Galvanizing Rural and Coastal Dementia Research
Lunchtime Sessions 1
17 November, 2026 1:20 – 2:05 pmElectronic Posters
Emily Paremain
Network Manager, SPIN-D Dementia Network+
University of Exeter
Summary
The Rural and Coastal interest group – a cross-Dementia Network Plus initiative – was established to target effort on the systemic inequities disproportionately affecting remote communities. While absolute numbers of dementia cases remain higher in urban centres, rural and coastal communities face a disproportionate concentration of the condition. Driven by demographic aging and retirement migration, the prevalence rate per head of population in rural areas is often double that of urban areas. Yet, historic dementia research heavily favours urban environments, leaving a critical evidence gap where the demographic need is highest. The needs of this community also intersects with sparse geography and lower service infrastructure, exacerbating the rural penalty in care delivery.
The interest group is spearheading a campaign to map and highlight the logistical and social realities of dementia care, including transport and access issues, service gaps, language barriers, digital exclusion and underrepresentation in research. In coastal communities, these issues are compounded by seasonal tourism, where infrastructure is geared toward summer visitors, leaving residents isolated during winter months.
Through bringing together a diverse multi-disciplinary community of researchers, practitioners, and people with lived experience, the group is sharing knowledge and co-producing new research initiatives. By cataloguing project ideas and building strategic research capacity, the network aims to unlock funding streams and engage rural populations directly in the research process. Ultimately, this presentation seeks to build critical mass around a neglected geographic intersection. To enable real-time involvement during the session, we will deploy online polling and invite open floor discussion to gather immediate audience perspectives on geographic barriers. By bridging the gap between local isolation and national strategy, this session models how collaborative networks can cross-fertilise ideas and reshape care policy.