Dementia Researcher Vodcast

ADPD 2026 Conference Highlights - Part Two

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0100

This episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast continues our coverage from the AD PD Conference 2026 in Copenhagen, one of the largest international meetings focused on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Hosted by Professor Louise Serpell, the conversation brings together Athina Grigoriou, Dr Lauren O’Neill, and Dr Sofie Let Frandsen, each sharing highlights from across the conference.

The discussion spans a wide range of topics, from the biological role of alpha synuclein and mitochondrial dysfunction, through to emerging therapeutic targets and the growing importance of biomarkers. There is a strong focus on how diseases are more complex and varied than once thought, with increasing attention on stratification, personalised medicine, and early detection.

Alongside the science, the episode also reflects on the importance of patient voices, collaboration across disciplines, and the value of sharing both positive and negative research findings.

This is Part Two of our AD PD 2026 reflections, offering a thoughtful look at where the field is heading next.

ADPD Conference Website - adpd.kenes.com/

Top Takeaways:

Alpha synuclein may have a normal physiological role, not just a pathological one
Mitochondrial dysfunction remains central in Parkinson’s mechanisms
Biomarkers are key for both early detection and patient stratification
Diseases like Parkinson’s and dementia are highly heterogeneous
Personalised medicine is becoming a realistic goal, not just an idea
New therapeutic targets beyond dopamine are emerging
Early stage and presymptomatic intervention is a major focus
Patient and carer perspectives remain underrepresented but essential
Collaboration and openness, including sharing negative results, are vital
More diverse populations are needed to validate biomarkers globally

A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Follow us on social media:

Download and Register with our Community App:

www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

ADPD 2026 Conference Highlights - Part One

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0100

This episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast comes from the AD PD Conference 2026 in Copenhagen, bringing together global researchers to share the latest in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease research.

Hosted by Professor David Cash, the episode features Grace Thompson, Dr Marieta Vassileva, and Dr Alice Carstairs, each offering their own highlights from across the conference.

Rather than trying to cover everything, the conversation focuses on standout talks and emerging themes. These include advances in biomarkers, growing interest in co pathology, the role of neuroinflammation, and how new tools like AI and multiomics are changing how we understand disease.

Across the discussion, the group reflects on what new findings might mean for diagnosis, treatment, and the future direction of dementia research. There is also a strong sense of optimism, with the field moving towards combination therapies and earlier intervention.

This is Part One of a two part series capturing reflections from the conference.

ADPD Conference Website - adpd.kenes.com/

Top Takeaways:

Biomarkers are now central across diagnosis, prediction, and trials
Co pathology is a major theme, with diseases rarely existing in isolation
Tau is emerging as a key driver of cognitive decline
Microglia and neuroinflammation offer new therapeutic targets
Multiomics is helping uncover detailed disease mechanisms
AI is becoming essential for handling complex datasets
Early career researchers are playing a visible role at major conferences
Synaptic loss is strongly linked to cognitive decline
Combination therapies are increasingly seen as the future
The field feels more optimistic than in previous years

A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Follow us on social media:

Download and Register with our Community App:

www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Speech and Language Therapy in Primary Progressive Aphasia

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a group of language led dementias where communication difficulties appear before memory loss. Despite this, diagnosis can often take years and access to specialist support remains inconsistent.

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, Dr Annalise Rahman Filipiak speaks with Professor Jason Warren, Dr Anna Volkmer and Dr Jacqueline Kindell about the role of speech and language therapy in diagnosing and supporting people living with PPA. The discussion explores why diagnosis is often delayed, how speech and language therapists contribute to multidisciplinary assessment and care pathways, and why early referral can make a meaningful difference for patients and families.

The conversation also looks at international differences in access to services, the importance of communication support across the course of the condition, and the growing global movement to improve awareness through Primary Progressive Aphasia Awareness Day.

PPA Awareness Day 2026 - speechtherapyppa.com/ppa-awareness-day

About the guests

Jason Warren - Professor of Neurology at University College London and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. His research focuses on dementia, language disorders and diagnostic markers for primary progressive aphasia.

Anna Volkmer - Associate Professor and Consultant Speech and Language Therapist at University College London. Her work focuses on communication interventions and support for people living with primary progressive aphasia and their families.

Jacqueline Kindell - Speech and Language Therapist and Lecturer at The University of Manchester with extensive clinical and research experience in dementia and communication disorders.

Key Takeaways

Primary progressive aphasia is a group of dementias where language difficulties appear before memory problems, which often makes diagnosis harder.
Diagnosis can take several years because many dementia assessment tools focus on memory rather than communication and language.
Speech and language therapists play an important role in diagnosing PPA by assessing language, communication and motor speech changes.
Speech and language therapy is currently the main treatment available to help people with PPA manage communication difficulties.
Early referral to speech and language therapy helps people and families adapt communication strategies and plan for future changes.
Access to specialist speech and language therapy services varies widely depending on where people live.
Communication support can improve quality of life and reduce wider pressures on health services by improving understanding between patients, families and clinicians.
Primary Progressive Aphasia Awareness Day aims to improve recognition of the condition and promote early referral to speech and language therapy.

A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Follow us on social media:

Download and Register with our Community App:

www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Rainwater Prize Winners: Advancing Tau Research

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Professor Louise Serpell is joined by 2026 Rainwater Prize winners Professor Dennis Dickson, Professor Melissa Murray and Dr Marc Busche.

They talk about their work and the science that led to them earning this much deserved award, reflecting on decades of research into tau and its role in neurodegenerative disease. The conversation explores how tau functions in the healthy brain, how it becomes harmful in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, and why certain brain regions are especially vulnerable.

The discussion covers different forms of tau, including soluble species that may disrupt how neurons fire before visible tangles appear. Brain banking, imaging and fluid biomarkers are highlighted as key tools for understanding disease differences and improving diagnosis. The importance of rare MAPT mutations and what they can teach us about future treatments is also explored.

Alongside the science, there are thoughtful reflections on mentorship, risk taking and the value of asking ambitious questions in dementia research.

Key Takeaways

Tau is essential but context dependent. It is vital for normal brain function, yet changes in its chemistry, structure or location can drive neurodegeneration.
Tangles are not the whole story. Soluble tau species can disrupt neuronal firing, even in single cells, before visible aggregates appear.
Selective vulnerability defines tauopathies. Disorders such as PSP consistently affect specific brain regions & cell types, including glia, & we do not fully understand why.
One biomarker does not fit all. Tau PET and fluid markers behave differently across Alzheimer’s disease and primary tauopathies, reflecting structural differences in tau.
Progress depends on bold science. High risk experiments, strong mentorship and access to the right tools are essential for moving the field forward.

Find out more about the Rainwater Foundation:

https://rainwatercharitablefoundation.org/

Follow us on social media:

Download and Register with our Community App:

https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Life As A Researcher With ADHD

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Research Podcast, host Dr Gemma Lace is joined by guests, Dr Eric Hill from Loughborough University, Kalliopi Mavromati from University of Glasgow, Natalie Wickett from Simon Fraser University and Dr Kate Harris from Newcastle University.

Together they discuss the intersection of ADHD and research, exploring personal experiences, misconceptions, and coping strategies. The conversation highlights the unique challenges faced by researchers with ADHD, the importance of understanding and empathy in academic settings, and the various ways individuals navigate their symptoms. The discussion also touches on the role of medication and the need for tailored approaches to support neurodiverse individuals in academia.

Key takeaways

ADHD is often misunderstood and is much more than visible hyperactivity.
People with ADHD do not lack attention, but can struggle to direct it consistently.
Hyperfocus can lead to intense productivity, followed by emotional or physical crashes.
Academic culture, with its constant evaluation and rejection, can amplify ADHD challenges.
Rejection sensitivity can feel physically painful and trigger fight or flight responses.
Clear expectations and structured communication reduce anxiety and procrastination.
Breaking work into smaller deadlines can support momentum and reduce overwhelm.
Medication can be life changing for some, but it is not a complete solution on its own.
Hormonal shifts can significantly influence ADHD symptoms, particularly for women.
Curiosity, empathy and flexibility create more supportive research environments for neurodivergent colleagues.

Follow us on social media:

Download and Register with our Community App:

https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Detecting UTIs Early in Dementia

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast, host Adam Smith chats with with Professor Paul Freemont and researcher Tom Adam from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London to discuss the critical issue of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in individuals living with dementia.

The conversation highlights the complexities of diagnosing UTIs in people living with dementia, where communication barriers and atypical presentations often lead to misdiagnosis and unnecessary hospitalisations. The guests emphasise the urgent need for improved detection methods, as UTIs can exacerbate cognitive decline and lead to severe health complications. They talk about their work to develop and introduce an innovative novel point-of-care diagnostic device designed specifically for dementia patients, which aims to facilitate early detection of UTIs in a home and care home setting, thereby reducing the reliance on traditional symptom reporting and hospital visits.

Follow us on social media:

Download and Register with our Community App:

https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Three Researchers. One Disease. Lewy Body Dementia

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, we focus on Lewy body dementia and why it remains one of the most misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed forms of dementia.

Released ahead of Lewy Body Dementia Day on 28 January, the conversation explores what Lewy body dementia is, how it sits between existing diagnostic categories, and why it often takes years for people to receive the right diagnosis.

Host Dr Sam Moxon is joined by three researchers working on Lewy body dementia from very different angles. Dr Ece Bayram, Assistant Research Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz, whose work explores differences in risk, progression and diagnosis across sex, gender, ethnicity and race. Dr Joe Kane, Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Lecturer, who combines clinical care with research into diagnosis, service delivery and clinical trials. Dr David Koss, Lecturer and Group Lead at the University of Dundee, studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Lewy body dementia

Together, they unpack why Lewy body dementia does not follow a neat clinical pathway, how overlapping symptoms can lead to confusion with Alzheimer disease or Parkinson disease, and why uncertainty in diagnosis affects everything from care planning to research outcomes.

The discussion highlights the real world consequences of misdiagnosis, including inappropriate treatments, faster than expected progression, and the emotional toll on families and care partners. The guests also reflect on how limited awareness of Lewy body dementia continues to shape health services, research recruitment and public understanding.

Across the episode, a clear theme emerges: Lewy body dementia cannot be understood from a single perspective. Clinical insight, biological research and population level studies all need to connect if progress is to be made.

Key takeaways

Lewy body dementia includes dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia
Symptoms extend beyond memory and can include hallucinations, sleep disturbance, fluctuations and movement changes
Diagnosis is frequently delayed due to overlapping features with other dementias
Misdiagnosis can lead to harmful treatments and inappropriate care planning
Care partners play a central role in both diagnosis and ongoing support
Research cohorts often lack diversity, limiting understanding of the
Cellular mechanisms such as alpha synuclein dysfunction remain an important area of study
Early and accurate diagnosis improves care, planning and research quality
Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to understanding the disease
Public awareness is key to improving detection, funding and outcomes

Follow us on social media:

Download and Register with our Community App:

https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

UKDRI Connectome Conference Highlights

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0100

This episode shares highlights from the UK Dementia Research Institute (UKDRI) Connectome Conference. Host Dr Anna Mallach is joined by Dr Dayne Beccano Kelly, Dr Beth Eyre, and Tom Adam to reflect on talks, posters, and discussions that stood out.

The conversation covers lived experience sessions, keynote talks, early career presentations, and how informal conversations and parallel sessions shaped ideas and potential collaborations. The episode offers a snapshot of the breadth of work presented across the institute and the importance of connecting people as well as science.

Find out more about the UKDRI:

https://www.ukdri.ac.uk/

Watch our YouTube Shorts Series, with conference attendees presenting their posters in under 3 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUI1GHB4EvRFJl8tRC-wq5RxkDKF9twU

Follow us on social media:

Download and Register with our Community App:

https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Twelve Research Fails of Christmas 💥🧪

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This festive special flips the script on polished papers and perfect protocols. Dr Fiona McLean is joined by Dr Ian Harrison, Dr Soraya Meftah, and Dr Kate Harris to share the research moments that did not go to plan but taught them far more than success ever could. From ELISAs gone rogue and antibodies that refuse to behave, to admin systems that quietly derail months of planning, this episode is a reminder that real research is messy, unpredictable, and occasionally hilarious. The conversation moves easily between lab disasters, student supervision realities, near misses with fire, and the emotional rollercoaster of academic life. It is light hearted, reassuring, and (hopefully) relatable. A permission slip to laugh, reflect, and remember that being wrong is often part of doing good science. Merry Christmas from all of us! -- Top takeaways - Most experiments do not fail, they redirect - Unexpected results often open better research questions - Rushing protocols almost always backfires - Admin failures can be as stressful as lab failures - Talking openly about what went wrong saves time and money - Students learn more from troubleshooting than from perfect results - Publishing negative findings can help an entire field - Being wrong is built into the scientific method - Giving yourself time and mental space matters - If no one was hurt, it is probably recoverable A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Research Fails 02:07 Learning from Mistakes in Research 04:53 Unexpected Outcomes and Their Value 05:53 The Importance of Data in Research 08:38 Navigating Challenges in Experiments 11:33 The Role of Collaboration in Research 14:40 Discovering New Avenues from Failures 15:40 The Importance of Literature in Research 16:41 Experiences of Discovery and Optimization in Research 17:51 Near-Death Experiences in the Lab 19:34 Lessons from Lab Mishaps 20:57 Administrative Chaos in Research 26:52 The Culture of Silence Around Research Failures 33:16 Navigating Criticism and Feedback in Academia 36:51 Navigating Experimental Challenges 38:43 The Temptation of Over-Experimenting 40:03 Learning from ELISA Mishaps

🎅 Should Santa be Running a Research Lab? Festive Charity Debate

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This festive charity debate asks a question nobody saw coming but everyone had an opinion on. Would Santa Claus make a good principal investigator? Recorded live in the Dementia Researcher Community, this Christmas special brings humour, sharp thinking, and real reflections on leadership, research culture, ethics, and academia. -- The debate is hosted by Adam Smith and Dr Anna Volkmer. Speaking for the motion is Rebecca Williams, PhD researcher exploring FTD and apathy. Speaking against the motion is Dr Connor Richardson, Research Fellow working in data science, epidemiology, and machine learning in dementia research. Through opening statements, rebuttals, and audience questions, the discussion ranges from logistics and mentorship to ethics, transparency, wellbeing, and what good leadership really looks like in research. While lighthearted on the surface, the debate reveals some very familiar academic tensions beneath the tinsel. Vote now: 🎅 https://8k3qel8nuxc.typeform.com/to/tXVIkWRe -- This episode was recorded as a charity event in support of Dementia UK and their Admiral Nurses, who provide vital support to people living with dementia and their families, especially during the Christmas period. If you enjoyed the debate and would like to support their work, you can donate here: 👉 https://buy.stripe.com/28EfZj1G37zIcrF2wA77O00 Thank you for listening, watching, and supporting dementia research and care. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Santa Clause, The North Pole or Dementia Research.

Beyond the Pill: Methodology in Dementia Clinical Trials

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast we look at how dementia clinical trials reach far beyond medicines. Host Dr Annalise Rahman Filipiak speaks with Dr Elizabeth Rhodus, Dr Inga Antonsdottir, and Dr Elisa França Resende about entering the field, working with behavioural and community based interventions, and learning the skills needed to deliver rigorous, reproducible studies that still respect the individual needs of participants. The guests discuss their routes into trials, what surprised them, what they wish they had known earlier, and how mentorship and collaboration shaped their progress. They touch on trial design, regulatory processes, cultural considerations, and the value of early career networks that support researchers across different countries. -- Topics covered 🔹What early career researchers find challenging about trial methods 🔹Working in homes and communities 🔹Designing sensory and environmental interventions 🔹Literacy based trials in Brazil and issues of inclusion 🔹Mentorship, networks and training programmes 🔹Trial rigour, manuals, assessments and reproducibility 🔹Regulatory hurdles and timeframes 🔹Practical advice for researchers wanting to deliver a trial as part of their research -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dementia Research and Clinical Trials 05:01 Early Career Researchers in Clinical Trials 11:31 The Role of Mentorship in Research 18:46 Innovative Interventions Beyond Pharmacology 25:41 Community Engagement and Methodological Considerations 33:32 Overcoming Barriers in Clinical Trials 38:22 Advice for Aspiring Clinical Trialists 41:00 Whimsical Research Questions and Closing Thoughts #dementiaresearch #methodology #dementia #ClinicalTrials @alzassociation #ISTAART

XXplored - The Midlife Transition: Menopause and the Brain

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher - Xxplored Women’s Brain Health podcast, host Dr Laura Stankeviciute speaks with Professor Claudia Barth from Charite University and Dr Gillian Coughlan from Harvard Medical School to examine the midlife transition, menopause and its significance for women’s brain health. Together they outline what the menopause truly involves across the early, late, and post stages, and explain how hormonal change affects brain structure, energy use, mood, and cognition. They also explore why this period may coincide with greater vulnerability to later Alzheimer’s disease and discuss the role of early or surgical menopause, symptom severity, and gaps in existing research cohorts. The episode highlights the need for richer reproductive data, real time biomarker studies, and closer collaboration with digital health tools to better capture women’s lived experiences. It reflects a growing wave of research and public interest aimed at improving understanding, support, and evidence based care during this important life stage. -- Takeaways ● Menopause is a long transition shaped by fluctuating hormones. ● Cognitive and mood symptoms reflect changes in brain networks. ● Earlier menopause is linked with increased later Alzheimer’s risk. ● Major research cohorts lack detailed reproductive data. ● New real time studies are beginning to track symptoms and biomarkers. ● Digital tools will be key for future research. ● Better global representation is needed across studies. ● Momentum is building to close long standing gaps in women’s health. -- Find bios on all our speakers, a full transcript of the show and more on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Menopause and Research Focus 07:25 Understanding Menopause: Definitions and Stages 16:27 Menopause and Alzheimer's Disease: A Critical Connection 22:43 Understanding Menopause and Brain Health 25:21 Historical Blind Spots in Alzheimer's Research 26:38 The Importance of Reproductive Variables 31:46 Biomarkers and Methodologies in Women's Health Research 35:28 Industry Collaboration in Research 39:00 Personal Reflections on Women's Brain Health

Exploring Psychotherapy for People with Dementia

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode, host Dr Anna Volkmer is joined by Dr Alys Griffiths, Sophie Jeffery, and Esther Whittlesea Reed to explore a two-year Alzheimer’s Society project testing #psychotherapy for people with dementia. Together, they discuss the importance of therapy in #dementia care, the barriers to access, the development of new therapist competencies, and the lived experience of psychotherapy from both clinical and personal perspectives. -- Takeaways 🔹Psychotherapy can provide meaningful outcomes for people with dementia. 🔹Barriers to accessing therapy include stigma and lack of understanding. 🔹Core competencies for therapists are essential for effective care. 🔹Family therapy is crucial for supporting families affected by dementia. 🔹Training for therapists should include specific skills for working with dementia patients. 🔹Research findings highlight the need for better communication about therapy options. 🔹The importance of lived experience in shaping research and therapy. 🔹Future research should focus on improving access to therapy for families. 🔹There is a need for a cultural shift in how dementia is perceived in therapy. -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Project Overview 04:40 Background and Rationale for Psychotherapy in Dementia 09:20 Personal Experiences and Expectations of Therapy 13:52 Study Design and Methodology 18:33 Roles and Contributions of the Research Team 23:16 Collaborative Insights from Lived Experience 24:42 Key Findings on Psychotherapy for Dementia 27:58 Core Competencies for Therapists 31:45 Understanding Dementia as a Traumatic Life Event 34:46 Future Directions in Dementia Research 40:21 Advocating for Comprehensive Support in Dementia Care

