Dementia studies

Find out about some of the wide-ranging types of studies available via the Join Dementia Research service.

Investigating the impact of anti-inflammatory drugs on Alzheimer’s disease

18 October 2022

A research study exploring the impact specialist anti-inflammatory drugs have on Alzheimer’s disease symptoms is looking for volunteers in London, Plymouth, Guildford and Southampton. The EXploratory PLatform trial on Anti-INflammatory agents in Alzheimer’s Disease, or EXPLAIN-AD for short, will be evaluating the effectiveness and safety of anti-inflammatory agents on common Alzheimer’s symptoms – including memory, […]

Diabetes drug to be tested as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease

7 September 2022

Clinical trials across England and Scotland are underway to investigate if an existing diabetes medicine can potentially work as a disease-modifying option for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Novo Nordisk is now working alongside Join Dementia Research to investigate if the medicine, known as semaglutide, could also benefit people living with early Alzheimer’s disease. What the study […]

Could an anti-sickness drug treat hallucinations?

16 August 2022

A national research study is investigating whether a readily available anti-sickness drug could treat dementia-related hallucinations. The Trial of Ondansetron as a Parkinson’s HAllucinations Treatment, or TOP HAT study, is recruiting volunteers across England, Scotland and Wales to evaluate whether ondansetron, an anti-sickness drug used in the NHS, could also be used for treating hallucinations […]

Shaping the future of early-stage dementia support

19 July 2022

A pioneering international study is exploring how health promotion and self-management programmes could be used to support people with early-stage dementia and improve their health outcomes. The Self-management and HeAlth Promotion in early-stage dementia with E-learning for carers study, or SHAPE for short, is looking to recruit people with a mild to moderate dementia diagnosis […]

Clinical study to assess potential Alzheimer’s drug

13 July 2022

There are almost one million people with dementia in the UK and the most common cause is Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers from University College London (UCL) with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research are testing a new approach to the treatment of mild Alzheimer’s disease in the DESPIAD (DEpletion of SaP in […]

Face to face studies currently open

14 April 2022

After a period of many online studies, we are pleased to share that researchers are increasingly inviting participants to take part in face to face studies.  Here are some examples of studies currently looking for volunteers to take part in different parts of the UK: Sleep, gut health and cognition study Insomnia in later life […]

How can virtual reality help with early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease?

7 March 2022

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in the UK and the symptoms develop gradually over many years. Background The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can progress slowly and many, such as getting more forgetful, can be attributed to ‘just getting older.’ This can make diagnosis more difficult and currently there is no single […]

Give your views on possible new Alzheimer’s treatments

15 February 2022

All medicines may have side effects for the people who take them. But if there was a new treatment to slow or stop Alzheimer’s, how would you weigh up its benefits against its potential risks? That’s what researchers are asking as part of a new project. One of our charity partners, Alzheimer’s Research UK, has […]

Can we predict Parkinson’s?

27 January 2022

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that leads to tremors, stiffness and difficulty with walking, as it can affect balance and coordination. Parkinson’s has more than 40 symptoms, both motor and non-motor, which usually begin gradually and get worse over time. Every hour, two more people are diagnosed. That’s the same as 18,000 people every […]

Researching the best way to improve well-being for dementia carers

12 January 2022

Many people who are living with dementia are cared for at home by a family member or a friend. We know that unpaid caring can be stressful and impact both mental and physical health, so what can be done to help? Aim of the study Researchers from Bangor University with funding from the National Institute […]