ADI Attitudes to Dementia global survey

Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) have launched their 2024 Attitudes Towards Dementia global survey. The survey is open to everyone and aims to build a picture about prevailing attitudes and stigma towards dementia.    The survey is currently available in English and many other languages, with more available soon.  Take the survey here: https://lse.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_71FXXETjeLzzvzE  Find out…

BBC Panorama – Alzheimer’s: A Turning Point?

The BBC’s Panorama programme has aired a documentary on dementia.  The BBC says of the content: “Around 900,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, and two-thirds of them have Alzheimer’s. For patients and their loved ones, it’s a devastating disease. But two new drugs have shown, for the first time, that the relentless…

Photobook Project Impact Report 

The Photobook Project, a Community Interest Company that supports people living with dementia to document, share and celebrate their experiences and perspectives through the lens of a single-use camera, has published its 2-year Impact Report.   The report details the key achievements and approach of the Photobook Project and shows how it links to the Five…

Opening Doors closure

Opening Doors, a charity launched in 2016 to support and advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals over 50, has announced its permanent closure on 29 February 2024.     Bridget Symonds, CEO of Opening Doors, said: “Despite the relentless efforts of our Board of Trustees and staff to secure a sustainable future for our work, the current economic environment…

Lewy Body Society Call for Grants 2024

The Lewy Body Society have opened their call for applications to their 2024 grant round.  They will fund PhD studentships, Junior Fellowships, Innovative awards and Project grants. Applications should increase understanding of Lewy body dementia as well as improving care for people living with this condition and their families and carers. It is anticipated that…

Wendy Mitchell Obituary

(31st January 1956 – 22nd February 2024) Written by Philly Hare Dr Wendy Mitchell BEM – campaigner, educator and best-selling author – has died aged 68, after living with dementia for almost a decade. Born in Wakefield in 1956, Wendy loved school and excelled at many sports, including tennis and running. A quiet and very…

Research links singing or playing a musical instrument with better brain health

New research from the University of Exeter has shown that people who join a choir or play a musical instrument have a better chance of retaining their memory and thinking skills as they age.  The research is part of the PROTECT study, which aims to understand how the brain ages and how to reduce the…

Dementia and End of Life Choices booklet

The Scottish Dementia Alumni, a group of campaigning friends in Scotland who each have a diagnosis of dementia, have published their latest booklet ‘Dementia and End of Life Choices’.  The Scottish Dementia Alumni says of their new publication:  “This booklet was an emotional creation, as we all needed to confront challenging concepts and our own…

Wendy Mitchell has died

Wendy Mitchell’s death has been announced by her daughters Sarah and Gemma – You can read the announcement here: https://x.com/WendyPMitchell/status/1760672737587236887?s=20  Wendy’s final blog is here: https://whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com/2024/02/22/my-final-hug-in-a-mug/  Reflections from the Dementia Community Team and Board:  We are deeply saddened to learn of Wendy’s death. By sharing her experiences of living with dementia she educated, supported and helped so…

Joy in Ageing Competition

Following on from the 2023 ‘Hope in Ageing’ poetry competition organised by the charity Embracing Age, 2024’s competition theme has been announced as ‘Joy in Ageing’.   The competition, which is open to anyone over 50, is inviting entries in various formats – poetry, art and multimedia.   The organisers say:    “We invite you to capture the…