Supporting Young Carers in Dementia

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, host Dr Anna Volkmer, Associate Professor at UCL and Speech and Language Therapist explores the experiences of young carers in families affected by dementia, the challenges they face, the support they receive, and what more could and should be done. Anna is joined by Dr Patricia Masterson Algar a Lecturer at Bangor University, leading new research funded by Health and Care Research Wales to develop a peer support programme for young carers. Hannah Gardner a Consultant Admiral Nurse for Children and Young People at Dementia UK, advocating nationally for better awareness and support and Gareth and Euan Heslop, father and son who share their lived experience of caring for a wife and mother with young-onset dementia. Together they discuss the often overlooked impact of dementia on children and teenagers, the stigma and isolation young carers face, and how families, schools, and professionals can work together to provide better understanding and support. -- In this episode: • The hidden realities of growing up as a young carer. • Stigma, awareness, and the importance of talking openly about dementia. • How schools and communities can recognise and support young carers. • Why services must consider the whole family, not just the person diagnosed. • The role of peer support and what new research hopes to achieve. • Voices from lived experience — what young carers really need. 🎧 Listen to hear how families, researchers, and practitioners are working together to ensure young carers are seen, heard, and supported. -- The study discussed in the podcast is now open to recruitment. If you live in England or Wales and are aged 11-16 and involved in the care of someone living with dementia get in touch p.m.algar@bangor.ac.uk -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

XXplored - Why Sex Matters & What we've Ignored in Brain Ageing

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In our first episode of the XXplored Women's Brain Health podcast, our resident expert and host Dr Laura Stankeviciute from University of Gothenburg engages with leading neuroscientists Professor Liisa Galea from University of Toronto and Dr Maria Teresa Ferretti from Karolinska Institutet to explore the critical intersection of sex, gender, and brain health. Together our guests discuss their personal journeys into neuroscience, the biological differences in brain health, the impact of hormonal changes, and the vulnerability of women to Alzheimer's disease. The conversation also addresses the barriers to inclusion in clinical research, the implications of neurosexism, and the importance of precision medicine. The episode emphasises the need for early diagnosis and the societal stigma surrounding women's health issues, while advocating for a more inclusive and evidence-based approach to brain health research and treatment. This first show sets the scene for what will be an ongoing series of shows, delivered within the Dementia Researcher podcast. Takeaways ● Sex differences shape the brain at every level – structure, hormones, immunity, and function. ● Menopause is a key vulnerability window for women’s brain ageing and Alzheimer’s risk. ● Women face higher Alzheimer’s prevalence, not just because they live longer. ● Women were excluded from trials for decades, leaving dangerous gaps in knowledge. ● Fear of neurosexism and misunderstandings of feminism slowed progress. ● Precision medicine must include sex and gender or risk missing early diagnoses. ● Research funding and clinical guidelines lag far behind need. ● Momentum is building: younger researchers and public interest are pushing change. ● Core message: Different ≠ inferior. Diversity drives discovery. -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of University College London, Dementia Researcher or its funders. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Conference Lightning Talks: Preparation to Performance

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, host Adam Smith (Programme Director at UCL) is joined by Dr Sam Moxon, Dr Lindsey Sinclair, and Dr Ece Bayram to explore the art of delivering lightning talks. Together they share practical advice on structuring short presentations, handling nerves, designing impactful slides, and engaging diverse audiences. With personal anecdotes and strategies from their own conference experiences, this discussion offers valuable guidance for early career researchers preparing to present their work with clarity and confidence. -- Takeaways • Lightning talks are concise presentations, usually under five minutes. • Strong preparation is essential for success. • An engaging delivery leaves a lasting impression. • Slides should support the message, not overwhelm it. • Rehearse to the clock to stay on time. • Personal touches help connect with the audience. • Focus on one key message instead of overloading with detail. • Use clear, accessible language throughout. • Treat the format as a teaser that sparks curiosity. • Lightning talks are excellent opportunities for early career researchers. -- If you would like to deliver a lightning talk at the ARUK Conference or AAIC Neuroscience Next Conference in February 2026 – get your abstracts submitted by October 22nd 2025. https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research/for-researchers/research-conference/abstracts-2026 https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/aaic-neuroscience-next-2026-manchester-uk/ -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

The Road To AAIC Neuroscience Next 2026

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast, host Adam Smith discusses the upcoming AAIC Neuroscience Next Conference with guests Tricia Nicholson, Dr Amanda Heslgrave, and Kalli Mavromati. They explore the unique hybrid format of the conference, which combines in-person and virtual elements, making it accessible to a global audience. The conversation highlights the focus on biomarkers in dementia research, the importance of early career researchers, and the abstract submission process, providing valuable tips for potential presenters. The episode emphasizes the conference's goal of fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge within the dementia research community. Register to attend: https://www.alz.org/neurosciencenext/overview.asp -- Takeaways: • The AAIC Neuroscience Next Conference is free and accessible to all. Taking place across 6 countries and online from the 23rd to 26th February 2026. • The UK hub will focus on biomarker advancements in dementia diagnosis, with a full in-person conference on the 26th February. • The conference aims to support early career researchers in dementia research. • A unique hybrid format allows for both in-person and virtual participation. • Abstract submissions open on September 22nd and are encouraged from all researchers. From basic science to dementia care. • The UK Hub is particularly keen for researchers to submit abstract in biomarker domains. o Fluid Biomarkers o Cognitive Assessments o Physiological and Behavioural Biomarkers o Neuroimaging o Technology Biomarkers -- For more information on the global event visit: https://www.alz.org/neurosciencenext/overview.asp For information on the UK Hub visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/aaic-neuroscience-next-2026-manchester-uk/ -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of University College London, Dementia Researcher or its funders. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Caring, Connecting, Changing - Stories of Dementia and Research

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode we welcome three GBHI Fellows: guest host and filmmaker Michelle Memran, documentary photographer Alex Kornhuber, and social sciences academic Dr Sonata Mačiulskytė. Together they explore the ways in which caregiving, creativity, and change come together in the context of dementia. Drawing on their experiences of supporting loved ones with dementia, they reflect on how these personal journeys have influenced their professional work and shaped their understanding of the disease. The discussion touches on the early signs of dementia, the transformation of relationships through caregiving, and the importance of early diagnosis. The conversation also considers the significance of documenting caregiving experiences and the need to reshape the narrative around dementia. By sharing stories and creative perspectives, the guests highlight how shifting this narrative can foster greater awareness, empathy, and understanding. -- Takeaways • Caregiving is a deeply personal journey that shapes professional work. • Recognising early signs of dementia can be challenging but crucial. • Relationships with loved ones can transform through the caregiving experience. • Early diagnosis can lead to better care and understanding. • Documenting caregiving experiences can foster connection and awareness. • Language and narrative around dementia need to change for better understanding. • Sharing personal stories can help others feel less alone in their caregiving journey. • The experience of dementia is unique to each individual and family. • Advocacy for brain health should start early in life. For more information on the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health Program visit: https://www.gbhi.org/ -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Failing Forward: What My Grant Rejection Taught Me

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Grant rejection is part of every researcher’s journey — and it never stops, no matter your career stage. In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, host Dr Fiona McLean (Alzheimer’s Research UK Fellow at the University of Dundee, studying links between metabolic syndrome, learning and memory) speaks with: -- Dr Sarah Marzi — Senior Lecturer at King’s College London and UK DRI group leader, researching the epigenome in neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Kate Harris — Research Fellow at Newcastle University, soon to be Senior Lecturer, specialising in drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly — UK DRI Future Leader Fellow and group leader at Cardiff University, focusing on synaptic dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease. Together they share personal experiences of failed applications, from crushing first rejections to the resilience that comes with time, blending honest stories with practical strategies. -- In this episode: 💬 First-hand stories of fellowship and project grant rejections 📝 How to use reviewer feedback — even when it’s unhelpful ✍️ Why writing style and clarity can change your funding chances 🎯 Choosing funders whose remit truly fits your work 🍦 Coping strategies, from ice cream to badminton to music 💪 Building resilience and knowing when to rework or drop an idea 🤝 The value of mentors, networks and peer support 🎧 Listen to learn why rejection isn’t the end — and how it can be the start of a better grant. -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

AAIC Day Four 2025 Highlights

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) day two and day three of the main event in Toronto and Online, 27the - 31st July. -- Dr Shea Andrews, Assistant Professor at University of California San Francisco hosts the show with special guests: Dr Joe Butler, NIHR ARC Research Fellow at University of Sunderland Dr Lindsey Sinclair, Clinical Research Fellow & Consultant in Old Age Psychiatrist at University of Bristol Dr Harriet Demnitz-King, Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London -- The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. Main plenary talks from the day came from Professor Sharon Naismith from University of Sydney, Australia giving a talk titled "Waking Up to the Importance of Sleep in MCI and AD" and Professor Katrin Andreasson, M.D. with a talk titled "Restoring Hippocampal Glucose Metabolism Rescues Cognition Across Alzheimer’s Disease Pathologies". -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC Day Three 2025 Highlights

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) day two and day three of the main event in Toronto and Online, 27the - 31st July. -- Dr Connor Richardson, NIHR / Alzheimer's Society Dem Comm Research Fellow from University of Newcastle hosts the show with special guests: Sára Zsadányi, PhD Student at Sant Pau Memory Unit – Neuroimaging Core and Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona Dr Tatiana Giovannucci, Alzheimer's Association Research Fellow Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research at Alzheimer's Society The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. -- Main plenary talks from the day came from Professor Inhee Mook-Jung Seoul National University, Korea with a talk titled "The Gut-Brain Axis in Alzheimer’s Disease: Unraveling Pathogenesis and Exploring Novel Therapeutic Strategies" and Dr Juan Fortea, Memory Unit Director — Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Spain with a talk titled "Alzheimer’s Disease in Down Syndrome". @alzassociation #aaic25 #aaic -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC Day Two 2025 Highlights

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) first and second day of the main event in Toronto and Online, 27the - 31st July. -- Dr James Brady, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Tasmania hosts the show with special guests: Dr Lucy Stirland, Academic Old Age Psychiatrist at The University of Edinburgh Dr Isabel Castanho, Instructor at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School Felix Wittmann, Research Fellow & PhD candidate at Leipzig University -- The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. Main plenary talks from the day came from Professor Katerina Akassoglou, University of California, San Francisco, United States exploring Neurovascular Interactions in Alzheimer’s Disease: From Mechanisms to Treatments + Professor Maria Grazia Spillantini, from University of Cambridge United Kingdom for her plenary titled 'The Multiple Facets of Tau Pathology'. -- #AAIC25 @alzassociation -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC Day One 2025 Highlights

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) pre-conference and first day of the main event in Toronto and Online, 27the - 31st July. -- Dr Tamlyn Watermeyer hosts the show with special guests: Dr Emily Ho, Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Dr Laura Stankeviciute, Postdoctoral Researcher & Scientific Project Manager at University of Gothenburg Joseph Russell, NIHR Research Assistant at Northumbria University -- The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. Main plenary talk from the day came from Sylvia Villeneuve, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry — McGill University, Canada talk about Biomarker and Clinical Trajectories of Preclinical AD. -- #AAIC25 @alzassociation -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

RELAY Podcast - Neuroimaging PIA

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the sixth season of the Dementia Researcher X ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast. This series features interviews with ISTAART PIA committee members talking about their research, the research landscape of their fields, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields. -- In this Relay Podcast episode, Dr Colin Groot interviews Dr Marta Del Campo, Head Fluid Biomarker Facility; Ramón y Cajal Research fellow at BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center and chair of the ISTAART Biofluid Based Biomarkers PIA. Together, they talk about recent advances in fluid biomarkers in dementia research, and explore the growing role of plasma biomarkers, integration with clinical trials, challenges with reproducibility and diversity, and the promise of proteomics and AI. Marta also reflects on the work of ISTAART, their plans for AAIC, the value of publishing negative findings, and why ISTAART offers vital opportunities for early career researchers. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

RELAY Podcast - Diversity and Disparities PIA

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the sixth season of the Dementia Researcher X ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast. This series features interviews with ISTAART PIA committee members talking about their research, the research landscape of their fields, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields. -- In this episode, Professor Owen Carmichael talks with Dr Shana Stites, Assistant Professor at University of Pennsylvania and Chair of the ISTAART Diversity and Disparities PIA. In this discussion they explore the importance of inclusive participation in dementia research, the challenges of equitable access to research and care, and the shift toward more community-engaged approaches. The conversation highlights barriers like limited access to healthcare, the ethics of stipends, and the value of transparency, reciprocity, and representation in Alzheimer's disease and related research. They also talk about the wider work and aims of the PIA and what they have planned for the upcoming AAIC. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

RELAY Podcast - Nutrition, Metabolism and Dementia PIA

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the sixth season of the Dementia Researcher X ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast. This series features interviews with ISTAART PIA committee members talking about their research, the research landscape of their fields, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields. -- In this episode, Professor Natalie Phillips interviews Professor Owen Carmichael, Director of Biomedical Imaging at Pennington Biomedical Research Center and incoming chair of the iSTAART Nutrition, Metabolism, and Dementia PIA. Owen shares his journey from computer science to neuroscience, and how his imaging work investigates how diet and metabolism shape dementia risk. They explore the promise of precision nutrition, the challenges of studying lifelong dietary exposure, and the vital role of olfaction and sensory health in nutrition. The episode also discusses the importance of inclusive research and lifelong data to understand and prevent cognitive decline. The show rounds-up the PIAs upcoming work at the AAIC, and the work of the PIA. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

RELAY Podcast - Sensory Health and Cognition PIA

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the sixth season of the Dementia Researcher X ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast. This series features interviews with ISTAART PIA committee members talking about their research, the research landscape of their fields, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields. -- In this episode, Dr Marta del Campo interviews Natalie Phillips, Chair of the Sensory Health and Cognition PIA and Professor of Psychology at Concordia University. Together, they discuss the role of hearing, vision, and olfaction in cognitive ageing and dementia risk. They explore mechanisms behind these links, from cognitive load to social isolation, and discuss emerging biomarker research, challenges in clinical implementation, and how this new ISTAART PIA is fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. The episode also previews upcoming activities at AAIC and highlights opportunities for early career researchers to get involved. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

RELAY Podcast - Biofluid Based Biomarkers PIA

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

RELAY Podcast - Atypical Alzheimer's Disease PIA

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the sixth season of the Dementia Researcher X ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast. This series features interviews with ISTAART PIA committee members talking about their research, the research landscape of their fields, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields. -- In this episode, Dr Alexa Pichet-Binette interviews Dr Colin Groot, an expert in neuroimaging and atypical Alzheimer's disease from Amsterdam University Medical Centre. They discuss the clinical and biological diversity within atypical variants such as posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), language and behavioural forms, and CBSAD. Colin shares insights into ongoing studies on tau PET, mortality, subtyping PCA, and how ISTAART’s Atypical PIA is pushing forward international collaboration and inclusivity in clinical trials and diagnostic criteria. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. -- To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

Delirium and Dementia: Clearing the Fog of Misunderstanding

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this special episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali is joined by Dr Ahmad Khundakar (Teesside University), Anna Wilson (South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), and Professor Mani Santhana Krishnan (Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust) to explore the complex and often misunderstood relationship between delirium and dementia. The conversation examines how these conditions overlap, why they’re frequently confused, and the consequences of misdiagnosis, particularly in hospital and care settings. Drawing on academic research, clinical practice, and personal experience, the guests discuss how delirium presents, the tools used to detect it, and what needs to change to improve care and outcomes. Listen to this podcast to learn about subtypes like hypoactive delirium, hear real-world examples of how family involvement can make a difference, and discover why non-drug interventions are so important. This episode is an essential listen for anyone working in dementia care or research, as well as for caregivers and families. -- For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, check out the video version in Spotify, YouTube or on our website. -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Minds in Motion: Dr Sarah Kate Smith - Brain Health & Dementia Prevention

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers. In this final episode of the current series, Trevor Salomon is joined by Dr Pippa Collins from the University of Southampton to interview Dr Sarah Kate Smith. Sarah is based at The University of Manchester and NIHR ARC Greater Manchester, and is an NIHR and Alzheimer’s Society Demm Comm Fellow. Her work focuses on brain health and dementia prevention, particularly examining how physical activity in midlife could reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life. With a background in psychology and a PhD in health services research, Sarah brings expertise in creative and inclusive research methodologies that enable the involvement of people living with dementia and their families. In this conversation, we explore the challenges of dementia prevention research, how risk reduction differs from the idea of outright prevention, and the importance of public and patient involvement in designing ethical and accessible interventions. Sarah also shares insight into an upcoming project exploring access to brain health clinics among minority ethnic groups and reflects on her career journey, motivations, and what keeps her going. - Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research. -- For information on the Fellowship visit: http://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to listen rather than watch, check out our website, or your favourite podcast app. -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Clinical opportunity for Blood-based Biomarkers

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast, host Dr Amanda Heslegrave explores the rapidly evolving field of blood-based biomarkers in dementia research. These biomarkers offer exciting potential for quicker, more accessible dementia diagnosis, raising crucial questions about clinical readiness and implementation. -- Amanda is joined by two expert guests: Dr Jay Amin, University of Southampton – A clinician specialising in dementia, researching inflammation and immune biomarkers, particularly focused on diagnostics and prognosis. Dr Mark Roskey, Quanterix – Senior VP involved in developing ultra-sensitive biomarker detection technologies crucial for dementia research. Together, they discuss current developments, practical hurdles, ethical considerations, and future prospects of blood-based biomarkers, sharing perspectives from clinical, research, and industry viewpoints. -- Topics Covered: 🔷 Overview and current landscape of blood-based biomarkers 🔷 Technological advancements and scientific challenges 🔷 Ethical implications of early diagnosis 🔷 Role of collaboration between academia, clinics, and industry Essential Resources: Dementia Research Institute’s Biomarker Factory - https://bit.ly/3ZRggYR Quanterix Simoa technology - https://bit.ly/43wfanF ADAPT-AD and READ-OUT Studies - https://bit.ly/4dP2fRr -- For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather listen, headover to YouTube, Spotify or our website. -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher --

Minds In Motion: Dr Pippa Collins - Frailty, Dementia, and End-of-life Care

Fri, 23 May 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers. Over the next few months, we will be releasing the second series, hearing from five of the Dem Comm Fellows each taking e a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Chair of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor. -- In show Trevor is joined by Dr Katie Breheny from Bristol University and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) West to interview Dr Pippa Collins. Pippa Collins is an Advanced Clinical Practitioner and NIHR / Alzheimer’s Society Dem Comm Fellow based at the University of Southampton and NIHR ARC Wessex. Her research primarily addresses the critical aspects of end-of-life care, frailty, and dementia. In this discussion, we explore her work aimed at enhancing the recognition and management of the end-of-life period for people living with dementia. Pippa highlights the importance of shifting from traditional medicalised models of palliative care towards a holistic and personalised "palliative approach," focusing on recognising individual trajectories and vulnerabilities. Her goal is to foster improvements in dementia care practices by better educating healthcare professionals, supporting families, and integrating patient-centred care pathways that respect each individual's emotional, social, and cognitive needs. -- Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research. -- For information on the Fellowship visit: http://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website & on YouTube. -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Make Your Mark: Elevating Your Academic Visibility - BNA2025 Festival of Neuroscience

