Making Dementia Science Accessible: Using AI as a Tool for Public Engagement
Parallel 5
18 November, 2026 2:10 – 3:20 pmMini Presentations: Group 2
Emily Paremain
Network Manager, SPIN-D Dementia Network
University of Exeter
Stephen Kenndy
NA
NA
Summary
The SPIN-D (Sustainable Prevention, Innovation and Involvement for Dementia) Network Plus was established in 2024 with support from the ESRC, NIHR, and Alzheimer’s Society. The network aims to reduce dementia risk and improve people’s lived experiences of dementia by funding new initiatives and engaging communities across the UK and internationally. The network connects diverse communities—including individuals with lived experience of dementia, carers, community organisations, and researchers.
SPIN-D is leading some work around Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make relevant academic research more accessible. AI refers to computer programs designed to perform tasks such as reading, learning and summarising information. Academic papers relating to brain health, dementia risk, and post-diagnostic support are frequently presented as highly technical papers, aimed at an audience with a strong research background in the area.
We will present a framework we have developed which uses AI to translate complex research publications into accessible, clear summaries. A member of the SPIN-D Core Lived Experience Group will describe how people with dementia and carers have been involved in evaluating the project’s outputs. The focus of the analysis and method development has been on whether AI-generated summaries are accurate, readable, compliant with data protection and in line with SPIN-D’s inclusive language guidelines.
We will consider whether AI can be used as a tool to empower diverse audiences, ensuring people with lived experience can meaningfully engage with the latest science. Our goal is for this framework to evolve as the capabilities of AI also improve.