged from previous work on geographical variation in dementia rates around the world. I have contributed to expert panels and committees on this topic for Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer Europe and have been an invited speaker on this topic at the Alzheimer's Association International Congress and the Westminster All Party Parliamentary Group on Clean Air.

Publications on PubMed

Google Scholar profile

Division of Psychiatry https://www.ed.ac.uk/clinical-brain-sciences/division-of-psychiatry 

Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre www.alzscotdrc.ed.ac.uk

Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences www.ccbs.ed.ac.uk

Edinburgh Neuroscience www.edinburghneuroscience.ed.ac.uk

Scottish Neuroprogressive and Dementia Research Network: http://www.nrs.org.uk/ndn (formerly the Scottish Dementia Clinical Research Network)

I'd encourage any students interested in dementia research to contact me about potential projects - for an SSC or otherwise. I have recently supervised projects on temporal trends in dementia rates, music and dementia, and the concept of personhood in dementia so I’d be very pleased to hear from you whatever your interest.

Looking for a PhD project in Edinburgh Neuroscience? All available projects are listed here: www.edneurophd.ed.ac.uk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcdsLpTsx3Q

Professional memberships

Fully registered, on the specialist register (old age psychiatry) with a license to practice, General Medical Council (6097438)

Fellow, Royal College of Psychiatrists

Senior Associate Member, APPCIOS (Association for Psychodynamic Counselling and Practice in Organisational Settings)

Trainee member, British Psychoanalytic Council

Member, APP (Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the Public Sector)

Member, Human Development Scotland

Member, British Medical Association

Fellow, Royal Society of Medicine