Mon, 12 May 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Recorded live at the BNA 2025 Festival of Neuroscience, this special episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast explores how researchers can build visibility in authentic and meaningful ways. Host Dr Emma Yhnell from Cardiff University is joined by Dr Ian Harrison from University College London, Dr Ekta Patel from the Medicines Discovery Catapult and Professor Fiona Ducotterd from the ARUK Drug Discovery Institute at UCL. They provide practical and personal discussion on raising your academic profile — both online and in real life. Together, they reflect on the challenges and benefits of self-promotion, share strategies to overcome imposter syndrome, and offer advice on making the most of networking opportunities. They also talk about the power of storytelling, volunteering, and showing up as your real self in academic spaces. Whether you're just getting started or trying to take the next step in your career, this episode offers relatable insights and actionable tips. -- Top Takeaways: ✍️ Start small — writing blog posts, joining a committee, or talking to someone new at a conference all count. 🔁 Reframe self-promotion as sharing your work with purpose and generosity. 🧱 Visibility builds confidence, not the other way around — and it’s something you can practise over time. 🗣️ Your perspective matters — you don’t need to be the loudest voice, just an authentic one. 🤝 The people behind the science are just as important as the science itself. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. You can also find a video version on our website on YouTube and in Spotify. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Building Insights Brick by Brick: Lego Serious Play

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast, host Dr Anna Volkmer explores the use of Lego Serious Play as a research tool / methodology in dementia and neurodegenerative disease studies. Traditionally used in therapy and organisational development, Lego Serious Play is now finding its way into the research world—helping researchers, participants, and stakeholders express complex ideas, foster collaboration, and build deeper insights (literally and metaphorically). Anna is joined by a panel of expert guests: Dr Warren Donnellan, University of Liverpool – a trained facilitator of Lego Serious Play who applies it to resilience and carer research. Dr Alys Griffiths, University of Sheffield – who has integrated the method into dementia studies and her work in Motor Neuron Disease. Dr Joe Langley, Sheffield Hallam University – known for combining design thinking and participatory research methods, including Lego Serious Play, in health and care settings. Together, they explore the origins, applications, and benefits of this playful method, share case studies, and reflect on how building with Lego can break down communication barriers and empower participants—particularly those with dementia. -- Topics covered: 🔷What is Lego Serious Play and how does it work in research? 🔷Insights into resilience and the carer experience 🔷Using play to unlock communication in dementia research 🔷How design thinking intersects with health research -- Essential links / resources mentioned in the show: 🔷An overview of Lego Serious Play: https://www.lego.com/en-us/seriousplay -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. You can also find a video version on our website on YouTube and in Spotify. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher http://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

ADPD 2025 Conference Highlights - Part One

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This year's AD/PD Conference was held in Vienna, Austria from the 1st to 5th April. In this first of a two-part special we bring you highlights from the first three days of the conference. The AD/PD Conference focuses on basic science and translational and clinical research bringing New insights on disease mechanisms and etiologies, the latest findings from clinical trials, innovative outlooks on therapy and prevention and advances in diagnostic markers. In this special on-location recording our guest host Dr Amanda Heslegrave, Principle Investigator and Co-Lead of fluid biomarker laboratory from the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London talks with: Dr Loukia Katsouri, Senior Research Fellow at the UCL Gatsby Foundation. Loukia studies the molecular mechanisms of tau propagation in Alzheimer’s disease. She aims to understand how the presence of tau is affecting the spread and the severity of the disease. Dr Anna Mallach, Research Fellow in the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London. Anna’s work focusses on understanding the role of cellular interactions in contributing to neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Imogen Swift, Research Scientist at Vesper Bio. Imogen is a neuroscience specialist focusing on biomarker and preclinical development in neurodegenerative therapeutics spanning frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's Disease. Here are just a few highlights from the discussion: 🧠 1. Can AI spot cognitive decline in mice before humans can? Discover how machine learning is transforming mouse model analysis to predict impairment – and the surprising gender and breeding effects researchers uncovered. 💊 2. Drug repurposing breakthroughs: affordable hope on the horizon? Find out why microglial activity, mitochondrial senescence, and asthma meds could be the future of dementia drug discovery – without starting from scratch. 🧬 3. Parkinson’s redefined – biologically, not clinically A bold proposal to ditch clinical diagnosis in Parkinson’s research in favour of biomarker-based subtyping. Could it revolutionise how trials are run? 🧫 4. Astrocytes take centre stage – and they might be phagocytosing synapses New data shows waves of astroglial activity and potential astro-microglial crosstalk in Parkinson’s disease – with serious implications for how we model disease. 🩸 5. Could a finger prick diagnose dementia? From dried blood spot kits to large-scale remote testing, hear how researchers are racing to make brain biomarker screening as simple as a home test. -- For more information on the event visit: https://www.adpd.kenes.com Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/fOsiGjXvBPA -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher -- Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

ADPD 2025 Conference Highlights - Part Two

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This year's AD/PD Conference was held in Vienna, Austria from the 1st to 5th April. In this second of a two-part special we bring you highlights from the last three days of the conference. The AD/PD Conference focuses on basic science and translational and clinical research bringing New insights on disease mechanisms and etiologies, the latest findings from clinical trials, innovative outlooks on therapy and prevention and advances in diagnostic markers. In this special on-location recording our guest host Dr Isabel Castanho, Instructor the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School talks with: Dr Emma Garland, Research Associate at The University of Sheffield. An early career researcher with a focus on Alzheimer’s, and an interest in protein pathogenesis, iPSC culture and inflammation in neurodegenerative disease. Susan Rohde, PhD Student at UMC Amsterdam. Susan is a Neurobiologist interested in (healthy) brain aging and related diseases, and currently work on the Dutch 100 Plus Study. Dr Martyna Matuszyk, Research Communications Officer at the Alzheimer’s Society. Supporting the charity to communicate dementia research with the public, having previously completed a PhD and Postdoc working on Alzheimer’s and MND. -- Here are just a few highlights from the discussion: 🧬 1. "This is why we do the science." A powerful and emotional talk from Trevor Salamon, sharing his wife's journey with young onset dementia, reminded the audience what it's all really about. 🧠 2. Can your gut give you Parkinson’s? Discover new research showing how toxic proteins may travel from the gut to the brain — and how mini organoids are helping researchers prove it. 🧫 3. Microglia, mice, and human brains… all pointing to the same gene? Explore how two researchers independently found SPP1 upregulated in Alzheimer’s immunotherapy studies — in both mice and humans. 🧪 4. PhD students are stealing the show From organoid development to cutting-edge methylation studies, early-career researchers are producing some of the most exciting work on display. 💬 5. "I saw your name on the poster and had to say hello" Hear how chance meetings, shared lab lines, and QR code posters are turning scientific conferences into hubs of unexpected connection. -- For more information on the event visit: https://www.adpd.kenes.com Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/PghjSzaamnc -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher -- Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Of Mice and Men… and Toxins: The Environmental Link to Dementia

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, guest host Dr Sam Moxon is joined by Dr Adam Schuller, Dr Savannah Rocha-Wrigley, and Megan Hager from Colorado State University's Tjalkens Lab to explore the significant yet often overlooked impact of environmental toxins on dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. This fascinating discussion sheds light on how substances such as pesticides, heavy metals, wildfire smoke, and air pollution can trigger changes in glial cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, which may lead to dementia. The experts share insights into groundbreaking experimental models, imaging technologies, and the importance of early intervention and prevention strategies to reduce toxin-related risks. -- Key Topics: 🔷Defining environmental toxins and their relevance to dementia 🔷Role of astrocytes and microglia in neurodegeneration 🔷Translational neurotoxicology models 🔷Advanced AI imaging and analysis techniques 🔷Preventative strategies to mitigate environmental risks Essential links / resources mentioned in the show: Tjalkens Lab - https://bit.ly/4hMLO8w Adam Schuller Website - https://bit.ly/3RmSLCk WHO Air Quality & Health - https://bit.ly/3FIxqkd -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. You can also find a video version on our website on YouTube and in Spotify. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

Minds in Motion: Dr Katie Breheny - Health Economics in Dementia Care

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers. In this second series, we hear from five of the Dem Comm Fellows each taking a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Chair of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor. In show Trevor is joined by the guest from our previous show Dr Lis Grey from University of Bristol and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) West to interview Dr Katie Breheny. Katy works in the NIHR ARC West and University of Bristol. Katie is a health economist focused on improving the way we assess and value healthcare interventions for people living with dementia. Her research explores how traditional health economic methods can be adapted to better capture wellbeing and quality of life in dementia care. With a background in psychology, Katie’s work spans health economics, patient-reported outcomes, and methodological research, ensuring that economic evaluations reflect the real-world needs of individuals, carers, and service providers. She is particularly interested in making assessments more inclusive and meaningful, while also working on innovative projects such as adapting wellbeing questionnaires and developing personalised digital tools to support dementia care. Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research. For information on the Fellowship visit: http://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website, YouTube and Spotify. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. Follow us on Social Media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Alzheimer's Research UK Conference Highlights 2025

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Last week we were in Birmingham for this years Alzheimer’s Research UK Conference. Hearing from researchers talking about their work and to learn about the latest discoveries in dementia research. In the show guest host and regular blogger Rebecca Williams talks with Dr Beth Williams, from the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Gargi Roy from Bristol Medical School and Donatella Di Rienzo from the Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute. -- For more information on the event and the great work of Alzheimer’s Research UK visit https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research/for-researchers/research-conference Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel: youtu.be/fuB4Y2KSt94 -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ twitter.com/demrescommunity www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Primary Progressive Aphasia: Keeping Connections Alive

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In recognition of the first Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) Awareness Day, this episode explores how speech and language therapists are working to support people with PPA to maintain communication and preserve connections with their loved ones. Dr Shalom Henderson is joined by three leading experts in speech and language therapy—Dr Anna Volkmer, Dr Jackie Kindell, and Rosemary Townsend—who are pioneering innovative interventions to help people living with PPA navigate the challenges of language loss. Together, they discuss the impact of this progressive condition on communication and relationships, and the critical role that speech therapy plays in maintaining meaningful conversations. -- Key Topics Discussed: 🔹 Understanding PPA – What is primary progressive aphasia, how does it affect speech and language, and how does it differ from other forms of dementia? 🔹 The Impact on Relationships – How communication difficulties affect personal relationships and contribute to social isolation. 🔹 The Role of Speech & Language Therapy – Exploring tailored interventions, communication partner training, and strategies that help families stay connected. 🔹 Barriers to Accessing Therapy – The challenges people face in getting speech and language therapy, and why more awareness is needed. 🔹 PPA Awareness Day (4th April 2025) – The first international awareness day dedicated to PPA, aiming to improve recognition, research, and support for those affected. -- This episode highlights the power of speech therapy in transforming lives, offering practical advice and real-world insights from clinical experts and researchers. 📢 Join the conversation! Mark your calendars for PPA Awareness Day on 4th April and help spread the word about the importance of early intervention and ongoing support. Essential links / resources mentioned in the show: Primary Progressive Aphasia Day - https://bit.ly/3ELrsOX PPA Awareness on Bluesky - https://bit.ly/4gD8OGt COS-PPA - https://bit.ly/4gFmFMu -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. You can also find a video version on our website, in Spotify and on YouTube https://youtu.be/t2k2-UhJjbU. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

ILBD Conference Highlights 2025 - Part Two

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

We're back with Part Two of our special highlights podcasts from the International Lewy Body Dementia Conference in Amsterdam! This time, host Dr Sterre de Boer (Alzheimer’s Centre Amsterdam) leads the discussion with a fantastic panel of experts: 🔹 Salomón Salazar-Londoño (Medical Student, Xavierian University, Colombia & ISTAART Ambassador) 🔹 Dr Lauren Walker (Alzheimer’s Research UK Fellow, Newcastle University) 🔹 Dr Felipe Botero Rodriguez (Psychiatrist & Researcher, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway) In this episode, we explore some of the latest breakthroughs and pressing challenges in Lewy body dementia research, including: ✅ The state of DLB research in Latin America, highlighting gaps and opportunities ✅ Neuropathology & biomarker advances – What can pathology teach us about clinical symptoms? ✅ The "Body-First vs. Brain-First" debate – What comes first, and how does it impact diagnosis? ✅ The role of co-pathologies like Alzheimer’s disease and TDP-43 in DLB ✅ How international collaboration is shaping the future of dementia research This episode offers insights for researchers, clinicians, and anyone interested in the evolving landscape of Lewy body dementia. If you missed Part One, make sure to catch up before diving into this instalment! -- For more updates, follow #ILBDC25 on social media or visit https://www.ilbdc2025.com/ -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode . -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. A special thanks to the conference organisers for kindly supporting us to produce this podcast. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher http://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

ILBD Conference Highlights 2025 - Part One

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Join us for the first of our two-part special podcast shows, recorded live at the International Lewy Body Dementia Conference in Amsterdam! In this episode postdoc researcher Dr Josh Harvey (University of Exeter) is joined by three expert guests: 🔹 Athina Grigoriou (PhD Student, University of Dundee) 🔹 Dr David Koss (Principal Investigator, University of Dundee) 🔹 Dr Joe Kane (Geriatric Psychiatrist, Queen’s University Belfast) Together, they discuss key highlights from the conference, including cutting-edge research on Lewy body dementia (LBD), Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD), and synucleinopathies. Topics include: • The role of DNA damage in LBD and its links to neurodegeneration • A new Lewy Body Dementia Domain Rating Scale and its impact on clinical trials • Advances in biomarkers and imaging for early diagnosis • The latest insights on alpha-synuclein strains and their role in disease progression • Carer perspectives and the importance of peer support networks Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or just curious about the latest in dementia science, this episode is packed with insights from one of the field’s most important global meetings. We hope you will also join us in congratulating our host Josh on being awarded the Rising Star Award by the Conference organisers. For more updates, follow #ILBDC25 on social media or visit https://www.ilbdc2025.com/ -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode . -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. A special thanks to the conference organisers for kindly supporting us to produce this podcast. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher http://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Viva La Success: Acing Your PhD Thesis Defence

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, Dr Leah Fullegar discusses the PhD viva experience with three recent graduates who share their insights into the preparation and execution of their defences. Join us to learn from the experiences of Dr Hannah Hussain, Dr Aisling Flynn, and Shalom Henderson, who bring diverse perspectives from their respective fields. Each guest shares valuable insights into the preparation techniques that aided them, as well as reflections on their personal experiences of the viva. For anyone approaching their PhD defence or interested in understanding more about this crucial academic challenge, this podcast provides a comprehensive overview and practical advice. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. You can also find a video of our podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2-wMNOh40Lo -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Minds In Motion: Dr Lis Grey - Dementia Service Evaluation & Intervention Development

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers. Over the next few months, we will be releasing the second series, hearing from five of the Dem Comm Fellows each taking e a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Chair of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor. In show Trevor is joined by the guest from our previous show Dr Olivia Luijnenburg from King’s College London and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London to interview Dr Elisabeth (Lis) Grey. Lis works in the NIHR ARC West and University of Bristol. Lis is interested in how people with neurodegenerative disorders experience health and care services and is working on developing ways to improve services and support people to live well with these conditions. Lis has had a varied research career – from health services quality and delivery, through public health interventions and social care, and now more secondary and community care. The common threads to this work are health communication – be that between professionals, patient and professional, or to the public – and intervention development and evaluation. Lis mainly uses qualitative methods, particularly interviewing, and she is always excited to hear people’s thoughts and experiences through her work. Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research. For information on the Fellowship visit: http://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website & on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dlmu1JiW2Bc This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. Follow us on Social Media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

2024 End of Year Reflections from Dementia Researchers

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Happy Holidays to all our listeners. Celebrate the season with the Dementia Researcher Podcast Christmas Special! Hosted by Adam Smith, this episode features regular bloggers from the Dementia Researcher website, Dr Anna Volkmer, Dr Connor Richardson, Dr Sam Moxon, Dr Jodi Watt, and Dr Clíona Farrell. Together, they reminisce about their 2024 journeys, discuss groundbreaking developments in their research field and explore what they’re most excited about for the coming year. Laced with humor and camaraderie, and some festive questions. Want to hear more from our guests? Check them out: Adam Smith: https://bit.ly/3DCHA4K Dr Anna Volkmer: https://bit.ly/4freouN Dr Connor Richardson: https://bit.ly/4gPwBUe Dr Jodi Watt: https://bit.ly/41Mqprz Dr Sam Moxon: https://bit.ly/41LLW3x Dr Clíona Farrell: https://bit.ly/4iPGh2D -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode . -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher http://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

International Symposium on ALS / MND Roundup 2024

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this special episode, recorded in Montreal, Canada, we bring you highlights from the International Symposium on ALS/MND 2024 organised by the MND Association. Host Dr Alys Griffiths, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield, is joined by three expert guests to discuss the latest research and breakthroughs in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and motor neuron disease (MND). Dr Megan Fowler, a postdoctoral researcher from Flinders University, shares insights into her work on endogenous retroviruses and their role in ALS. Professor Eneida Mioshi, from the University of East Anglia, explores cognitive and behavioural changes in ALS and FTD and their impact on care. Dr Ahmad Al Khleifat, a group leader at King’s College London, highlights advancements in genomic research and efforts to diversify ALS studies globally. Key topics include promising therapies like antisense oligonucleotides, the integration of patient voices in research, and the power of collaboration to accelerate progress. For more updates, follow #ALSMNDSymposium on social media or visit https://symposium.mndassociation.org -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode . -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher http://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Grant Writing - Tips from Grant Awardees & Grant Reviewers

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Recorded at the Alzheimer's Society ECR Retreat on the 19th June 2024. -- In this panel discussion / question and answer session, Katherine Gray, Alzheimer's Society Head of Research chairs a discussion with Professor Heather Mortiboys, Professor Nathan Davies, Dr Jeffrey Davies, Professor Andrey Abramov and John Major. Panellists provide tips and insights into the grant application process, providing their perspectives as grant reviewers and funding board members. They also provide advice on how to approach grant application writing. The panellists, who are leading researchers and volunteers on grant advisory boards, discuss the key components of a successful grant application, common mistakes, and how to demonstrate the potential impact of research. They also provide advice on resubmitting applications after initial rejection and how to effectively manage career breaks. Together they emphasise the importance of clear hypotheses, realistic expectations, proper costing, and team science. They also highlight the need for perseverance and flexibility in the application process. -- Last week Alzheimer’s Society announced that the ECR Retreat will be back on the 8th-9th July 2025. Keep an eye on the Dementia Researcher website for updates, and details on how to apply. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://ww.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Watch more recordings from the ECR Retreat on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/alzsocecrretreat2024 -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode . -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Minds In Motion: Dr Olivia Luijnenburg - Spirituality in Dementia Care

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers. Over the next few months, we will be releasing the second series, hearing from five of the Dem Comm Fellows each taking e a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Chair of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor. -- In show Trevor is joined by Dr Sarah Smith from The University of Manchester and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Greater Manchester to interview Dr Olivia Luijnenburg. Olivia works in the NIHR Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit at King’s College London. She works on various projects around social care workforce and care homes, however the focus in this show is on her research into spirituality in dementia care. We explore her focus on co-developing reflective tools to address the spiritual needs of care home residents living with dementia, as well as their families and care staff. Working to understand how spirituality, is broadly defined to define individuals meaning and purpose, and how accommodating this can enhance care practices in diverse settings. -- Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research. -- For information on the Fellowship visit: http://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website & on YouTube. -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Stronger Together: Peer Support and Community

