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 has been shown to lead to cognitive decline and can be a good predictor of dementia pre-diagnosis. 

This study is examining the relationship between sleep, gut health and cognition (how we think and process information) and how these factors may relate to dementia. The study is looking for healthy volunteers who are over 55 who have trouble sleeping or have sleep complaints.

The five-week study will initially involve screening questionnaires which can take place online system or face to face. If eligible, you will be invited to attend a 2-hour session at the Sleep and Brain Research Unit at the University of East Anglia. The study closes in July 2022.

Eligible participants will receive £80 for their involvement and travel expenses are provided.

The study is running until 1 July 2022.

Understanding cognitive and sensory impairment in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The ‘Understanding cognitive and sensory impairment in patients with neurodegenerative diseases study’ is looking at which sensory (i.e vision, balance) and cognitive (memory, attention) functions are affected. 

The research team aims to understand how these changes happen and how this differs from normal ageing in people and also how it differs across degenerative conditions.

The study is looking for volunteers who are between 65-80 years old and have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, Posterior Cortical Atrophy, Frontotemporal Dementia, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Parkinson’s Disease, Vascular Dementia, Small Vessel Disease, Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, or Traumatic Brain Injury (experiencing mild to moderate symptoms). 

If you are eligible to take part you will be invited to the University of Leicester to complete an assessment using a combination of tests and/or computer tasks to measure your memory, attention and language. You will then be asked to complete an assessment to see how well you can see things close by and far away. You will be randomly allocated to complete a series of tasks that will test your vision and balance.

This study is open until 31 August 2022.

A study to assess the treatment of agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease 

In this study, an investigational medication called AVP-786 will be compared to a placebo (a fake or dummy treatment)  to find out whether it is safe and effective in managing agitation in adults with Alzheimer’s dementia. 

The participant and their carer or the person who supports them will be asked to attend 10 study visits over a period of 20 weeks, including a 4-week screening period, a 12-week study treatment period, and a follow-up visit about 30 days after the last study treatment visit.

The study team is looking for people between the ages of 50 and 90 who have a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer’s disease and suffer from moderate to severe agitation with a carer or someone who supports the person.

A physical exam and other assessments and questionnaires will be conducted at the study clinic visits. 

This study is running until 20 December 2024 in Sussex and Oxfordshire.

Log in

New studies are being added to Join Dementia Research all the time. 

To find out if you have been matched to any of these studies log in to your account to take part and check out any other studies you may be eligible for.

You might also like to read about some of our volunteers who have taken part in research.