Dr Emer MacSweeney: Helping Patients with Cognitive Diseases

Founded in 2011, London-based, Re:Cognition Health’s Brain and Mind Experts specialise in early, accurate diagnosis of, and innovative treatments for, developmental and progressive neurogenerative diseases of the brain and mind, resulting in cognitive impairment and a range of mental health concerns. Re:Cognition Health is an international leader in providing access for individuals, with Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia, direct access to the research and development leading to new generation treatments to slow, or ideally halt, the progression of these devastating diseases.

Re:Cognition Health (RCH) is now established as a multi-award-winning cognitive health provider on a global scale. RCH’s centres in London, Birmingham, Guildford, Plymouth, Winchester, Bristol, London and Washington D.C., U.S.A provide clinical trials for individuals to access new generation medications designed to change the future outlook for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Re:Cognition Health provides its clinical services for ADHD, autism, mild traumatic brain injury and memory loss through its Harley Street Medical Area Clinic and nationwide via its virtual consultations. RCH’s new Bristol clinic will also provide on-site consultations this Autumn.

The Leader

A leading London-based Neuroradiologist experienced in the N.H.S. and the independent sector, Dr Emer MacSweeney, co -founded Re:Cognition Health and presently serves as C.E.O. of the UK and USA RCH Companies.

Before starting the organization, Dr. MacSweeney served as the Director of Neuroradiology at Atkinson Morley’s Hospital, St. George’s Healthcare Trust, and Managing Director of MedTel U.K. She graduated from the University of London and pursued her post-graduate training in medicine at the London post-graduate hospitals. Later she received her training in radiology from Hammersmith Hospital and neuroradiology from the National Hospital Queen Square.

Dr MacSweeney’s medical knowledge and training in neurosciences, personal credibility, contacts and corporate experience enabled her to assemble a team of brain and mind experts to create Re:Cognition Health, an internationally recognized expert provider of the best diagnosis, treatment, and hope for people with memory loss and other cognitive symptoms.

Focusing primarily on the pandemic, Alzheimer’s disease (A.D.), and working closely with multiple pharmaceutical sponsor’s R&D to provide new medications, the organization has helped thousands of patients to gain early access to various novel diagnostic biomarker tests and new medications designed to halt the progression of A.D., through clinical trials.

Dr MacSweeney received the “EY Entrepreneur of the Year” award for Societal Impact in 2019 and several other awards over the years, acknowledging the positive impact that she, and Re:Cognition Health are having on society.

Achievements and Accomplishments

With the intent to address Alzheimer’s disease, and the rising concerns about mental health, Dr MacSweeney founded Re: Cognition Health in 2011. She soon realised that without investment and clinical solutions, Alzheimer’s disease would create a global socio-economic and health crisis, which no healthcare economy could afford.

Thanks to her dedication, tenacity, and passion, Re:Cognition Health is now recognised as one of the fastest growing companies providing centres for international clinical trials for Alzheimer’s and many other conditions affecting the brain, helping researchers develop new-generation medications to slow down or halt the progression of these devastating diseases.

Re: Cognition Health’s centers have frequently achieved the highest number of patient enrolments, encouraging large sponsors to bring necessary trials to the U.K.

In 2018, Dr MacSweeney open RCH’s first center in the USA, which, despite the challenges of COVID lockdown is now hugely successful and the RCH will open its second USA center in Houston later this year.

Dr MacSweeney recently presented a powerful TED talk: “CTE – The silent killer in contact sports” at TEDx Athens on the main stage in May 2022, raising desperately needed awareness of this condition, by providing an overview of the history, developments in diagnosis and future opportunities for players to help prevent and treat Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Dr MacSweeney led the team at RCH to develop the ability to diagnose CTE, during life. Previously, CTE has been a diagnosis at postmortem and therefore too late to initiate potential treatment. Dr MacSweeney is currently leading a program at Re:Cognition Health to treat, for the first time ever, young ex-professional rugby players with a CTE diagnosis, with a new treatment designed to remove the abnormal protein in the brain causing this fatal condition and thereby change these individuals’ future. Without diagnosis and treatment, CTE progresses relentlessly to dementia and death.

Separately, for many years, Dr MacSweeney has undertaken pro-bono Medico-legal expert witness work for veterans with T.B.I

Making a Difference

Dr MacSweeney says, “I founded Re:Cognition Health as a deadlift start-up, with funding from family and friends, building the Company into a multi-million pound, international business over the last eleven years. Determination, passion, hard work, tenacity, vision, strong leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit have driven the success of the business even on the most challenging days!”

Like many other start-ups, RCH was also started with a lightbulb moment of realisation of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring positive changes in the lives of millions.

“Unlike the majority of clinical conditions, I suddenly realised that when looking at yet another brain scan that there was a massive chasm of misunderstanding, mistrust, and inaction between suspecting a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease on a brain scan to providing information and appropriate action for the individual.”– she stated.

Dr MacSweeney realized that this would soon become a global healthcare crisis and created RCH in 2011 with her business partner, Tom Dent. Together they brought the best doctors to practice in a new way to offer a joined-up approach to providing early and accurate diagnoses to cognitively impaired patients.

Dr MacSweeney explains, “We went without any salary, and I worked as a neuroradiologist at weekends to maintain my income. In 2012, my business partner had to return to the U.S.A., and I was “left holding the baby.” We didn’t have the revenue to pay the rent for the next quarter, so I had a choice to close the Company or pay the rent myself and effectively do it “on my own” …which, of course, is what I did. Though my business partner was always there for discussion and advice and has remained our Chairman throughout.”

She also added, “As we expand now into the U.S.A. and focus much of our attention on U.S.A. expansion in the next few years, he will become more involved in the company again, which is great.”

Advice for Younger Self

Dr MacSweeney believes determination is the key to the success of Re: Cognition Health. Like other industries, there are numerous hurdles and obstacles in the world of medicine and clinical trials. So, it needs tremendous drive, ambition, determination, and confidence to survive.

She suggests that young entrepreneurs must realise they will not be right every time, and they should remember that the person who never got anything wrong never did anything.

She says, “Learn from every experience, especially when something goes wrong and continually strive for solutions to improve whatever you are doing. Almost everyone can manage success, but the ability to manage, successfully, through the setbacks and failures is what makes the difference between those who eventually succeed and those who don’t!

Manage your health; you must stay healthy mentally and physically to stay the course. Being an entrepreneur is exhausting and relentless.”

Dr MacSweeney also advises young entrepreneurs to learn to recharge their batteries quickly. She explains, “For me, it’s prioritising time with my family, and having friends, with whom I can completely relax and have fun; and devoting time to exercise. Make sure you attend regular exercise classes or whatever sport you enjoy and can do easily. Make sure this is challenging and include yoga and meditation in your schedule.”