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, guest host Dr Megan Rose Readman from the University of Liverpool discusses the role of peer support and community in research careers. This session explores the importance of support networks at all career stages, from early career to senior roles. Megan is joined by three guests, each with experience in building and sustaining research communities specifically to support researchers working in all areas of Alzheimer's disease and all other forms of dementia, and neurodegeneration: Adam Smith from Dementia Researcher, who discusses their global community, including the recent launch of a new app designed to connect researchers. Dr Oz Ismail from Alzheimer's Association and ISTAART, who provides insights into their professional society’s efforts to support Alzheimer’s research globally. Josh Wright from Alzheimer’s Research UK, who explains the structure and benefits of their UK-wide network, especially for early-career researchers. -- Listeners will gain an understanding of how these communities function and the different forms of support available, from mentoring to practical resources. The episode also touches on how the pandemic has shifted peer support needs, with virtual communities becoming essential for many researchers. -- Five Top Tips from the show: Seek Out Professional Networks: Engaging with professional societies, like ISTAART or Dementia Researcher, can provide access to a broad community of peers and experts, which is especially valuable if you're working in isolation or in a niche area. Leverage Online Communities: Virtual communities offer a space to connect with others in your field, share resources, and find support—important for building connections, particularly when geographic location or funding constraints make in-person networking challenging. Participate in Mentorship Opportunities: Many research networks offer mentorship programmes, often through dedicated platforms or apps, where you can find mentors or become one yourself, helping to navigate career stages or specific research challenges. Engage in Journal Clubs and Special Interest Groups: Virtual journal clubs or topic-specific groups, as seen in Dementia Researcher’s app, allow researchers to discuss recent studies, share insights, and collaborate within specific research interests. Use Peer Support to Improve Wellbeing: Peer support networks provide a safe space for discussing challenges and successes beyond research—such as mental health or career setbacks—offering a layer of personal support often needed in academic careers. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Essential links / resources mentioned in the show: ISTAART - https://bit.ly/48E570N Alzheimer's Research UK Network - https://bit.ly/3AKKXpf Dementia Researcher Community App - https://bit.ly/3UJ2jd6 -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode . -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher http://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Decoding Familial British Dementia

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this Dementia Researcher Podcast episode, Dr Aitana Sogorb Esteve hosts a discussion with Dr Charlie Arber and Sam Crawford from University College London, discussing their work on familial British dementia (FBD), a rare form of dementia affecting only a handful of families. The discussion explores the latest findings from human stem cell models that are helping researchers understand FBD’s unique genetic and pathological features, and how that can inform a wider understanding of familial Alzheimer’s Disease. Topics covered include: - Genetic causes and symptoms of familial British dementia - Use of stem cell models, particularly iPSCs, to study FBD in the lab - Potential biomarkers and implications for therapeutic research - How funding from the Race Against Dementia Ignition Fund is supporting advancements in rare dementia research -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Find out more at Race Against Dementia: https://www.raceagainstdementia.com/ -- Like what you see? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode . -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher http://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Alzheimer Europe 2024 Conference Highlights - Part Two

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Last week Dementia Researcher attended the 34th Alzheimer Europe Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. In this podcast Dr Megan Polden and her guests bring you highlights from the second half of the event, sharing news and their best bits. Dr Megan Polden talks with Dr Aisling Flynn from Bournemouth University and Dr Emma Law from the Scottish Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network and Dr Lukas Duffner from Alzheimer Europe. This year’s Alzheimer Europe Conference, themed 'New Horizons – Innovating for Dementia,' brought together a diverse group of participants, including people living with dementia, carers, volunteers, Alzheimer association staff, policymakers, health and social care professionals, researchers, and academics. It remains a unique platform where the latest advances in fundamental science, care, policy, and public engagement are shared and discussed. Essential links / resources mentioned in the show: Alzheimer Europe - https://www.alzheimer-europe.org INTERDEM - https://interdem.org #34AEC on X - https://bit.ly/4dH3yjw Sex, Gender and Sexuality in the Context of Dementia - https://bit.ly/3UaVuk7 -- You can find out more about our guests and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript of the show: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Prefer to watch rather than listen? Then check-out our YouTube channel for a full video version of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DementiaResearcher -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with a transcript on our website. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, University College London or its partner organisations.

Alzheimer Europe 2024 Conference Highlights - Part One

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Last week Dementia Researcher attended the 34th Alzheimer Europe Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. In this podcast Dr Megan Rose Readman and her guests bring you highlights from event, sharing news and their best bits from the hundreds of posters and talks delivered. Dr Megan Rose Readman talks with Dr Fiona Carragher from Alzheimer’s Society and Dr Andy Northcott from the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory, University of West London and Dr Sébastien Libert from Alzheimer Europe. This year’s Alzheimer Europe Conference, themed 'New Horizons – Innovating for Dementia,' brought together a diverse group of participants, including people living with dementia, carers, volunteers, Alzheimer association staff, policymakers, health and social care professionals, researchers, and academics. It remains a unique platform where the latest advances in fundamental science, care, policy, and public engagement are shared and discussed. Essential links / resources mentioned in the show: Alzheimer Europe - https://www.alzheimer-europe.org INTERDEM - https://interdem.org #34AEC on X - https://bit.ly/4dH3yjw Carol Jennings Story - https://bit.ly/3ZXPpeJ -- You can find out more about our guests and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript of the show: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Prefer to watch rather than listen? Then check-out our YouTube channel for a full video version of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DementiaResearcher -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with a transcript on our website. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

ISFTD 2024 Conference Highlights

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we bring you highlights from the International Society for Frontotemporal Dementias (ISFD) Conference, which was held in Amsterdam from the 19th to 22nd September 2024. Dr Anna Volkmer talks with Dr Martyna Matuszyk from Alzheimer’s Society and Dr Aitana Sogorb Esteve from University College London discussing their highlights and recapping on the event and what they’re taking away from this year’s talks. -- The International Society for Frontotemporal Dementias is a non-profit scientific society focused on frontotemporal dementias. Members include the leaders in FTD research around the world, and the society is associated with a large, international biannual meeting (soon to be annual) presenting the latest findings. For more information visit: https://www.isftd.org -- You can find out more about our guests and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript of the show: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Prefer to watch rather than listen? Then check-out our YouTube channel for a full video version of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DementiaResearcher -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with a transcript on our website. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

The Epigenetic Equation

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, guest host Dr Fiona McLean is joined by Dr Josh Harvey (University of Exeter), Dr Sarah Marzi (King’s College London), Dr Alexi Nott (Imperial College London), and Dr Sam Washer (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) to discuss the role of epigenetics in Alzheimer’s and dementia research. The episode offers a broad exploration of epigenetics in neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting how gene regulation beyond DNA sequences is advancing our understanding of Alzheimer’s and related conditions. It covers the impact of environmental and lifestyle factors on disease development, as well as emerging research techniques and technologies that could inform future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. -- Key Topics: • The fundamentals of epigenetics and its distinction from traditional genetics. • How epigenetic research is shaping our understanding of Alzheimer's disease. • The role of environmental factors in influencing epigenetic changes. • New technologies and their application in epigenetic studies. • The potential for epigenetics in developing future diagnostics and therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with a transcript on our website. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social -- Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Prioritising People in Co-Produced Research

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast, Dr Anna Volkmer leads a discussion on the importance of co-production in dementia research. This episode explores what it truly means to involve people with lived experience, with tips on how to go about it, and our guests own experience in working together. They also discuss the research process and how this approach can lead to more relevant and impactful outcomes. Featured Guests: •Dr Barbora Silarova: An NIHR / Alzheimer’s Society Dem Comm Fellow at the University of Kent. Barbora brings her expertise in supporting people living with dementia and their carers. She shares insights on the significance of equal partnerships in co-produced research and the challenges and rewards of this collaborative approach. •Dr Rosie Ashworth: A researcher who leads patient and public involvement for the NRS Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network in Scotland. Rosie discusses the importance of involving those with lived experience in research to enrich the quality and relevance of scientific findings. •Winnie Henry: A retired psychotherapist who cared for her husband with vascular dementia. Winnie provides a personal perspective on the value of co-production, emphasising empathy and the importance of ensuring that carers' voices are heard in research. •Mike Parish: A retired firefighter who became a carer for his husband, who had progressive supranuclear palsy. Mike highlights the importance of representing diverse experiences and backgrounds in dementia research to ensure all voices are considered. •David Ross: A retired engineer who cared for his wife with frontotemporal dementia. David speaks about his journey into co-production, driven by a desire to understand more about dementia and contribute to meaningful research that reflects the realities faced by carers. -- Essential links / resources mentioned in the show: NHS England Co-production resource toolkit https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/co-production-resource-toolkit/ Co-Production Collective https://www.coproductioncollective.co.uk/ The Dementia Enquirers Gold Standards for Co-Research https://dementiaenquirers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/gold-standard-for-co-research.pdf DEEP Network - A Story of Co-Production https://www.dementiavoices.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/A-story-of-co-production-%E2%80%93-The-Right-to-a-Grand-Day-Out.pdf -- Together, these guests provide valuable insights into the process and benefits of co-produced research, offering practical tips for researchers looking to adopt this approach. Tune in to learn more about how prioritising people can transform the way we approach dementia research. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with a transcript on our website. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://www.x.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher http://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

Listening & Supporting Dementia Researchers

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, we discuss the challenges and support needs of early career dementia researchers (ECRs) across Europe. Our discussion centres on a recent study titled Supporting Early Career Dementia Researchers: Identifying Support Needs and Ways Forward via a European Study. The study sheds light on the unique difficulties faced by ECRs and offers practical recommendations to enhance professional journeys. -- Speakers: 🔹Adam Smith: Programme Director for Dementia Researcher and today's guest host. 🔹Dr Charlèss Dupont: A postdoctoral researcher at Freie University in Brussels with a background in nursing and communication. Charlès's work primarily focuses on communication and palliative care in dementia. 🔹Dr Pascale Heins: With a background in occupational therapy, Dr. Heins works at Maastricht University, where her research explores ways to support social life in people with dementia. 🔹Dr Sara Laureen Bartles: A postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and Maastricht University, Sarah's research spans chronic conditions management, including dementia. -- Key Takeaways: 🔹Funding and Career Support: The study identifies a significant need for better financial support mechanisms, particularly in the transition from PhD to postdoctoral roles. 🔹Work-Life Balance: The pressures of academia often lead to an unhealthy work-life balance, with expectations set by supervisors. The study calls for more proactive support from institutions. 🔹Mentoring and Training: The importance of mentoring and training, both within academia and for careers outside of it, is emphasised as a way to better prepare researchers for diverse career paths. 🔹Dissemination: There is a need for improved dissemination strategies, ensuring that research findings reach a broader audience, including those directly affected by dementia. Tune-in as we explore these critical issues and discuss actionable solutions to support the current and next generation of dementia researchers. -- Essential links / resources mentioned in the show: Supporting early-career dementia researchers: Identifying support needs and ways forward via a European study - https://bit.ly/3WN1yju How are early-career dementia researchers considered and supported on a national level by dementia plans and organizations? An overview of global policy approaches - https://bit.ly/3YMxrLq ISTAART and University College London survey turns a spotlight on early career researcher life and challenges - https://bit.ly/4dMmoWK Join ISTAART - istaart.alz.org Pascal's PhD Defence - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDjURgVH6YM -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you see? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to listen rather than listen, you’ll find an audio version of this podcast with a transcript on our website. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

AAIC Day Three 2024

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the fourth day of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) taking place in Philadelphia and Online, 28th July to 1st August. Dr Amanda Heslegrave, Principle Research Fellow at University College London, hosts the show with special guests: Dr Darina Petrovsky, Assistant Professor at Duke University Dr Emily Ho, Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Meenakshi Menon, ISTAART Ambassador and incoming PhD student in Cognitive Sciences at Georgia State University The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. Main plenary talks from the day included Tara Spires-Jones presenting on 'Synaptic Oligomeric Tau In Alzheimer’s Disease — A Potential Culprit In The Spread Of Tau Pathology Through The Brain ', Ricardo F. Allegri on 'Dementia Research In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: Initiatives That Seize Opportunities, Overcome Challenges And Build Capacity'. #AAIC24 -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC Day Four 2024

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the last day of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) taking place in Philadelphia and Online, 28th July to 1st August. Quang Tran, Science Communications Officer for Alzheimer's Research UK, guest hosts the show with expert panelists: Dr Shea Andrews, Assistant Professor at University of California San Francisco working on Genetic Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr Joe Butler, NIHR ARC Research Fellow at University of Sunderland, interested in using techniques and paradigms from experimental psychology to learn about brain health. Roberto A. Guzmán Hernández, ISTAART Ambassador, Graduate Research Assistant and PhD Student at Temple University working on the effects of aggregated tau on endothelial and cerebrovascular dysfunction -- The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. Main plenary talks from the day included Michael Weiner 'ADNI: Two Decades Of Impact And The Path Forward', Reisa Sperling ' Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease'. Today was also the first AAIC For ALL, a new format with talks for professional from Jeffrey Cummings on the Therapeutic Landscape, Heather Whitson on The Role Of Blood Tests In Diagnosis And Treatment, Clifford Jack on Criteria For Diagnosis And Staging, Monica Rivera-Mindt on Health Equity And Risk Reduction and Katherine Possin on Dementia Care. Talks for a lay audience from Edward B. Lee on Brain Donation: The Gift Of Knowledge, Hussein Zalzale on The Many Faces Of Alzheimer’s Dementia, Subtypes And Unique Features, Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton on How Can We Improve Cognitive Testing? The Answer May Be In The Palm Of Your Hand, Cerise Elliot on Building Inclusive Alzheimer’s And Related Dementias Research Studies, Wiesje van der Flier on 'Risk Reduction', Jonathan Schott on 'Diagnosis And Treatment', Nancy Hodgson on 'Dementia Care', Ozioma Okonkwo on 'Health Equity'. #AAIC24 -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC Day One 2024

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the first two days of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) taking place in Philadelphia and Online, 28th July to 1st August. Dr Francesca Farina hosts the show with special guests: Dr Annalise Rahman-Filipiak, Assistant Professor, Clinical Neuropsychologist at University of Michigan Dr Tamlyn Watermeyer, NIHR / Alzheimer’s Society Dem Comm Fellow at Northumbria University and University of Edinburgh working on cognition and brain health. Dr Merci Best, Research Fellow at the University of Michigan's Paulson Lab, studying the molecular mechanisms of tau-mediated neurodegeneration The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. Main plenary talks from the day included Edward B. Lee presenting 'Neuropathology In A Multidisciplinary Age', Timothy Miller on 'Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapeutics For Neurodegenerative Diseases', Henne Holstege delivering a talk titled 'From Longevity To Vulnerability: Genomic Pathways Underlying Cognitive Health In Centenarians And Neurodegenerative Disease'. #AAIC24 @alzassociation -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC Day Two 2024

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the third day of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) taking place in Philadelphia and Online, 28th July to 1st August. Caitlyn Fastenau, PhD Candidate at University of Texas Health San Antonio, hosts the show with special guests: Balogun Wasiu, Postdoctoral Associate at University of Pittsburgh Jessica Caldwell, Director, Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Center, Cleveland Clinic Sophia Krix, PhD Student at University of Bonn, working on the ADIS Project The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. Main plenary talks from the day included Suvarna Alladi 'Bilingualism And Dementia: Implications For Brain Health And Policy Development', Clive Ballard on 'Psychosis In Alzheimer’s Disease'. #AAIC24 -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Nonpharmacological Interventions PIA

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the last show in this season of the ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast, presented by Dementia Researcher. In our final episode, we come full circle with Dr Keir Yong, Senior Research Fellow at UCL's Dementia Research Centre, speaking with Professor Arlene Astell, Chair of the Non-Pharmacological Interventions PIA. -- Professor Astell discusses her role as a Professor of Cyber Psychology at Northumbria University and Director of the Dementia Ageing Technology Engagement Lab at the University of Toronto. She offers a comprehensive look into her journey into dementia research, sparked by early interactions with individuals living with dementia, and her commitment to understanding and mitigating the cognitive and behavioural challenges they face. -- Gain insights into the innovative projects led by Professor Astell, including the development of touchscreen computer systems designed to support conversation for people with dementia. How the significance of lifestyle interventions, such as nutrition and physical activity, and the emerging potential of neuromodulation can play a role in reducing dementia risk. -- The conversation also highlights the broader implications of non-pharmacological interventions, the challenges in implementing these approaches within health systems, and the importance of influencing public health policy to ensure wider adoption – and the role that the Non-Pharmacological Interventions PIA can play in fostering collaboration. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org - Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video on our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/fF6oDHK_iP4 -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Atypical Alzheimer's Disease PIA

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Join us for another episode of the ISTAART Relay Podcast brought to you by Dementia Researcher. We’re releasing one of these shows each week in the build up to the AAIC, which this year starts on the 28th July. In this episode, Dr Diana Karamacoska takes over the hot seat to interview Dr Keir Yong, a Senior Research Fellow at University College London, about the intricacies of Atypical Alzheimer's Disease, and the work of the Atypical Alzheimer's Disease PIA. Discover how posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), a less common variant of Alzheimer’s, impacts patients' lives and the innovative research aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment. Get insights into the diagnostic challenges, the role of biomarkers, and the essential interdisciplinary collaborations driving advancements in this field. Don't miss this deep dive into Keir’s work, hot topics in the field, and how their PIA is making a difference. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org. Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video on our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/53wt10WyURI -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Partnering with Research Participants PIA

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Join us for another episode of the ISTAART Relay Podcast from Dementia Research. This time Dr Ece Bayram moves from interviewee to interviewer and chats with Dr Diana Karamacoska, the vice chair of the Partnering with Research Participants PIA. This episode explores the challenges and breakthroughs in dementia research, with a special focus on engaging underserved communities, and public involvement. Dr Karamacoska shares her personal journey inspired by her grandparents' experiences with dementia, highlighting the gaps in services and the importance of culturally appropriate care. -- Discover how the ISTAART PIAs are transforming dementia research through meaningful partnerships and inclusive practices. Learn about the global shift towards collaboration with research participants and the innovative approaches being used to address disparities in dementia care. Diana also discusses the significance of maintaining well-being while working closely with affected communities and the role of the PIA in supporting researchers. -- Tune in to explore the latest trends, including the exciting initiatives planned for the upcoming Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Philadelphia, and understand why the Partnering with Research Participants PIA is unique in its dedication to patient and public involvement. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org - Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video on our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/g6bVYyhNFV8 -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Lewy Body Dementias PIA

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the ISTAART Relay Podcast, Dr Jessica Caldwell, a neuropsychologist and director at the Cleveland Clinic, interviews Dr Ece Bayram, the newly appointed assistant professor and incoming communications chair for the ISTAART Lewy Body Dementias PIA. They explore Ece’s research on sex differences in genetics and environmental risk factors for Lewy body dementia. Ece shares insights into her innovative projects, the work of their PIA, plans for the upcoming AAIC and the significance of understanding sex and gender differences in neurodegenerative diseases, and the importance of designing research with community involvement. They also discuss the challenges of conducting studies in diverse populations and the need for global collaboration. Tune in to hear about the exciting developments in Lewy body dementia research and the impact of community-driven studies on advancing the field. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org You can also enjoy this show as a video on our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/psSB1wOGSxA -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Sex and Gender Differences in Alzheimer's Disease PIA

