Research priorities Research programmes have tended to focus on finding a disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s, but how can we channel more funding into research to improve care and quality of life? Read More Work with local communities Former Department of Health (DH) civil servant Ruth Eley – now chair of the carer involvement group tide … Read more
Aston University in Birmingham played host to the 17th UK Dementia Congress (UKDC) last week (November 7 & 8) when delegates from every corner of the sector came together for a lively and thought-provoking conference and exhibition. Celebration and concern Graham Stokes, from UKDC’s main sponsor HC-One, kicked off the proceedings by reminding the audience … Read more
Co-created by people affected by dementia, a new film released by the IDEAL research project focuses on the importance of effective communication around dementia. Titled “The World Turned Upside Down,” it looks at the reality of living with dementia and caring for someone with the condition through a dramatic composition. People affected by dementia were … Read more
Lifestyle coaching could help to slow cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study which found that a coaching regime that included computerised brain exercises could provide more cognitive benefit than Alzheimer’s drugs. Published online in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, research by the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) in Seattle … Read more
Retired university professor Rex Last is offering a free download of his book “The informal Dementia Carer – who cares?” which is described as a “hard-hitting defence” of the informal carer. Professor Last’s wife, who died in July, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s which developed into dementia. He says the book is a plea from a … Read more
For the first time NHS England has released data revealing that 34,412 people in England have been diagnosed with young onset dementia (YOD). But the NHS estimates that an additional 19,194 people in this age group may be undiagnosed, putting the potential total population of people with YOD at 53,606. “Until now, NHS England didn’t … Read more
It has been a “turbulent year” for health and social care, says the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in its annual assessment of the state of care in England. The “State of Care” report for 2023 says care is “gridlocked” as the cost-of-living crisis bites harder and workforce pressures have escalated. Adult social care providers continue … Read more
UCL and Tower Hamlets memory clinic psychiatrist Dr Nick Bass will lead Young Dementia Network’s November webinar. He and Jana Mikova, clinical nurse specialist in genomic medicine, will explain the North Thames Genomic Medicine Service Alliance transformation project to embed genomic investigation in mental health service-provided memory clinics. They will go on to discuss implications … Read more
As diagnosis rates continue to languish below government targets, a new parliamentary report shows that where you live has a massive impact on whether you get a timely diagnosis of dementia. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia has published “Raising the Barriers: An Action Plan to Tackle Regional Variation in Dementia Diagnosis in England,” … Read more
Research from UCL, just published in PLOS One, looked at modifiable dementia risk factors by ethnic group, found that hypertension conferred a higher risk of dementia in black people compared to white people, while a combination of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, low HDL cholesterol and sleep disorders conferred a higher risk on South Asian people. Compared … Read more