Another report from the UK Dementia Congress. As academic sponsor the University of Worcester’s Association for Dementia Studies (ADS) showcased its ground-breaking research as PhD students Rosemary Davies and Nathan Stephens described their projects. Davies wants to challenge the status quo by improving counselling for people when they have had a diagnosis of dementia. “Evidence…
The start of a series of reports from the 16th UK Dementia Congress 2022 held on 8th-9th November It’s great to be with one another again, to share, listen and learn, said Graham Stokes, launching the 16th UK Dementia Congress (UKDC) in Birmingham, the first to be held in-person for three years. That was how…
Musical memories: Former school teachers David Brown and Alison Eales (pictured) were reunited as part of a music therapy initiative at Foxholes Care Home in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. David is a resident, while the home’s general manager Neil Gandecha was once his pupil at the local Kingshott School. The emotive reunion involved a lunch trip allowing…
A new round of research funding announced by the government will see more than £800 million allocated to drive diagnosis and treatment in a variety of priority areas, including dementia. Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) welcomed the funding but said that dementia research was at a “tipping point”. David Thomas, ARUK’s head of policy, said the…
The public have been invited to contribute to a Creative Health Review, looking at how activities like crafts, film, cooking and singing can promote health and wellbeing while preventing ill-health. A series of round-table meetings being held between autumn 2022 and spring 2023 will form a core part of the review, organised by the National…
Fears that dementia care could be a target of cuts have grown after Jeremy Hunt, the new chancellor of the exchequer, said that all government departments would need to find savings. In an open letter to Hunt, the National Care Forum (NCF) said that public spending cuts to adult social care would be “disastrous” and…
Two new PhD studentships related to housing are on offer from the University of Worcester’s Association for Dementia Studies. Both are fully funded and full-time. The first will focus on the development and evaluation of a “best housing” assessment tool for people living with dementia, while the second will explore stigma and prejudice towards people…
A potential drug treatment for Parkinson’s dementia called ENT-01 improved cognitive function in some trial participants. During the 10-week treatment period these participants had better mental abilities such as remembering and problem-solving, and these continued to improve during the six weeks following treatment. The charity Parkinson’s UK has invested £2 million in phase 2 of…
Alzheimer’s Society has published a blog about the 143 drugs now in clinical trials across the globe as possible treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. The blog highlights what it regards as the three “promising” drugs, lecanemab, gantenerumab and donanemab. In September, pharma companies Eisai and Biogen announced trial results showing that lecanemab had slowed down decline…
Talking therapies available on the NHS could improve the mental health of people with dementia if they suffer from anxiety or depression, researchers at UCL have found. Studies suggest that 38% of people with dementia are affected by anxiety or depression, but the new research found that completing a course of IAPT treatment – the…