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the fifth season of the ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast, brought to you by Dementia Researcher. In this six-part series, members of ISTAART professional interest areas (PIAs) take turns interviewing their colleagues about the latest research in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. This episode features a Caitlyn Fastenau, a PhD candidate from the University of Texas Health Science Centre interviewing Dr Jessica Caldwell, a neuropsychologist and director of the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement Prevention and Research Centre at Cleveland Clinic. Dr Caldwell discusses her pioneering work at the world's only clinic designed specifically for women to reduce their Alzheimer's risk, focusing on sex and gender differences in the disease. She highlights the critical role of menopause, stress, and hormonal changes in Alzheimer's risk and shares insights into the importance of diverse research populations and the unique challenges faced by women caregivers. Tune-in as explore hot topics of sex and gender differences in Alzheimer's research, including the impact of menopause, the need for gender-diverse studies, and the initiatives of the ISTAART Sex and Gender PIA and what they have planned for AAIC. Whether you're a researcher, clinician, or someone affected by Alzheimer's, this episode offers valuable perspectives on the intersections of gender, health, and dementia. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org You can also enjoy this show as a video on our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/E0NWtCyJtzI -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Immunity and Neurodegeneration PIA

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the fifth season of the ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast, brought to you by Dementia Researcher. This series features members of ISTAART, engaging in insightful interviews about groundbreaking dementia research, and the work of the ISTAART Professional Interest Areas (PIA) they represent. As we build up to the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, join us for daily episodes that showcase the remarkable work being done in various research fields. -- In this episode, Professor Arlene Astell interviews Caitlyn Fastenau, a PhD candidate in Integrated Biomedical Sciences focusing on the Biology of Ageing. Caitlyn shares her journey into dementia research, driven by personal experiences and a passion for understanding neurodegenerative diseases. Her research explores the role of immune cells, particularly microglia, in Alzheimer’s disease, using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing. Caitlyn discusses the her work, the importance of diversity in research, highlighting efforts to include underrepresented communities in dementia studies. She also talks about the significance of translational research and the potential non-pharmacological interventions that could reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Tune in to learn more about the Immunity and Neurodegeneration PIA, what they have planned for AAIC and the latest hot topics in the field, and the collaborative environment that ISTAART provides for researchers at all levels. PS. Don't miss Caitlyn's presentation at the AAIC and her insights on leveraging student engagement in scientific societies. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 30 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: http://www.istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: http://www.aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video on our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/dddOpDsuwlM -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC Preview 2024

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Adam Smith chats with Dr Claire Sexton, Senior Director, Scientific Programs and Outreach from the Alzheimer’s Association. Discussing this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 28th July to 1st August (+preconference on the 25th – 27th). -- Taking place in-person in Philadelphia and online - the world’s leading basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community will share breaking research discoveries that will lead to methods of prevention and treatment and improvements in diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease. In this exciting edition, we will be giving you an exclusive sneak peek into one of the most highly anticipated events in dementia research conference calendar (also a world first exclusive on the location for 2025). Join us as we explore into how you can attend, the scientific programme, extra events and just what the AAIC will deliver this year. With leading experts, visionary thinkers, and research pioneers gathering under one roof, this conference promises to not only showcase groundbreaking discoveries, but also be a place where you will get careers support, and unrivalled networking opportunities. -- To book your place visit – http://www.aaic.alz.org AAIC for ALL - https://www.alz.org/aaic-for-all/overview.asp Dr Helena Gellersen’s blog on getting the most out of AAIC: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-ultimate-guide-to-making-the-most-of-the-aaic -- Students worldwide and researchers from Low- and Middle-Income Countries are now eligible for free ISTAART Membership (and ISTAART members can attend the AAIC Online for Free) - Become a member, then register for the conference if you can't make it in-person. Join ISTAART to get a free online ticket – http://www.istaart.alz.org -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

At Breaking Point: Burnout in Academia

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the Dementia Researcher Podcast. In this episode, Dr Fiona McLean, an Alzheimer's Research UK fellow at the University of Dundee, discusses the issue of academic burnout with three fellow researchers. The guests, Dr Sarah Marzi, Dr Ian Harrison, and Dr Kate Harris, share their personal experiences with burnout, its impact on their work and personal lives, and strategies for managing and preventing it. They highlight the importance of setting boundaries, seeking mentorship, maintaining a work-life balance, and practising self-kindness. They also emphasise the need for a supportive and sustainable research culture. -- Five Top Tips from the Show: 1. Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries in your work to manage expectations and workload effectively. Communicate these boundaries with your colleagues and superiors to ensure a sustainable work environment. 2. Seek Mentorship: Engage with mentors both within and outside your institution. Mentors can provide valuable guidance, support, and perspective, helping you navigate the challenges of academic life. 3. Maintain Work-Life Balance: Dedicate time to activities outside of work that bring you joy and relaxation, such as hobbies or exercise. This helps in preventing burnout and maintaining mental and physical health. 4. Build a Supportive Network: Surround yourself with peers who understand your struggles and can offer support. Peer networks and friendtors (friendly mentors) can provide emotional and professional support, making you feel less isolated. 5. Be Kind to Yourself: Practice self-compassion by acknowledging your achievements, setting realistic goals, and allowing yourself to rest. Recognise that it's okay not to be perfect and that your well-being is crucial for long-term success. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with a transcript on YouTube: https://youtu.be/slPMLjva6Ws -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on social media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Introducing the Dementia Researcher Salon

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

A weekly gathering to discuss careers and research topics, inspired by 17th and 18th century salons from Paris, with a modern twist. These sessions combine livestreams, guest speakers and group chat to exchange ideas, challenge, influence, inspire and educate. After the 30 minute livestream ends, you can join the host and speakers with our others and continue to discuss the topic for a further 30 minutes (you will find this in past events). Our very first gathering is scheduled for the 26th June at 12noon BST to explore 'Tackling Sexism in Academia'. Join us LIVE or join our community to catch-up when you have time: https://communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/events/tackling-sexism-in-academia-6284d2d8-3ddc-44f6-a618-8d7a3492f148 -- Sexism in academia is a significant issue that manifests through unequal opportunities, pay disparities, and underrepresentation of women, particularly in senior and leadership roles. Despite advancements in policies aimed at fostering equality, implicit biases and structural barriers continue to impede the progress of female academics. How can we claim to value intellectual diversity when half the population is underrepresented in academic leadership What message are we sending to the next generation of scholars if we continue to ignore the gender biases that permeate our institutions? Can academia truly progress if it fails to address the systemic barriers that prevent women from succeeding at the same rate as their male counterparts? In this salon session we will hear from our speakers and then give you the audience a chance to have your say. Speakers Georgina Menzies - is a Computational Biologist and Lecturer with a research portfolio in understanding DNA-repair and disease modifying coding mutations. Prior to this appointment Georgina held a Ser Cyrmu II Fellowship in the Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff. Georgina is involved in the Alzheimer's Research UK network in South Wales, and has helped drive the ECR steering committee for the UKDRI cross-centre theme on DNA repair and neurodegeneration into existence. Soumilee Chaudhuri - is a 3rd year doctoral candidate in Medical Neuroscience and Bioinformatics at the Indiana University School of Medicine, researching Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) in multiethnic populations. Soumilee was raised in Kolkata, India and graduated with double degrees in Neuroscience & Biochemistry from Montana State University, Bozeman as an International Merit Scholar. She works at the intersection of multi-omics and neuroimaging to characterize Alzheimer Disease (AD) therapeutics; she was competitively awarded the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Health Equity Scholar Program (ADNI HESP) fellowship. Her interests and experiences range from neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinformatics, to science communication, public health policy and diversifying academia & research spaces. She is the recent co-founder of IMPACT IN (Initiative for Mobilizing Public health Advocacy, Care, and Translational research for Alzheimer’s Disease in Indiana).

Happiness As Medicine: Well-being in Dementia Care

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Join Dr Sam Moxon and guests, Dr Emily Willroth, Dr Kyrsten Hill, and Karysa Britton, from Washington University in St. Louis three of the people behind the World Happiness Report. Together they discuss their research showing that higher levels of well-being can act as protective factors against dementia and improve the quality of life for those living with the condition. They highlighted the importance of mental health and well-being in dementia prevention and care, and the potential for public health policies and community programs to incorporate these findings. In the show our guests also emphasise the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling dementia prevention. In the 2024 issue of the World Happiness Report, the authors focus on the happiness of people at different stages of life. In the seven ages of man in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, the later stages of life are portrayed as deeply depressing. But happiness research shows a more nuanced picture, and one that is changing over time. In this show we focus on 'Chapter 4 - Supporting the Well-being of an Aging Global Population: Associations between Well-being and Dementia'. However, we encourage you to explore all of the 2024 report for the latest findings on the happiness of the world’s young, the old – and everyone in between. Listen to the postcast, read the report and check where the place you live, sits in the global happiness rankings. Links mentioned in the show: The World Happiness Report 2024 - https://bit.ly/4c2iOrg Country Rankings - https://bit.ly/3KNyraa -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with a transcript on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HnDcLGEU_5c -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ twitter.com/demrescommunity www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Food For Thought - Health through Nutrition with Dr Michael Klaper

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast, Dr Sam Moxon interviews Dr Michael Klaper discussing the impact of diet and nutrition on brain health and dementia. They explore the importance of a plant-based diet, rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients, for maintaining brain health. They also discuss the negative effects of ultra processed foods and animal-based diets on brain health. Dr. Klaper emphasises the importance of sleep, exercise, and stress management for overall brain health. He also suggests practical tips for transitioning to a plant-based diet, such as incorporating more vegetables and legumes into meals and exploring international cuisines. About the guest: Dr Klaper graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1972. He served a medical internship at Vancouver General Hospital in British Columbia, received training in surgery, anesthesiology & orthopedics at the University of British Columbia Hospital in Vancouver & trained in obstetrics at the University of California Hospital in San Francisco. Dr Klaper is a clinician, internationally-recognised teacher & speaker on diet & health. In addition to his clinical practice & private consultations with patients, he's a passionate & devoted educator of physicians & other healthcare professionals about the importance of nutrition in clinical practice & integrative medicine. He's also the author of Vegan Nutrition; Pure & Simple & has produced numerous videos, webinars & dozens of articles for both scientific journals & the popular press. As a source of inspiration advocating plant-based diets & the end of animal cruelty worldwide, Dr Klaper contributed to the making of 2 PBS television programs, Food for Thought & the award-winning movie, Diet for a New America. He teaches that “Health Comes From Healthy Living” & is dedicated to the healing & flourishing of all living beings & our planet. He is also a consultant for NASA advising the interplanetary missions on nutrician. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with a transcript on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zaTYwpPOiqo -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ twitter.com/demrescommunity www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

DSAD - ADAD Conference Highlights

Mon, 20 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This week the Dementia Researcher Podcast shines a spotlight on last months DSAD-ADAD Conference, which focused on Down Syndrome Associated Alzheimer's disease (DSAD) and Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease (ADAD). The conference, held in Barcelona, brought together over 160 researchers from 16 countries to discuss groundbreaking research in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. The podcast hosted Sára Erzsebet Zsadányi features three guests, Natalie Edwards, Dr Lisi Flores Aguilar, and Professor Jason Hassenstab. Together they share news from the conference and discuss various topics from genetic predispositions to treatment strategies. The conference highlighted the importance of collaboration and the overlap between DSAD and ADAD research. The podcast also touches on the potential of using retinal imaging as a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease, the importance of considering sex and APOE4 homozygotes in research, and the need for more patient perspectives in clinical trials. -- About the guests: Dr Lisi Flores Aguilar is a Postdoctoral Research at University of California, Irvine researching cerebrovascular pathology in people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease under the mentorship of Dr Elizabeth Head. Natalie Edwards is a PhD Student at Columbia University. Natalie is studying the independent and interactive contributions of cerebrovascular disease and neuroinflammation to Alzheimer’s disease in adults with Down syndrome using neuroimaging techniques and biofluidics. Jason Hassenstab is Professor, Neurology and Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis. Jason directs a lab called the ‘Cognitive Technology Research Laboratory (CTRLab)’ where they develop technology designed to improve the assessment of cognition and function in normal aging and in Alzheimer’s populations. He has also been the Cognition Core Leader for the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) studies for 11 years, and is Principal Investigator of ARC-DS, a multi-site study to develop a mobile data collection platform in Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer’s disease. Sára Erzsebet Zsadányi is a PhD Student at the Sant Pau Memory Unit – Neuroimaging Core and Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. Originally from New Zealand, Sára studied psychology and linguistics, but always felt really drawn to neuroscience and especially to Alzheimer’s disease. Her research is focused on neuroimaging of small vessel disease in Down Syndrome and autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease. -- For more information on the conference visit: https://dsad-adad.com/ -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/RC7a-c1BBs8 -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Leaving Home for Science: The Migration of Minds - LIVE from #AAICNeuro

Mon, 06 May 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This special episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast was recorded live in front of an audience at the AAIC Neuroscience Next Conference at Trinity College Dublin. Dr Francesca Farina, a Senior Fellow at University of Chicago and the Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity College in Dublin, hosts a discussion on the topic of ‘leaving home for science’. The guests are Elul Lakew, a clinical psychologist and mental health advocate from Ethiopia, Dr Claudia Suemoto, an Associate Professor of Geriatrics at the University of Sao Paulo Medical School in Brazil, and Muireann Irish, a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Sydney. They discuss the challenges and benefits of moving for work, what motivated them, the importance of mentorship and collaboration, and the impact of cultural differences on their experiences. They also touch on the issue of "academic brain drain" and the potential future of international mobility in research. -- Resources mentioned in the show: Event Recordings for those pre-registered: https://bit.ly/3mEhcPU -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/fuB4Y2KSt94 -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher #EDI #Equity #Diversity #AcademicCareers

Exploring Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast, Dr Jodi Watt, a postdoc at the University of Glasgow, discusses the importance of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in research and academia with Dr Hamied Haroon and Dr Nikou Damestani. They explore the challenges faced by individuals from diverse backgrounds in academia, the importance of allyship, and the need for more representation in research. They also highlight the impact of EDI on patients and the importance of considering diverse populations in research studies. A key feature… the need for kindness and empathy in the scientific community and the importance of creating safe spaces for open discussions about EDI. -- About the guests: Dr Hamied Haroon is a Research Fellow in Biomedical MR Imaging at The University of Manchester, he is also Chair of the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks (NADSN) a proud life-long Disabled person, Mancunian, husband and father of two. Dr Nikou Damestani is a Former post-doc at Massachusetts General Hospital / Data Expansion Lead. A physicist by training who specialised in neuroimaging at doctoral level, with a big focus of her research being accessibility of studies. Dr Jodi Watt, Postdoctoral Researcher at The University of Glasgow. Jodi is interested in healthy ageing and neurodegenerative diseases of older age, and I am currently working on drug repurposing for dementia. As a queer and neurodiverse person, Jodi is also interested in improving diversity and inclusion practices both within and outside of the academic context. -- Resources mentioned in the show: National Association of Disabled Staff Networks - https://bit.ly/445Gfwv ISMRM EDI Work - https://bit.ly/3Unlidx AMRC EDI Resource Hub - https://bit.ly/49BhOsd -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/fuB4Y2KSt94 -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher #EDI #Equity #Diversity #AcademicCareers

AAIC Neuroscience Next Conference Preview

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we learn what to expect from the upcoming AAIC Neuroscience Next Conference, a global, no-cost event that aims to support and showcase the next generation of Alzheimer’s and dementia researchers and clinicians. Adam Smith, Dementia Researcher Programme Director is join by some of the people behind making it all happen. Dr Igor Fontana, Alzheimer’s Association Director, Scientific Conference Programming. Dr Francesca Farina, Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago and Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity College Dublin, and Dr Kaitlin Seibert, Assistant Professor of Neurology also at University of Chicago. This unique conference works on an innovative "hybrid hub" format that connects both global and local communities. With elements being in-person and online, and full in-person from hubs in the USA, Ireland, India, Ethiopia, Brazil and Serbia. Register for the online event at: https://bit.ly/3mEhcPU Details of registration for an in-person hub are available on our website. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Q4KHRysX3E0 -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ twitter.com/demrescommunity www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Alzheimer's Research UK Conference Roundup 2024

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Last week we were in Liverpool for this years Alzheimer’s Research UK Conference. Hearing from researchers talking about their work and to learn about the latest discoveries in dementia research. In the show guest host Dr Yvonne Couch the University of Oxford talks with Dr Becky Carlyle, Alzheimer’s Research UK Senior Research Fellow & Yasmin Bonsu, Undergraduate placement Student both from the University of Oxford and Dr Jodi Watt, Postdoctoral Research Analyst from University of Glasgow. -- For more information on the event and the great work of Alzheimer’s Research UK visit https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research/for-researchers/research-conference Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/fuB4Y2KSt94 -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://twitter.com/demrescommunity http://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Minds In Motion: Dr Neil Chadborn - Memory Sharing & Dementia

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers. In this first series, five of the Dem Comm Fellows each take a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Vice-Chairperson of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor. -- In this last show of the season Trevor is joined by Dr Megan Polden from the University of Liverpool and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North West Coast to interview Dr Neil Chadborn. Neil (who you will remember from episode one) works at the University of Nottingham and NIHR ARC East Midlands. He is leading work to explore the benefits of intergenerational story telling as a way to connect people living with dementia, with a particular focus on those from minority ethnic backgrounds and the South Asian Community. -- Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research. -- For information on the Fellowship visit: https://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website & on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7d2u1H0UbxI -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Minds In Motion: Dr Megan Polden - Singing & Dancing Dementia Interventions

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers. In this first series, five of the Dem Comm Fellows each take a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Vice-Chairperson of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor. -- In this show Trevor is joined by Dr Chris Poyner from the University of Birmingham and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) West Midlands to interview Dr Megan Polden. Megan works at the University of Liverpool and NIHR ARC North West Coast. She is leading work to understand the benefits of singing and dancing interventions in dementia, and to understand how best these can be delivered in different settings and with people from different backgrounds. -- Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research. -- For information on the Fellowship visit: https://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website & on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lWoVarxIUHY -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Minds In Motion: Dr Chris Poyner - Dementia Support in Rural Communities

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers. In this first series, five of the Dem Comm Fellows each take a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Vice-Chairperson of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor. -- In this show Trevor is joined by Dr Rasa Mikelytė from University of Kent and NIHR ARC Kent, Surrey & Sussex to interview Dr Chris Poyner. Chris works at the University of Birmingham and NIHR ARC West Midlands. He is leading on a project exploring life in rural areas of the West Midlands with dementia. Exploring how people living in these communities access healthcare and get a diagnosis, and how they are supported following diagnosis, and what could be done better, and how this differs from those living in urban areas. Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research. -- For information on the Fellowship visit: https://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website & on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ubnMQilPnYE -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Minds in Motion: Dr Rasa Mikelyte - Integrated Dementia Care

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers. In this first series, five of the Dem Comm Fellows each take a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Vice-Chairperson of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor. -- In this show Trevor is joined by Dr Megan Rose Readman from The University of Liverpool and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North West Coast to interview Dr Rasa Mikelytė. Rasa works at the University of Kent and NIHR ARC Kent, Surrey & Sussex. Having previously specialised in end-of-life and social care, her research now focusses exploring integrated care pathways for people living with dementia. Joining up care leads to better outcomes for people. When local partners – the NHS, councils, voluntary sector, care homes and others – work together as integrated care, and we hear about this work. -- Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research. -- For information on the Fellowship visit: https://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website & on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RyxNjzfBxV4 -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Minds In Motion: Dr Megan Readman - Hearing Loss & Dementia

