The ‘HALL-VIS-ATT’ aims to help researchers and doctors understand the upsetting symptoms of hallucinations in dementia.

Aims of the Study

People with Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia, and people with Dementia with Lewy Bodies, often have distressing visual hallucinations. It is not known why these visual hallucinations occur.

Some aspects of visual hallucinations are related to poor vision and how people see things.
We also know that if someone has problems with their concentration or attention, then this can increase their chance of hallucinating.

The aim of this study is to explore how people see things, and examine how perception relates to hallucinations.
This study is trying some new illusion tests to make sure that these tests are able to measure hallucinations. These new tests might help to measure hallucinations in a better way, compared to current tests.

How does it work?

The research team will first visit you at your home. You will be asked some questions about your health and mood.

You will also have some short memory, vision and attention tests on a computer. These tests will be used to to make sure you can take part in the second part of the study.

For the second visit you will be asked to come to the old Newcastle General Hospital at a time to suit you. This is to carry out some tests involving visual illusions.

Get Involved

This study is looking for people, over 60, with Dementia with Lewy Bodies or Parkinson’s Disease Dementia.

Healthy volunteers are also needed to help compare results.

Sign up with ‘Join dementia research’ by clicking the sign up link on the right, and see if you are eligible.