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 […]

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 […]

A new study is using small amounts of electricity to stimulate the brain in people with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. The aim is to see if this can help keep the part of the brain which is responsible for memory active, whilst delaying symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The ‘Causal role of neural activity […]

Accounting for 10-15 percent of dementia cases in the UK, Lewy body is the second most common form of dementia. However, the recent World Lewy Body Day brought into sharp focus the fact that very little is known about this form of dementia, highlighting the need for more research. Lewy body dementia is caused by […]

We often have studies specifically for participants with a dementia diagnosis and a few recent ones have just opened up. The studies include using a phone app, physical and memory tests and are supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Vascular mEchanisms in, Stroke, dePression, dementiA, and deliRum: The VESPAR project […]

New NIHR supported research shows that brain health in people over 50 deteriorated more rapidly during the pandemic. This was true regardless of whether they had COVID-19. Researchers analysed brain function tests completed by more than 3,000 UK people aged 50 to 90, many of which were recruited through Join Dementia Research. The results The […]

A Sussex woman has spoken about losing her grandfather to dementia and how this inspired her to get involved in research. Rianna Patterson, of Hastings, lost her grandfather, Terry Vidal, to dementia in 2013. Following his death, she has been involved in dementia research. This included working with a National Institute for Health and Care […]

A former Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) has spoken about how volunteering for studies through Join Dementia Research has given him a sense of purpose after his Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.  Peter Middleton from Northamptonshire was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2018, aged 64.  Diagnosis Peter said: “I had been a Police Community Support […]

A new drug has been hailed as a scientific breakthrough in treating Alzheimer’s disease, following the publication of final trial results in the medical journal, JAMA.  The findings show donanemab can successfully slow down decline in memory and thinking by 35 per cent among people with early-stage Alzheimer’s Disease. The drug’s ability to slow down […]

Mary Stewart-David, a writer and consultant narratologist from South London, spoke movingly about her mother’s dementia diagnosis and how this inspired her to get involved in research.  Mary said: “I got involved in research as a volunteer because I saw my mother through dementia. I am aware that it might affect me in the future. […]