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0100

The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers. In this first series, five of the Dem Comm Fellows each take a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Vice-Chairperson of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor. -- In this show Trevor is joined by Dr Neil Chadborn from University of Nottingham and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East Midlands to interview Dr Megan Rose Readman. Megan works at the University of Liverpool and NIHR ARC North West Coast. She discusses her research to understand the connections between hearing loss and atypical types of dementia, specifically Parkinson’s Disease Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia. We also get her career tips, and explore how people living with dementia’s lives are affected by hearing and what can be improved. -- Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research. -- For information on the Fellowship visit: https://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website & on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7d2u1H0UbxI -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

ADPD 2024 Conference Highlights - Part 2

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This year's AD/PD Conference was held in Lisbon, Portugal from the 5th to 9th March. In this second of a two-part special we bring you highlights from the last few days of the conference. The AD/PD Conference focuses on basic science and translational and clinical research bringing New insights on disease mechanisms and etiologies, the latest findings from clinical trials, innovative outlooks on therapy and prevention and advances in diagnostic markers. In this special on-location recording our guest host Dr Emily Maguire, Senior Research Associate from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University talks with: Dr Daniel Erskine, Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University. Dr Heather Snyder, Alzheimer's Association Vice President, Medical & Scientific Relations & Dr Timothy Siegert, Co-Founder, President & COO of Allyx Therapeutics. -- For more information on the event visit: https://adpd.kenes.com/ Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/154FZrzwLwE This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://twitter.com/demrescommunity http://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher #dementiaresearch #adpd2024 #ADPDConference

ADPD 2024 Conference Highlights - Part 1

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0100

This year's AD/PD Conference was held in Lisbon, Portugal from the 5th to 9th March. In this first of a two-part special we bring you highlights from the first three days of the conference. The AD/PD Conference focuses on basic science and translational and clinical research bringing New insights on disease mechanisms and etiologies, the latest findings from clinical trials, innovative outlooks on therapy and prevention and advances in diagnostic markers. In this special on-location recording our guest host Dr Amanda Heslegrave, Senior Research Associate and Co-Lead of fluid biomarker laboratory from the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London talks with: Dr Ian Harrison, Senior Research Fellow at University College London studying the role of clearance systems in the brain, and their involvement in the development and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Ariana Gatt, Senior Research Fellow at University College London investigating the role of RNA-binding proteins in neurodegenerative disease with a focus on Frontotemporal dementia. Jess Tobin, Science Communications Manager at Alzheimer's Research UK. -- For more information on the event visit: adpd.kenes.com/ Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel youtu.be/UQdm8aWuoFM This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ http://twitter.com/demrescommunity http://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social http://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher #dementiaresearch #adpd2024 #ADPDConference

Careers & Cradles: Balancing Motherhood & Dementia Research

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, host Emily Spencer, a PhD student at University College London, discusses the challenges and triumphs of balancing a demanding career in academia with motherhood. Guests Dr. Laura Prato and Dr. Aisling McFall share their experiences of working during pregnancy, maternity leave, and returning to work. They discuss the unique challenges of short-term contracts in academia and the societal guilt associated with returning to work after having a child. They also highlight the importance of supportive teams and flexible working arrangements in facilitating a successful return to work. Resources Mentioned in the show: Alz Soc x Daphne Jackson Fellowship - https://bit.ly/4bT5mpV Daphne Jackson Fellowship Webinar - https://bit.ly/484Foga -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Like what you see? Please review, like, and share our podcast. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher #dementiaresearch #academica #academia #motherhood #pregnancy

Neuropathology in Focus: Shaping Our Understanding of Dementia

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we venture into the complex world of neuropathology. Our guests talk about their research, and uncover why neuropathology is so important to understanding dementias. During the discussion they also share a behind scenes glimpse into the workings of a brain bank, explore how brain tissue is used and how it can inform drug trials and personalised care, and provide a shock revelation about the difference between diagnosis in life, and what the brain shows after death. From groundbreaking discoveries to the cutting-edge techniques transforming how we understand and approach brain health, this episode is an essential listen for anyone intrigued by the science of the brain and the fight against dementia. Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali, Senior Lecturer at Teesside University hosts our expert guests, Tammaryn Lashley, Professor of Neuroscience from University College London, Dr Daniel Erskine, Senior Lecturer in Neurodegenerative Pathology and Newcastle University and Dr Laura Palmer, Manager of the South West Dementia Brain Bank at University of Bristol. -- For more information on our guests work visit: • South West Brain Bank - https://bit.ly/49VRVUD • Queen Square Brain Bank - https://bit.ly/3SEskbH • Brains for Dementia Research - https://bit.ly/3SICEiX • Newcastle Neuro Lab - https://bit.ly/3SIb45d -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website & YouTube channel, with captions https://youtu.be/y-Hqt30wJtI -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ twitter.com/demrescommunity bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Food For Thought - Diet, Disease & ALS / MND with Amber Sewell-Green

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, Dr Sam Moxon and accredited dietitian Amber Sewell-Green discuss the potential of diet and nutrition and it's role in motor neuron disease (MDN) / Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Amber, a researcher and PhD candidate, shares her insights on the importance of dietary choices for brain health, the role of plant-based nutrition, and the impact of lifestyle changes on neurological diseases. This conversation explores the intricate relationship between diet, genetics, and MND / ALS, offering a hopeful perspective on prevention and quality of life improvements through nutrition. Join us as we uncover the power of food in supporting brain health and fighting neurodegenerative diseases. -- For more information on Amber's research into diet, metabolism and MND at The University of Queensland (UQ) Brisbane, Australia visit: https://biomedical-sciences.uq.edu.au/research/groups/heterogeneity-in-neurodegenerative-disease If you would like to hearing more, get involved or supporting their vital work do get in touch with Amber or her colleagues Associate Professor Derik Steyn. Email: a.sewellgreen@uq.net.au / f.steyn@uq.edu.au Derik and his partner Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo are world experts on the topic of nutrition & metabolism in MND and have been driving this research and the research clinics here in Brisbane the past 8 years. Find out more about them and their work at: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/2027 https://biomedical-sciences.uq.edu.au/research/groups/heterogeneity-in-neurodegenerative-disease -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website & YouTube channel, with captions https://youtu.be/HWKArqDPGYQ -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Behind the Approval: Research Ethics & Consent

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Join PhD Student and Guest Host Rebecca Williams as she explores the often intricate and crucial world of research ethics approvals and participant consent in dementia research. Rebecca is joined by experts: Dr. Anna Volkmer, a Senior Research Fellow at University College London, Dr. Victoria Shepherd, Senior Fellow from Cardiff University, and Danielle Wilson, Head of Commercialisation and Ethics Chair from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London. Our panelists bring a wealth of experience from various backgrounds, including speech and language therapy, nursing, research delivery, capacity evaluation, consent and health research ethics. They offer invaluable insights into the ethical, legal, and practical challenges of involving people with dementia and other conditions in research. The discussion covers a range of topics including the basics of research ethics, how to apply and manage participant consent, with tips for new applicants and goes further to explore the evolving landscape of research ethics in the age of emerging technologies like AI. This episode is a must-listen for anyone researchers involved in health and social care. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or new to the field, and making your first ethics application this show offers a unique opportunity to hear from experts who have led ethics panels and navigated these challenges themselves. -- Resources discussed in the show: HRA - Research Ethics Service and Research Ethics Committees https://bit.ly/3SnhNm8 HRA - What approvals and decisions do I need? https://bit.ly/3u6MtyF NIHR INCLUDE Impaired Capacity to Consent Framework https://bit.ly/3vJ39Nq -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website and YouTube Channel, with closed captions. https://youtu.be/lpcLXaBxpTE -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

Crossing Borders: Exploring the Blood-Brain Barrier

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0100

Dr Fiona McLean, ARUK Research Fellow, University of Dundee is joined by fellow experts Dr Kate Harris and Dr Sophie Morse, to explore the intricacies of the blood-brain barrier and its pivotal role in dementia research. They discuss pioneering methods in overcoming the barrier for drug delivery, the significance of endothelial cells in barrier integrity, and novel approaches in treating neurodegenerative diseases. The conversation also touches on the collaborative nature of neuroscience, offering invaluable insights for newcomers to the field. Don't miss this deep dive into the forefront of dementia research. -- Meet the guests: Dr Sophie Morse is a Research Fellow & UK DRI Emerging Leader at Imperial College London, within the UK Dementia Research Institute. Sophie is a biomedical engineer who leads a research group exploring the use of Therapeutic Ultrasound for Brain Diseases. Dr Kate Harris is an Academic Track Alzheimer’s Research UK Fellow in Drug Discovery at Newcastle University. Kate is working on finding new drug targets for neurodegenerative disease in neuroinflammation. -- Links mentioned in the show: Rapid short-pulses of focused ultrasound and microbubbles deliver a range of agent sizes to the brain - https://bit.ly/41PFvuh -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website and YouTube Channel, with closed captions. https://youtu.be/1x_6ij9N6pU -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher

2023 End of Year Reflections from Dementia Researchers

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Happy Holidays to all our listeners. Celebrate the season with the Dementia Researcher Podcast Christmas Special! Hosted by Adam Smith, this episode features regular bloggers from the Dementia Researcher website, Dr Anna Volkmer, Dr Connor Richardson, Dr Clarissa Giebel, Hannah Hussain, Dr Jodi Watt, and Ajantha Abey. Together, they reminisce about their 2023 journeys, discuss groundbreaking developments in their research field and explore what they’re most excited about for the coming year. Laced with humor and camaraderie, the episode includes a fun engaging quiz, making for a delightful mix of reflection, anticipation, and festive fun. Want to hear more from our guests? Playlists of all their blogs on Podchaser & YouTube. Adam Smith: https://www.podchaser.com/lists/adam-smith-blogs-11SK2VrZEv Dr Anna Volkmer: https://www.podchaser.com/lists/dr-anna-volkmer-blogs-11SK2VrYqC Dr Connor Richardson: https://www.podchaser.com/lists/dr-connor-richardson-blogs-11SK2VrZEy Dr Clarissa Giebel: https://www.podchaser.com/lists/dr-clarissa-giebel-blogs-11SK2VrYqD Hannah Hussain: https://www.podchaser.com/lists/hannah-hussain-blogs-11SK2VrZ2f Dr Jodi Watt: https://www.podchaser.com/lists/dr-jodi-watt-blogs-11SKBtBEgP Ajantha Abey: https://www.podchaser.com/lists/ajantha-abey-blogs-11SK7Ld4jB -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website and YouTube Channel, with captions. https://youtu.be/dhnYJyb_4UE -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/

International Symposium on ALS / MND Roundup 2023

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The 34th International Symposium on ALS / MND organised by the MND Association took place in Basel, Switzerland from the 6-8 December 2023. In this podcast Dr Alys Griffiths from The University of Sheffield hosts a discussion with three researchers to talk about their talks, and highlights from the biggest annual conference dedicated to ALS and MND research. Sharing news from researchers working around the world to better understand amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neurone disease. -- Sharing their highlights are: Alicia Northall, Postdoctoral Researcher from University of Oxford. Alicia recently moved back to the UK after completing her PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Tubingen / Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg in Germany. Alicia's works in Neuroimaging to characterise microstructural changes to the brain in living patients using 7-Tesla MRI. Dr Philip McGoldrick, Research Associate at University of Toronto. Phil completed his PhD at University College London and is interested in the basic mechanisms that contribute to disease progression and investigate them using a mixture of cell and animal models, alongside post mortem patient tissue. Amber Sewell-Green is a PhD Candidate and Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) at University of Queensland, Australia. Amber's research is focused on improving Nutrition Care Guidelines for MND looking at energy balance and the role of lipids in ALS. Heather Marriott is a PhD Student at King's College London. Amber undertakes analysis of next-generation sequencing data using bioinformatics and machine learning to advance personalised medicine approaches in ALS/MND. -- For more information about the event visit: https://symposium.mndassociation.org/ You can also get news from the event as it happened on X: https://bit.ly/alsmndsymp Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel and website, with captions for those unable to hear. https://youtu.be/nIfDb7imAN0 -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/

Harmonising Minds Dementia Friendly Music & Arts

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast, guest host Dr Robyn Dowlen leads a fascinating exploration of the intersection of music, arts, and inclusivity in the context of dementia. This episode features a trio of remarkable guests who have been instrumental in integrating dementia-friendly initiatives into the arts. Our guests are Holly Marland, Former Churchill Fellow and Music Therapist and dedicated advocate for community music projects; Dr Andy Northcott from the University of West London, who brings an academic perspective on the impact of arts and how to make events more accessible; and Liv McLennan from Sounds Better Community Interest Company, a pioneer in using music as a bridge to memory and joy. The episode explores the inspiring stories behind our guests’ projects, ranging from festivals to operas, highlighting how they're creating spaces where every note and performance opens doors to accessibility and understanding. Robyn, a researcher at the University of Manchester, also shares insights from her work on capturing the musical experiences of people with dementia. This episode is not just about the arts, but also about how these initiatives foster community, inclusivity, and a deeper understanding of dementia's impact on lives. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that promises to be as informative as it is inspiring, showcasing the powerful role of arts in enhancing the lives of those living with dementia. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than watch, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on YouTube and our website: https://youtu.be/p09EwnJ5lYk -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ #dementiacare #dementiaresearch #Arts #dementia #alzheimerdisease #DementiaCare #MusicandDementia #Opera

Improving Dementia Care Journeys

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast is hosted by Dr. Annalise Rahman-Filipiak and features Diane Ty and Rajiv Ahuja, authors of a pivotal report from the Milken Institute - Guiding the Care Journey. In this show we discuss the report, its importance an findings - addressing critical challenges and presenting innovative solutions for dementia care in the United States, with a particular focus on the role of the care navigators. While the report primarily addresses the U.S. context, its recommendations are deemed relevant globally, and the discussion aims to shed light on findings related to improving care for people living with dementia and their families, wherever you are. -- Download the report: https://bit.ly/3uEgvtq Visit the Milken website: https://milkeninstitute.org/ -- About the guests: Diane Ty is the Senior Director of the Milken Institute Future of Aging overseeing its work at the intersection of healthy longevity and financial security. She leads its Alliance to Improve Dementia Care and other multisector programmatic efforts that promote policy, practice, and systems change in a life course approach to aging. Rajiv Ahuja is the Associate Director of the Milken Institute Future Ageing. His work focuses on aging policies and programs that support healthy longevity. Rajiv spearheads efforts to incentivize policy, business, and technology-based approaches that promote brain health, combat stigma, reduce costs, and bridge health and economic disparities. Dr Annalise Rahman-Filipiak is an Assistant Professor, Clinical Neuropsychologist at University of Michigan. Annalise broadly studies racial-ethnic disparities in dementia diagnosis and treatment, as well as non-pharmacologic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Her recent work has focused on disclosure of imaging and fluid-based biomarkers to diverse audiences, including cognitively healthy older adults and those with impairment -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than watch, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on YouTube and our website: https://youtu.be/rvjpPsdIyQc -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ @MilkenInstitute #dementiacare #dementiaresearch #CareNavigator #dementia #alzheimerdisease #DemetiaCare,

A Closer Look At Lecanemab Donanemab And Amyloid

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast Dr Anna Volkmer, convenes a panel of world-renowned experts from University College London. They discuss the discovery of amyloid and its role in Alzheimer’s Disease and take an in-depth look into the latest developments surrounding Lecanemab and Donanemab, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as a treatment and Gene Silencing.

This week’s guests are Professor Sir John Hardy, Geneticist and trailblazer in neurodegenerative disease research, Professor Nick Fox, Neurologist, and eminent figure in the fields of neuroimaging and clinical neuroscience, and Dr Cath Mummery, Neurologist and leading light in cognitive disorders and clinical trials.

Listeners can expect:

Discussion on new dementia drugs Lecanemab and Donanemab.
Insights on the science behind these treatments, the story behind the discovery of amyloid and familial Alzheimer’s - with Carol Jennings.
Clarification of misconceptions about dementia therapies.
Information on the impact of these drugs on patients and clinical practice.
A look at the future of dementia research, including gene-silencing therapies.

Follow us on social media:

Download and Register with our Community App:

https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Alzheimer Europe Conference Roundup 2023

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Last week Adam Smith attended the 33rd Alzheimer Europe Conference in Helsinki, Finland. In this podcast Adam and his guests bring you highlights from event, sharing news and their best bits from the hundreds of posters and talks delivered. -- This week’s guests are: Dr Victoria Shepherd, Senior Research Fello and Nurse from Cardiff University. Victoria has a special interest in research involving under-served populations with a particular focus on people with cognitive impairment. She leads a programme of methodological research exploring the ethical, legal and practical issues around research involving adults who lack capacity consent. Dr Monica Leverton, Postdoctoral Researcher at King’s College London. Monica is based within the NIHR policy institute in health and social care workforce. Her areas of interest include care for people living with dementia and the social care workforce who support them. She currently leads a project developing the role of dementia champions in homecare. Dr Danielle Jones, Associate Professor in Dementia Studies at University of Bradford. Danielle is a medical sociologist with expertise in Conversation Analysis. She has applied this method to medical communication to investigate how dementia is assessed within memory clinics in the UK. Her current project explores how dementia risk is communicated in medical interaction within both primary and secondary care. Caroline Bartle, Dementia Project Specialist at Ryman Health Care in New Zealand. Caroline has 30 years in dementia care – carer to social worker to CEO – leading workforce development in dementia care. Founder of 3 Spirit Training Consultancy who has trained over 100,000 carers and developed over 500 different health and social care programmes. -- This year’s conference was held under the motto “New opportunities in dementia care, policy and research”. As in previous years, this conference is one of the few in the diary that has a ‘family feel; providing great networking opportunities and bringing together people living with dementia, carers, volunteers and staff of European Alzheimer associations, policy makers, health and social care professionals, researchers and academics. This year had a record turn-out of 1,000 in-person attendees, enjoying a programme covering a broad range of topics, from fundamental science to care, diagnosis, policies, interventions, treatments and more (and for the first-time sessions led and decided by their European Working Group of People with Dementia (EWGPWD) and European Dementia Carers Working Group (EDCWG)). -- Links discussed in the show: Conference Website - https://bit.ly/3seI5g4 Conference hashtag - https://bit.ly/45R0RYX EU-Fingers - https://eufingers.com/ INTERDEM - https://interdem.org/ -- You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Dementia Researcher or its supporters.

