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To mark the fifth anniversary of Join Dementia Research, we asked some of the people closest to the service to share their thoughts on how far Join Dementia Research has come.

Today, Monday 24 February 2020, Join Dementia Research celebrates its fifth birthday. We’re not asking for gifts or cards for our fifth birthday. Instead, you can help us celebrate by sending a digital greeting card to someone you know who might be interested in research.

The Global Brain Health Survey is an anonymous online survey to learn about people’s views on the brain and brain health. Researchers hope that gathering the opinions and attitudes of people worldwide could help shape future policy recommendations to help everyone take care of their brain in a way that fits their daily life. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, and anyone over the age of 18 can participate.

The NIHR Clinical Research Network has launched a new online course called ‘What is Health Research?’. The three week Massive Open Online Course, or MOOC, is aimed at anyone with a keen interest in learning more about the world of health research. Learners can complete the course at their own pace for free, starting on Monday 11 November 2019.

A recent study has found that the risk of dying from neurodegenerative disease is almost 3.5 times higher for footballers. However research is at an early stage and there’s currently no suggestion that anyone should stop playing football. Regular physical activity – including football – is a good way to reduce the risk of dementia and conditions such as heart disease.

PREDICT-PD is a ground-breaking project using simple tests to identify people at higher risk of Parkinson’s disease before the symptoms appear.

We are excited to share that Join Dementia Research has been selected as a #MadeAtUCL Top 100 Innovation. #MadeAtUCL is a new campaign which aims to bring to life University College London’s (UCL) impact on people, lives and communities, mainly through ground-breaking research and discoveries. We would be very grateful for your vote – this will help continue to raise the profile of dementia and research, and help more people to take part.

In a new study, researchers designed a bathing cap-style head device, called the MemorEM, which was used to deliver electromagnetic waves to the brain. The purpose of this was to try to dissolve what are known as oligomers – groups of abnormal proteins – as they were forming. There was some sign of improvements on tests of thinking and memory in most of the people taking part in the study. This is an experimental, early-stage study that looked primarily at safety, so it cannot tell us for sure if the treatment works.

Alzheimer’s Research UK have launched a new nationwide survey to help shape future treatments for dementia. The online survey needs everyone’s views on the aspects of daily life that are most important, and which you would most like to protect if you were to develop a disease that causes dementia. Take part today.

The ‘Gotcha!’ study is trialling a fun computer-based therapy to help people with dementia remember the names of the people who are important to them.