Research shows that poor spatial navigation can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease – long before symptoms such as memory problems arise. Another common symptom is feeling ‘lost’ even in familiar places.  This is especially true of people aged 65 and over in the early stages of the disease. Studies are now using digital […]

Exciting breakthroughs in dementia research are making it easier to diagnose the condition earlier and more accurately. The sooner a person is diagnosed, the better their chances of getting the right support and treatment. One study, led by Stephen Ball at the University of Manchester, is looking at how the brain understands words and concepts. […]

Today marks 10 years since Join Dementia Research began helping people take part in vital dementia research across the UK. The service was set up on 24 February 2015 by Professor Martin Rossor and Adam Smith of the University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology.  Join Dementia Research enables people to register their interest in […]

A UK-wide study into using blood tests to diagnose dementia is now recruiting its first participants. The READ-OUT (REAl World Dementia OUTcomes) study began testing patients at Warneford Hospital in Oxford this week.  The study The study aims to assess blood tests to detect different types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and dementia […]

A recent study involving people from the Join Dementia Research community has looked at the topic of sleep in dementia. Sleep disturbances are a common and distressing issue for people with dementia and their families. These disturbances can make the symptoms of dementia worse. They can also negatively affect the quality of life for both […]

In any area of healthcare, the topic of end-of-life is very difficult. It’s hard to talk about for people with a diagnosis, their families and healthcare professionals. But it is important to discuss, particularly with people living with dementia. Research has shown that people who have had end-of-life care conversations early on have an improved […]

As 2024 draws to a close, we look back at some of the breakthroughs in dementia research and the achievements and milestones of the Join Dementia Research service.  More volunteers sign up to Join Dementia Research than previous year More than 80,000 volunteers have now signed up to Join Dementia Research since its inception in […]

Many anonymous online survey studies are seeking volunteers through Join Dementia Research. These studies are quick and easy to take part in. They provide important data to help further our understanding of dementia. Here are 2 studies currently taking place: MINDER (TIHM Technology Perceptions) People with dementia may have biases towards health technologies. This may […]

  Terry Quinn is a Professor of Cardiovascular Ageing at the University of Glasgow. He recently led a study, working with volunteers in the Join Dementia Research community. The aim was to investigate what activities of daily living are important to older adults.  They found that the existing tools and methods often used to measure […]

Last week it was announced that the dementia drug, donanemab, has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This means it will be available under private prescription in the UK. However, it has been rejected by National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), so it will not be available on […]