Lucky Charms: Unravelling Lab Superstitions

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Science is all about rigorous testing, empirical evidence, and painstaking documentation, right? But even in the most state-of-the-art labs, you'll find researchers who hold on to quirky rituals, lucky charms, or, dare we say it, superstitions. In this podcast, Dr Yvonne Couch, Associate Professor at University of Oxford hosts a discussion that romps through the lighter side of scientific research by exploring the wonderful world of lab superstitions. From lucky pipettes to forbidden phrases, we're about to uncover the unofficial 'do's and don'ts' that researchers swear by, or at least, swear make for good anecdotes. -- This shows guests are: Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali, Lecturer in Biomedical Science at Teeside University. In addition to teaching, Kam is interested in How neuroinflammation following traumatic brain injury contributes to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease) that lead to dementia. Dr Soraya Meftah, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh. Soraya works in the space of Neurophysiology of dementia (synaptic, neuronal, network dysfunction). Tabitha Broadbelt just completed her PhD at The University of Edinburgh and is now a Postdoctoral Researcher at the MRC Brain Network Dynamics Unity at University of Oxford. In the Dupret Group, Tabitha uses optogenetics and large-scale single-unit recordings combined to study memory-guided behaviour. Dr Lauren Walker is an Alzheimer’s Research UK Fellow at Newcastle University. Lauren complete her undergrad degree in Physiological Sciences, and worked in a technical role for 7 years before being inspired to return to study a PhD. Lauren now works in Neuropathology of Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer's disease. -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

The Study Recruitment Puzzle

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0100

It's #InternationalPodcastDay so we released this show a little early to celebrate 🎉 In this podcast we explore the intricacies of dementia research study participant recruitment. Our host Adam Smith and his three expert guests talk about why study recruitment is hard, the challenges they have faced in their own work, and unlock the secrets they have learned to crack the problem, and recruit on-time and on-target. -- This weeks guests are: Dr Anna Volkmer, Senior Research Fellow, University College London. Anna is a Speech and Language Therapy clinician, researching Speech and language therapy interventions in language led dementia. Ellice Parkinson, PhD Student and former Trial Co-ordinator, University of East Anglia. With a background in clinical psychology and working in Huntington’s disease now focussed on Hydration care of older people, and people living with dementia. Dr Megan Rose Readman, Demm Comm Research Fellow, The University of Liverpool. Megan’s current research, working alongside Dr Clarissa Giebel, Dr Dalia Tsimpida and Professor Chris Plack, focuses on the relationship between hearing loss and atypical types of dementia, specifically Parkinson’s Disease Dementia and Lewy Body Dementia. -- 🎙️ What to Expect: •Gain insights into why recruitment is difficult. •Learn effective strategies to overcome communication challenges between researchers and participants. •Uncover novel approaches to streamline the recruitment process and reduce attrition rates. •Discover top-tips to help you find the participants you need. -- Websites mentioned in this show: http://www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress/clinical-trials/trialmatch https://www.stepupfordementiaresearch.org.au/ https://www.scie.org.uk/dementia/after-diagnosis/communication/conversation.asp https://www.rcslt.org/wp-content/uploads/media/Project/RCSLT/rcslt-dementia-factsheet.pdf -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Food For Thought - Ketogenic Diets: A Path to Brain Health? with Dr Helena Popovic

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Dr Sam Moxon is back for another show in his ‘Food for Thought’ series. In these shows Sam invites leading experts to talk about their work and the connections between diet, brain health, cognition, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. In this show he welcomes Dr. Helena Popovic to explore the much-debated ketogenic diet and its potential benefits for cognitive function. Helena is a best-selling author and leading authority on neuroplasticity and improving brain function. She is also a popular media commentator and regularly appears on TV and radio and was a Sydney TEDx Fast Ideas finalist. Helena graduated from the University of Sydney, Australia and her mission is to educate rather than to medicate. -- The ketogenic diet, traditionally known for its effectiveness in weight management and treating epilepsy, is making waves in the realm of neuroscience. Dr Popovic sheds light on her research, exploring how this high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet may offer new avenues for cognitive enhancement and brain health. Listeners can expect to gain: 1. Insight into the mechanisms through which the ketogenic diet affects the brain. 2. A comprehensive understanding of the latest research linking keto to cognitive improvements. 3. Expert opinions on the safety and practicality of adopting a ketogenic lifestyle for long-term brain health. -- This episode provides a deep dive into the research surrounding the ketogenic diet and brain health. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a caregiver, or someone interested in enhancing cognitive performance, this episode is a must-listen. -- For more information on Dr Helena Popovic and her work visit: https://drhelenapopovic.com/ -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Dementia Researcher, or our funders, the show does not endorse one particular diet over another and strongly recommends you consult your healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

The Hidden Support System: Dementia Researchers' Partners

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this show we’re not focusing on the scientists or their discoveries, but instead we talk to some of the unsung heroes, the pillars of support behind the scenes who play an integral role in the lives of dementia researchers? We focus on the husbands, partners, and significant others of dementia researchers – who generously share their insights. Getting a glimpse into the lives of those who stand shoulder to shoulder with researchers, offering unwavering encouragement, love, and understanding. For our special family and careers week, we discuss how they support the researchers in their lives, and have a fun quiz to see just how well they know them. -- Adam Smith, Programme Director for Dementia Researcher hosts this discussion with: Andrew Lashley, self-employed Architect, father of three, and husband to Tammaryn Lashley, Professor of Neuroscience at University College London. Michael O’Reilly, Scenic Artist at the Royal Opera House, father of one, and husband to Dr Zanna Voysey, Neurologist and PhD Student, University of Cambridge. João Moreira, Staff Software Engineer and husband to Dr Isabel Castanho, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School. -- Hear from Professor Lashley sharing more about life as a working academic, mother, and wife in this one-to-one interview and as a guest on our managing family life and a research career podcast: Interview – https://bit.ly/44BkSSA Podcast - https://bit.ly/3sJUYPn -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Managing Family Life & A Research Career - Reunion

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this special episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, delivered as part of our managing family life and research week, we bring you a reunion that promises insightful reflections and inspiring progress. Join host Professor Heather Mortiboys as they sit down with four exceptional researchers who graced our show five years ago. Back then, they shared their perspectives on the intricate dance between a demanding research career and the joys and challenges of family life. Now, five years later, we've invited them back to revisit those conversations and explore how their journeys have evolved. Listen in as they openly discuss the strategies they've employed, the hurdles they've overcome, and the changes they've embraced. Gain fresh insights into how they've managed to thrive in both their academic pursuits and family responsibilities. -- This week’s guests are: Dr Gemma Lace, is Associate Dean Academic (Student Experience) & Lead of the Molecular Biology Dementia Group at the University of Salford. Dr Jo Barnes, is Associate Professor / Faculty Grade Tutor (Research) at University College London. Working on addressing the relationship of imaging markers of presumed cerebrovascular disease and more classical markers of dementia. Professor Tammaryn Lashley, is Professor of Neuroscience and Director of Research in the Queen Square Brain Bank at University College London. Dr Angelique Mavrodaris, is a Clinical Research Fellow & Consultant in Public Health Medicine exploring Ageing, dementia, and infectious diseases from a global public health perspective. Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Thirst for Knowledge: Hydration & Dementia

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast Dr Anna Volkmer engages in a captivating discussion with a panel of researchers and experts from the University of East Anglia and Age UK. The focus? Hydration – a seemingly simple yet profoundly impactful aspect of well-being, especially for older individuals and those living with dementia. -- Sharing their research, learning and efforts to deliver practical changes are: Ellice Parkinson, PhD Student. With a background in clinical psychology and working in Huntington’s disease but having now worked in dementia research for almost 10 years, and now focussed on Hydration care of older people, and people living with dementia (and quickly approaching the final year of her PhD at UEA). Dan Skipper, CEO of Age UK Norwich. Dan is an active part of a range of forums focusing on improving the quality of later life in the city and county, including Norwich Older People’s Forum, Norfolk Older People’s Strategic Partnership, and the Norwich Institute of Healthy Ageing. Amy Zile, PhD Student whose work is focussed on Hydration in older adults who live in the community. Mental health and wellbeing of students and academic staff. Dr Florence Jimoh, Senior Knowledge Exchange Associate passionate about hydration in older adults who are at increased risk of dehydration due to physiological and cognitive changes. Her research has involved working with stakeholders to develop a Drinks Diary that some care home residents can use to monitor their fluid intake. -- As we age, maintaining proper hydration becomes more crucial than ever, with far-reaching effects on physical health, cognitive function, and overall quality of life. When it comes to individuals grappling with dementia, the significance of hydration takes on an even more intricate dimension. Join us as we dive into the intricate tapestry of hydration science and its intersection with aging and dementia – and most importantly, exploring the research undertaken by this group to understand and address the challenges. Resources discussed: Improving drinking for people living with dementia in care homes - Access to the FREE dehydration awareness posters for public and clinical areas - https://bit.ly/44kIudY UEA Hydrate Group - Access to the FREE DrinkIt resources and information about the UEA Hydrate Group - https://bit.ly/3shiJ0V -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Reshaping Misfolding Enzymes

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Dr Sam Moxon has been working on a new grant and exploring how to create a spin out innovation biotech company. This work led him to meet Matthias Alder, who we just had to get on the podcast. In this show we hear from Gain Therapeutics CEO Matthias Alder. He is leading a biotech company engaged in the development of a potentially disease-modifying therapy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Hoping to unlock new treatments for difficult to treat disorders with their SEE-Tx™ supercomputer-driven, drug discovery platform targeting allosteric binding sites. There is a lot of work underway to explore modifying enzymes that have misfolded, losing their functional structure. Misfolding can lead to various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Researchers in this field seek, and Gain Therapeutics study the mechanisms behind enzyme misfolding, explore the consequences of misfolding on cellular functions, and develop strategies to correct or reshape these misfolded enzymes. By gaining insights into this process, scientists hope to discover potential therapeutic interventions for treating diseases associated with misfolded enzymes. https://www.gaintherapeutics.com/ -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel – https://youtu.be/uVmNbqWKBvM -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC 2023 - Day Four

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the fourth day of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) taking place in Amsterdam and Online, 16th – 20th July. Adam Smith hosts the show with special guests Vyshnavy Balendra from Saint James School of Medicine, Chicago. Dr Helena Popovi, Family physician, educator and author of three books from the Gold Coast in Australia and Dr Iain Hartnell, Research Communications Officer from Alzheimer’s Society. The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. For more information visit: https://aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video podcast on our YouTube Channel. -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC 2023 - Day Three

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the third day of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) taking place in Amsterdam and Online, 16th – 20th July. Adam Smith hosts the show with special guests Dr Jayashree Dasgupta from GBHI Trinity College Dublin, Samita Kirve from Oxford Brookes University and Sarah Gregory from The University of Edinburgh. -- The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. For more information visit: https://aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video podcast on our YouTube Channel. -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC 2023 - Day Two

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the second day of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) taking place in Amsterdam and Online, 16th – 20th July. Adam Smith hosts the show with special guests Sára Erzsebet Zsadányi from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Dr Sonata Mačiulskytė from Klaipeda University and Dr Aoife Cosgrave from Alzheimer’s Research UK. -- The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. For more information visit: https://aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video podcast on our YouTube Channel. -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC 2023 - Day One

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share a few selected highlights from the first day of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) taking place in Amsterdam and Online, 16th – 20th July. Adam Smith hosts the show with special guests Dr Mizuki Morisaki from University of Bristol, Sam Keat, PhD Student in the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University and Dr Arunima Sikdar a Postdoc Research Associate from University of North Carolina. -- The AAIC brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community at the largest and most influential international conference on dementia science. They share theories and breakthroughs while exploring opportunities to accelerate work and elevate careers. For more information visit: https://aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video podcast on our YouTube Channel. -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - The Eye As A BiomarkerFor AD PIA

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART Relay Podcast is back for a fourth series. Five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. -- Part Five – Dr Shana D Stites interviews Dr Imre Lengyel representing The Eye as a Biomarker for AD PIA. -- Shana Stites is an Assistant Professor at University of Pennsylvania. As a clinical psychologist and researcher with the Penn Project on Precision Medicine for the Brain (P3MB), Shana’s research focuses on advancing diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s. The goal is to understand ways to promote quality of life and psychological wellbeing. This includes understanding the impacts of the disease on individuals who may be directly affected by pathology as well as their family members. As part of this work, Shana has a special focus on better understanding how aspects of identity, such as age, gender, and race, operate as determinants in the disease experience. Shana is representing the ISTAART Diversity & Disparities PIA. -- Imre Lengyel is a Reader (Associate professor) at Queen's University Belfast. Imre is researching how we could use the eye as a less expensive, better tolerated, and faster marker to monitor the progression of neurodegeneration. He undertakes clinical eye imaging and use postmortem tissues to generate molecular and high-resolution anatomical confirmation for the changes we see in eye images. Imre is representing the ISTAART The Eye as a Biomarker for AD PIA. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 29 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: https://istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: https://aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video podcast on our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/dY968fsgB-E -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Diversity And Disparities PIA

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART Relay Podcast is back for a fourth series. Five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. -- Part Four – Dr Dave Cash interviews Dr Shana D Stites representing the Diversity & Disparities PIA. -- Dave Cash is a Principal Research Fellow at University College London. Dave is a biomedical engineer that has worked predominantly in imaging (never let him near your wet lab if you like your glassware). His PhD involved image guided liver surgery at Vanderbilt University, and in 2005, he picked up and moved from the southern United States to London to do a post-doc. That led him to an opportunity to get involved in Alzheimer's disease trials. Dave is representing the ISTAART Neuroimaging PIA. -- Shana Stites is an Assistant Professor at University of Pennsylvania. As a clinical psychologist and researcher with the Penn Project on Precision Medicine for the Brain (P3MB), Shana’s research focuses on advancing diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s. The goal is to understand ways to promote quality of life and psychological wellbeing. This includes understanding the impacts of the disease on individuals who may be directly affected by pathology as well as their family members. As part of this work, Shana has a special focus on better understanding how aspects of identity, such as age, gender, and race, operate as determinants in the disease experience. Shana is representing the ISTAART Diversity & Disparities PIA. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 29 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: https://istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: https://aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video podcast on our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/VyKhWR4bQpc -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Neuroimaging PIA

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART Relay Podcast is back for a fourth series. Five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. -- Part Three – Beth Eyre interviews Dr Dave Cash representing the Neuroimaging PIA. -- Beth Eyre is a PhD Student (although she recently submitted her thesis and will be defending very soon) at The University of Sheffield. Beth is investigating cognitive and neurovascular function in pre-clinical models of Alzheimer’s disease and in a mixed model of Alzheimer’s and atherosclerosis. Beth is representing the ISTAART Vascular Cognitive Disorders PIA. -- Dave Cash is a Principal Research Fellow at University College London. Dave is a biomedical engineer that has worked predominantly in imaging (never let him near your wet lab if you like your glassware). His PhD involved image guided liver surgery at Vanderbilt University, and in 2005, he picked up and moved from the southern United States to London to do a post-doc. That led him to an opportunity to get involved in Alzheimer's disease trials. Dave is representing the ISTAART Neuroimaging PIA. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 29 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: https://istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: https://aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video podcast on our YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/0R5hfPiTVSg -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Vascular Cognitive Disorders PIA

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART Relay Podcast is back for a fourth series. Five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. -- Part Two – Dr Maura Malpetti interviews Beth Eyre, representing the Vascular Cognitive Disorders PIA. -- Maura Malpetti is a Race Against Dementia Fellow at University of Cambridge. Maura focusses on multimodal imaging techniques (multi-tracer PET and MRI) integrated with fluid markers, post-mortem validation, and prognostic modelling approaches in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Maura is representing the ISTAART Frontotemporal Dementia PIA. -- Beth Eyre is a PhD Student (although she recently submitted her thesis and will be defending very soon) at The University of Sheffield. Beth is investigating cognitive and neurovascular function in pre-clinical models of Alzheimer’s disease and in a mixed model of Alzheimer’s and atherosclerosis. Beth is representing the ISTAART Vascular Cognitive Disorders PIA. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 29 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: https://istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: https://aaic.alz.org -- You can also enjoy this show as a video podcast on our YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/sIPLKvDtQUk -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Frontotemporal Dementia PIA

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART Relay Podcast is back for a fourth series. Five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. -- Part One – Dr Imre Lengyel interviews Dr Maura Malpetti, representing the Frontotemporal Dementia PIA. -- Imre Lengyel is a Reader (Associate professor) at Queen's University Belfast. Imre is researching how we could use the eye as a less expensive, better tolerated, and faster marker to monitor the progression of neurodegeneration. He undertakes clinical eye imaging and use postmortem tissues to generate molecular and high-resolution anatomical confirmation for the changes we see in eye images. Imre is representing the ISTAART The Eye as a Biomarker for AD PIA. -- Maura Malpetti is a Race Against Dementia Fellow at University of Cambridge. Maura focusses on multimodal imaging techniques (multi-tracer PET and MRI) integrated with fluid markers, post-mortem validation, and prognostic modelling approaches in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Maura is representing the ISTAART Frontotemporal Dementia PIA. -- The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. -- There are currently 29 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit: https://istaart.alz.org Note: ISTAART Membership is free for students worldwide, and for researchers of all levels based in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. -- To book your place at this year’s AAIC (In-person and online) visit: https://aaic.alz.org You can also enjoy this show as a videoon our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/6vEwiXb2iyo -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC Preview 2023

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Adam Smith chats with Dr Claire Sexton, Senior Director, Scientific Programs and Outreach from the Alzheimer’s Association. Discussing this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 16 – 20 July. -- Taking place in-person in Amsterdam and online - the world’s leading basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community will share breaking research discoveries that will lead to methods of prevention and treatment and improvements in diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease. In this exciting edition, we will be giving you an exclusive sneak peek into one of the most highly anticipated events in dementia research conference calendar. Join us as we delve into how you can attend, the scientific programme, extra events and just what the AAIC will deliver this year. With leading experts, visionary thinkers, and research pioneers gathering under one roof, this conference promises to not only showcase groundbreaking discoveries, but also be a place where you will get careers support, and unrivalled networking opportunities. -- To book your place visit - https://aaic.alz.org Join ISTAART to get a free online ticket – https://istaart.alz.org -- Note: Students worldwide and researchers from Low- and Middle-Income Countries are now eligible for free ISTAART Membership (and ISTAART members can attend the AAIC Online for Free) - Become a member, then register for the conference if you can't make it in-person. Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Register to attend the Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer's Research UK, Dementias Platform UK and UK Dementia Research Institute Networking event: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/U2N2WG/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Livestream Catch-up - Unlocking The Future Of MND A Journey Of Discovery And Hope

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Dementia Researcher hosted a YouTube / Twitter Livestream on the 23rd June 2023 exploring Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and the remarkable advancements in research, in partnership with MND Scotland. We enjoyed the session so much, that we decided to release it as a bonus 'extra' podcast - so please ignore any references to links on the screen. Listen to learn more about the disease, the latest advancements in MND research, and specifically about the groundbreaking MND Smart Trial. This unique trial has garnered attention for its innovative approach and has shown promising potential in accelerating the discovery of effective treatments for MND. Furthermore, the event will delve into the impact of new investments in MND research, exploring how these resources are driving progress and propelling the quest for a cure. Resources mentioned during the recording: MND-SMART Website - https://mnd-smart.org/ MND Scotland Website - https://mndscotland.org.uk/ Jane Blog - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-uk-motor-neuron-disease-research-institute/ *We can now confirm that the MND-SMART Study does sit on the NIHR Portfolio CPMS ID 44601 for any interested NHS sites. Adam Smith hosted the session, and was joined by: Dr Jane Haley, representing MND Scotland, brings her extensive expertise and compassionate approach to the discussion. As the Director of Research at MND Scotland, Dr. Haley has been instrumental in bringing the thoughts and priorities of people affected by MND into research and driving forward research initiatives and partnerships. Suvankar Pal is a Professor of Neurodegenerative Disorders and Clinical Trials at the University of Edinburgh. He is co-lead investigator of the innovative MND-SMART trial, the largest ever Phase 3 trial for people living with MND in the UK. Stevie Morris was diagnosed with MND in February 2021. He will bring insights to life, sharing the realities of living with the disease, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals living with MND and the importance of research in improving their quality of life. Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to expand your knowledge, engage with leading experts, and gain insights into the pioneering MND-SMART Trial. Join us on the livestream as we embark on a journey to accelerate discovery and make a difference in the lives of those affected by MND.

