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 […]

Although the causes of dementia are not yet known, we do know which lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise and smoking can affect brain health and the chances of developing dementia. Until now, there has been little insight into the perceptions of brain health around the world. In June 2019 an anonymous online survey ‘The […]

This year, Dementia Action Week takes place 16-22 May in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Dementia podcast With this being a key opportunity in the calendar to raise awareness about dementia, we are delighted to share a new podcast with Professor John O’Brien, the NIHR National Specialty Lead for Dementia. In this podcast, Professor O’Brien […]

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 […]

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 […]

As we mark 7 years of matching volunteers with researchers, we’d like to celebrate some of the highlights from the past year:     Since the service began, there have been over 60,000 enrolments onto studies through Join Dementia Research, that’s an increase of 12,000 in the last year.   Join Dementia Research volunteers played […]

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 […]

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 […]

An opinion piece by Professor John O’Brien, NIHR Clinical Research Network National Specialty Lead for Dementias The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has today said no to approving aducanumab – a new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease. EMA considered that although the drug removed amyloid, a toxic protein that builds up in the brains of people […]

Many people living with dementia have sleep difficulties which can be troublesome for the person affected, their families and carers. Problems can include reduced and or disturbed sleep, nighttime awakening, wandering and excessive napping during the day. There are currently no effective treatments to help. Aim of the study Researchers from University College London (UCL) […]