All news

Eye test can pick up Alzheimer’s, study claims

13 March 2019

Close up of a human eye

This article has been reproduced from the NHS website. “Alzheimer’s disease can be spotted through simple eye test,” reports the Daily Telegraph. A new study has found that people with Alzheimer’s had fewer blood vessels and less blood flow in the retina (back of their eye). The Alzheimer-linked eye changes were detected by an eye test that uses […]

‘Small’ increase in risk of Alzheimer’s disease with HRT use, study suggests

11 March 2019

This article has been reproduced from the NHS website. “Millions of women who take HRT pills may face a greater risk of Alzheimer’s,” warns the Mail Online. A study identified all postmenopausal women in Finland who’d been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease over a 14-year period. It compared their use of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) with a group of […]

Help dementia research from home

26 February 2019

Senior lady talking on the phone

Not all research takes place in a lab. Many different types of study are vital to understanding dementia, so there are often ways you can help out from the comfort of your own home. Surveys, questionnaires and online activities give scientists the knowledge they need to improve dementia care and treatments. The Bristol study One […]

What’s that study? Investigating thinking and emotional regulation styles in older adults

18 February 2019

Laptop with the Join Dementia Research logo on the screen

We spoke to Anne-Marie Greenaway, PHD student at the University of Reading, who is leading a study to investigate the emotional wellbeing of people living with dementia. When someone experiences a low mood, it makes it more difficult to complete everyday tasks. Low mood increases the level of cognitive impairment in people living with dementia. As approximately half the number of […]

Understanding attitudes towards dementia and research in the UK

7 February 2019

Dementia attitudes thumbnail

On Wednesday 6 February 2019, Alzheimer’s Research UK launched their Dementia Attitudes Monitor Report – an in-depth analysis of the UK’s attitudes towards dementia and research. Improving understanding and shaping attitudes towards dementia is crucial to make breakthroughs in research possible, so the Monitor, which surveyed 2,361 adults across the UK, is an essential tool. It will […]

Gum disease linked to Alzheimer’s, study claims

28 January 2019

False teeth with donuts and cakes

This article has been reproduced from the NHS website. “Gum disease bug could play ‘central role’ in development of Alzheimer’s,” The Independent reports. The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are still debated. Most scientists think it is likely to be down to a combination of factors, including your genes and lifestyle. But some believe it may be […]

A blood test for Alzheimer’s remains a distant possibility, study suggests

24 January 2019

Blood test

This article has been reproduced from the NHS website. Researchers have developed a blood test that can predict your chances of getting Alzheimer’s, claim several media reports. But any suggestion of a major breakthrough is a little hasty. The research only involved people with a rare hereditary form of Alzheimer’s disease caused by genetic mutations (Dominantly […]

‘Exercise hormone’ may play a role in combating Alzheimer’s disease

14 January 2019

Dumbbells

This article has been reproduced from the NHS website. “An ‘exercise pill’ mimicking the effects of a gym workout could prevent Alzheimer’s disease,” the Daily Mirror reports. The “pill” is actually a reference to a protein called irisin. Irisin has been dubbed the “exercise hormone” because previous research found it’s released from muscles in response to […]

New research to provide virtual support for people with rare dementias

11 January 2019

Elderly couple using tablet computer at home

A version of this article first appeared on the NIHR website. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) are creating a new online support network for people with young onset and rare dementias. The project was announced as part of a new £15 million research initiative to […]