WHO Supporting Dementia Research Knowledge Exchange

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This week, regular guest host and Dementia Researcher blogger Dr Anna Volkmer talks with representatives from the World Health Organisation, to learn about the brilliant new Global Dementia Observatory (GDO) Knowledge Exchange Platform. Listen to hear how researchers can contribute, and how the service is already making a difference. -- This week’s guests are the courageous Jim Mann and the incredible Laura Garcia Diaz. Jim lives in British Columbia, he is a Researcher, Author, and Volunteer Living with Alzheimer’s. Has an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his effort on “countering negative stereotypes and promoting an inclusive society in which persons with dementia can make an active and meaningful contribution.” Jim was diagnosed in 2007 at the age of 58, and he has contributed to the project in a variety of ways. Laura supports management of the Knowledge Exchange Platform. She has five years of experience in knowledge translation and mobilisation in the area of dementia, having previously worked for the Alzheimer Society of Canada supporting the developing and dissemination of dementia resources. In addition to consulting for the WHO Laura is in the fourth year of a dual degree program at McMaster University, Canada, in which she is completing a Master of Science Occupational Therapy and a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences degrees in concurrently. Her research focuses on the evaluation of a Canadian dementia-inclusive community initiative. -- The Global Dementia Observatory (GDO) Knowledge Exchange Platform, also known as the GDO KE Platform, is a resource hub that facilitates the implementation of the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025. It offers various resources, such as policies, guidelines, case studies, and examples of good practices, which are freely available for stakeholders to share and learn from. Users can submit resources, which are then filtered based on strategic action areas, country-specific information, and resource types. A rigorous review process, involving peer reviewers, a Focus Group of individuals with lived experience of dementia, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Secretariat, ensures the quality and adherence to good practice criteria. Users can leave comments and ratings to foster discussion and improvement. The GDO KE Platform works alongside the GDO data portal, which gathers and disseminates data from Member States on 35 key dementia indicators, aiding evidence-based service planning and policy strengthening. The GDO serves as the monitoring and accountability mechanism for the Global action plan and supports the data portal. Access to the GDO KE Platform and the GDO data portal is available for interested individuals. -- Essential Links: GDO KEP – http://www.globaldementia.org A blueprint for dementia research - https://bit.ly/43wbtfq GDO KE peer reviewer application - https://bit.ly/3XfDKVj GDO resource submission form - https://bit.ly/42yK0Iv Global action plan 2017 – 2025 - https://bit.ly/3MZiRZt -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel – https://youtu.be/UWG363dt20s -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC Satellite Symposium 2023 Highlights

Mon, 29 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In today's episode, Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh, Research Programme and Biomarker Lead at Imperial College London and GHBI Fellow at University California, San Francisco talks to a line-up of captivating guests as we dive into sharing insights from the AAIC Satellite Symposium 2023 – focussing on the latest research from Latin America. -- This week’s guests are all currently GBHI Fellows, and highly respected researchers at their home institutions: Dr Adolfo M. García, Director, Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andres / Senior Atlantic Fellow, Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco / Associate Researcher, Universidad de Santiago de Chile. Adolfo specializes in language in neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Alison Canty, Associate Professor, & Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin / Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania. Alison is researching Neuroplasticity in ageing and neurodegenerative disease. Dr Jayashree Dasgupta, is a GBHI Fellow and Clinical Psychologist working on translating evidence based practices to develop services for mental well-being, active aging and dementia care in India. She is also an ethics researcher and my work involves highlighting perspectives from under-represented settings into clinical research. Michelle Moses-Eisenstein, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health and Performing Artist at Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco. Michelle is committed to improving the lives of people with dementia and their care partners through innovation across arts programs, grants, communications, and policy. She is a creative and empathetic problem solver motivated to achieve public health solutions and health equity through relationship building, advocacy, education, stakeholder engagement, and strategic partnerships. Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh, Research Programme and Biomarker Lead and currently GHBI Fellow. Chi was I was born in Nigeria and relocated to the UK as a teenager. She has always been fascinated by the brain - how we think, learn and remember; and how these processes can be affected in disease/ alleviated therapeutically. Chi studied Neuroscience all the way through undergrad to PhD, then did my post-doc in neuroepidemiology, her focus is now on Dementia Prevention and biomarkers. -- For more information on the event visit: https://www.alz.org/satellite-symposium/overview.asp For more information on GBHI visit: https://www.gbhi.org/events/gbhi-annual-conference-2023 -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel – https://youtu.be/zy7mKB49vuw -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Inside the Global Brain Health Institute

Mon, 22 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we explore the world of brain health and the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program of the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), from Trinity College Dublin and University of California San Francisco. Join us as we speak with world-class faculty members and fellows about their experiences in this cutting-edge program that's changing the face of brain health leadership and creating new attitudes. From neuroscience to psychology, public health to neurology, and even the arts and communications we'll take you on a journey through the amazing work being done by the Global Brain Health Institute. Tune in and be inspired by the transformative work being done to improve brain health around the world. Hosted by Adam Smith, Dementia Researcher Programme Director and recorded at Trinity College Dublin, he talks with faculty members Dr Dominic Trepel, Dr Claire Gillan, Dr Alejandro Lopez Valdes & Dr Agustin Ibanez. We also get perspectives on the programme from existing fellows Dr Jayashree Dasgupta & Zach Bandler. -- Applications for the 2023 Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program very soon. For more information visit: https://www.gbhi.org/apply -- Meet the guests: Adam Smith is Programme Director for Dementia Researcher at University College London. He has led a number of initiatives to improve dementia research including creating and producing this podcast and Dementia Researcher as well as pursuing his own research interests. Dr Agustin Ibanez is Director, Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, and Group Leader, Predictive Brain Health Modelling group GBHI. He is a Neuroscientist interested in global approaches to dementia and social, cognitive, and affective neuroscience. Dr Jayashree Dasgupta is a GBHI Fellow and Clinical Psychologist working on translating evidence based practices to develop services for mental well-being, active aging and dementia care in India. She is also an ethics researcher and my work involves highlighting perspectives from under-represented settings into clinical research. Zach Bandler is an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health and Film director and screenwriter, focused on creating informed and empathetic narratives about dementia and brain injury in cinema. Working to shift attitudes with concerns that Hollywood focuses too much on tragedy narratives when it comes to dementia. He hopes to see more hopeful and humane portrayals onscreen. Dr Claire Gillan is a Psychologist and Associate Professor at the Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin. Claire is working to scale up research in psychiatry - with data-science focused work and through their own smartphone app for connecting researchers to citizen scientists. Dr Alejandro Lopez Valdes is an Assistant Professor in Applied Neural Engineering for Brain Health in the GBHI. Focused on applied neural engineering supporting, aging, sensory dysfunction and cognition. Dr Dominic Trepel is Assistant Professor of Economics and is jointly appointed as faculty for the GBHI and Trinity School of Medicine. Dominic is also primary investigator in Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN) where he directs Trépel lab (www.healtheconomics.ie). -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel – https://youtu.be/rQey3-XyEjQ -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

BNA 2023 - Festival of Neuroscience Highlights

Mon, 08 May 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to another captivating episode of Dementia Researcher, the podcast that delves into the fascinating world of dementia research. In this special edition, we bring you highlights from the renowned BNA 2023 - Festival of Neuroscience, as we sit down with five brilliant researchers to hear their personal experiences and insights. Our guest host this week is Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali, she is joined by Dr Charlie Arber from UCL, Dr Dorothy Tse from Edge Hill University, Dr Nora Bengoa-Vergniory from Anchucarro, Basque Center for Neuroscience and Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University. Join us as we embark on a riveting journey through the festival, where our guests share their best moments, favourite research presentations, and the exciting events that explored academic and research careers. Our guests, as experts in their respective fields, paint a vivid picture of the festival, offering glimpses into the cutting-edge research that caught their attention and ignited their curiosity. They share their thoughts on the emerging trends, innovative methodologies, and potential breakthroughs that could revolutionize our understanding and treatment of dementia. But it's not just about the science. Our guests also shine a light on the various events that focused on academic and research careers. From panels and workshops to networking sessions, they discuss the invaluable opportunities the festival provided to connect with fellow researchers, forge collaborations, and learn from the brightest minds in the field. Whether you're an aspiring researcher, a healthcare professional, or someone affected by dementia, this episode offers a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration. So, join us as we dive into the enriching world of the BNA 2023 - Festival of Neuroscience through the eyes of these remarkable researchers. Get ready to be inspired, informed, and captivated by the incredible discoveries and the unwavering dedication that fuels the fight against dementia. -- For more information on the event visit: https://meetings.bna.org.uk/bna2023/ Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel and in Spotify: https://youtu.be/Wi1htbbMsek -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Things You Need To Know About Setting Up A Lab

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Consider this podcast as a ‘Lab Setup 101”, we’ve brought together three newly minted principle investigators to talk about the highs, lows and practical things you need to consider when setting up a new lab – learning from their first-hand experience. Dr Fiona McLean, ARUK Fellow from University of Dundee talks with Dr Claire Durrant, RAD Fellow from The University of Edinburgh, Dr Ian Harrison, Senior Research Fellow from University College London and Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly, Group Leader in the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University. Together our guests will guide you through the important things you need to know before embarking on this journey. Everything from locations and space to purchasing equipment, and hiring staff, we'll cover everything you need to get started. Our expert guests will also share their experiences and provide valuable insights to help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure a successful lab setup. So, join us as we explore the essentials of setting up your own lab. -- Meet the guests: Dr Fiona McLean is an Alzheimer's Research UK Fellow at University of Dundee. She is fascinated by the brain and has always been curious about how it works and what keeps it healthy. Her research focuses on the links between obesity, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Claire Durrant is a Race Aganinst Dementia / Dyson Foundation Fellow in the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh. Her work focuses on understanding the causes and consequences of synapse loss in dementia causing disease such as Alzheimer’s disease. She is currently developing living human brain slices as a translational research tool. Dr Ian Harrison is a Senior Research Fellow at University College London. His work looks at the function of the glymphatic system in the brain, responsible for the clearance of protein solutes from the brain parenchyma. Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly is UKRI Future Leader Fellow and UK Dementia Research Institute Group Leader at Cardiff University. He is working on neurodegeneration focussing on Parkinson’s disease and looking at both the temporality of the disorder as well as the role synaptic dysfunction plays. -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel – www.youtube.com/dementiaresearcher -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

ADPD 2023 Conference Highlights - Part 1

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This year's AD/PD Conference was held in Gothenburg, Sweden from the 28th March to 1st April. In this first of a two-part special we bring you highlights from the first three days of the conference. The AD/PD Conference focuses on basic science and translational and clinical research bringing New insights on disease mechanisms and etiologies, the latest findings from clinical trials, innovative outlooks on therapy and prevention and advances in diagnostic markers. In this special on-location recording our guest host Dr Nikoleta Daskoulidou, Research Associate from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University talks with: Dr David J. Koss, Research Associate from Newcastle University. David is working to understand the molecular pathology which underpins a range of neurodegenerative dementias. Dr Susan Mitchell, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK. Susan is part of the ARUK policy and public affairs team, with responsibility for developing evidence-based policy to ensure people affected by dementia benefit from the progress in research. Elizabeth English, PhD Student at University of Cambridge. Lizzie, is utilising biophysical methods to characterise protein aggregates and their toxicity mechanisms in neurodegenerative disease. For more information on the event visit: https://adpd.kenes.com/ Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/UQdm8aWuoFM This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

ADPD 2023 Conference Highlights - Part 2

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This year’s AD/PD Conference was held in Gothenburg, Sweden from the 28th March to 1st April. In this second of a two-part special we bring you highlights from last three days of the conference. The AD/PD Conference focuses on basic science and translational and clinical research bringing New insights on disease mechanisms and etiologies, the latest findings from clinical trials, innovative outlooks on therapy and prevention and advances in diagnostic markers. In this special on-location recording our guest host Dr Anna Mallach, Research Fellow from the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London talks with: Dr Melissa Scholefield, Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Manchester. Melissa focusses on undertaking Multi-omic analysis of Lewy body dementias. Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh, Research Programme and Biomarker Lead at Imperial College London. Chi has always been fascinated by the brain, how we think, learn and remember; and how these processes can be affected in disease/ alleviated therapeutically. Emily McCann, PhD Student at Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland. Emily’s research is in cognitive test development for neurodegenerative diseases. She aims to align functional neural changes with the patient cognitive profile, and has developed a series of tests to measure visuoperceptual impairments in patients with Alzheimer's and Lewy Body pathology. For more information on the event visit: https://adpd.kenes.com/ Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel and in Spotify: https://youtu.be/W8kj7PqHz98 This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Rebooting the Brain: Life & Research after a Stroke

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to this episode of our podcast co-hosted by researchers Dr Gaia Brezzo and Mila Redzic, they our special guests sharing their inspiring story of resilience and hope. Today, we are joined by Denis and his daughter Maise, they became connected to Gaia and Mila after Denis experienced a life-altering event - a stroke. Together they share their personal journey of what it was like to have a stroke, the impact on the family, the challenges they faced during their recovery, and how they adapted to their new normal. They will also be sharing their journey of becoming involved in stroke research, the importance of research in stroke recovery, and how it has impacted their life. Through their story, we hope to shed light on the impact of stroke and the importance of research in advancing stroke care, its connections to dementia and the importance of improving the quality of life for stroke survivors. Please join us in welcoming our guest as they share their unique and inspiring journey. -- If you’re interested in participating in a research study, and based in the UK, Join Dementia Research supports people of all ages, both with an without dementia to be matched with appropriate studies. Registration is free, and you can even register on behalf of someone who is unable to do so themselves. Visit https://www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk if you live outside the UK, there may be a similar service in your region e.g. Trial Match in the USA, and Stepup For Dementia Research in Australia. -- Our hosts this week are: Dr Gaia Brezzo, Research Fellow in Cerebral Vascular Disease and Dementia at the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh. Gaia’s research focuses on understanding how immune alterations triggered by stroke shape chronic maladaptive neuroimmune responses that lead to post-stroke cognitive decline and vascular dementia. Mila Redzic, PhD Student at The University of Edinburgh. Mila is interested in understanding how microglial responses may shape changes occurring in the neurovascular unit in this context, and whether we can manipulate microglia to promote brain resilience and reduce cognitive impairment. -- Full biographies on the hosts and our guests, and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, which can lead to brain damage. This damage can result in a range of cognitive problems, including dementia. Studies have shown that people who have had a stroke are at a higher risk of developing various forms of dementia, such as vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The risk of dementia is particularly high in individuals who have had a stroke that affects a large part of the brain or who have had multiple strokes. In addition, many of the risk factors that increase the likelihood of having a stroke, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, also increase the risk of developing dementia. It's important to note that not everyone who has a stroke will develop dementia, and there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Managing risk factors for stroke, such as maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine, quitting smoking, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, can also help reduce the risk of dementia. -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel – http://www.youtube.com/dementiaresearcher -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

ARUK Conference Roundup 2023 - Part Two

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Last week we were in Aberdeen for the Alzheimer’s Research UK Conference 2023 to hear the latest findings in dementia research. In the second of our two-part special we focus on sharing highlights from the main conference, which featured two days of brilliant scientific programming. Guest host Dr Zara Franklin from University of Aberdeen talks with Dr Natalie Connor-Robson from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University, Dr Szu-Han Wang from The University of Edinburgh and Dr Steven Quinn from University of York. Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/dementiaresearcher -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

ARUK Conference Roundup 2023 - Part One

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Last week we were in Aberdeen for the Alzheimer’s Research UK Conference 2023 to hear the latest findings in dementia research. In the first of our two-part special we focus on sharing highlights from the ECR day. Guest host Dr Fiona McLean from University of Dundee talks with Dr Claire Durrant and Dr Soraya Meftah from The University of Edinburgh, Dr Ian Harrison from University College London. Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/dementiaresearcher -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Introducing a new Podcast - Ask Your Mentor

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100

First two episiodes are OUT NOW! We're dropping into the podcast feed to let you know that we launched a brand new Video First Limited Podcast Series - Ask Your Mentor in association with Alzheimer's Research UK. Watch the video version on YouTube or Spotify or have a listen in your favourite podcast app. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUI1GHB4EvR4ATmCIG2hatT78POJQRxC https://podfollow.com/ask-your-mentor

Smart New Ways To Diagnose Dementia

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Great progress has been made over the past decade in the development of blood based bio-markers to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. However, other areas have been quietly working away, and have also made significant progress. In this podcast we explore two of the newest and most innovative technologies being applied to detect biomarkers for dementia – looking at the retina and brainwaves. Dr Amanda Heslegrave, Senior Research Fellow at the UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London and one of the people behind the progress being made in blood-based biomarker field is out guest host. This weeks guests are: Dr Catherine Bornbaum, Head of Clinical Operations and Partnerships at Retispec. Catherine, uses innovative imaging technology combined with robust machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect biomarkers of neurodegenerative disease throughout the eye. The eye provides a simple and non-invasive way to measure the central nervous system; it is also the only organ where both neurons and blood vessels can be directly visualized at micron-level resolution. Dr George Stothart, Senior Lecturer at University of Bath. George is a cognitive neuroscientist who translates the findings of cognitive neuroscience into useful tools for clinicians and the wider world. His primary research focus is the development of a new EEG technique, known as Fastball, for the assessment of cognitive deficits in dementia. Fastball EEG is a completely passive test which measures brain waves the patient looks at a series of images on a computer screen over two minutes – a completely new assessment technique. -- For more information visit: https://www.retispec.com/ https://www.bath.ac.uk/projects/fastball-mci/ -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel – http://www.youtube.com/dementiaresearcher -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Clinical Academics in Clinical Practice

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast Speech and Language Therapist Dr Anna Volkmer talks with a Nurse and an Occupational Therapist discussing their career pathways from the NHS into academia, and then back to put their training to use on the front-line in the NHS. -- This week’s guests are: Dr Emily Jones, Senior Matron & Lead Dementia Nurse at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust. Her research focussed on the care of people with dementia in acute hospital settings and how the work system influences nursing staff capacity for high quality relationship centred dementia care. Dr Naomi Gallant, Occupational Therapist Team Lead at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Naomi’s PhD focussed on mealtimes and enabling independence and quality of life for people with dementia. Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- With a number of clinical academic training funding calls open this month (NIHR, Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Wellcome Trust etc), we shine a spotlight on the potential for healthcare professionals to take time away and pursue further training, undertaking a MSc, PhD and clinical academic position. Highlighting that the doors this can open to enable you to return to clinical practice or continue as a clinical academic. A clinical academic is a qualified healthcare professional who also works in academia, typically in research, teaching, or both. They balance their time between treating patients, conducting research that contributes to the scientific understanding of their field, and training the next generation of clinicians. Every clinical academic post is different, depending on the specialism, experience, and interests of the individual. Most clinical academics will work for two entities – the NHS and a university – and split their time variably between the two. Many find that their dual role gives them greater career flexibility, and an exciting and varied workload. There is a huge array of clinical academic careers on offer across a diverse range of specialties, making every clinical academic post truly unique. However…. Even if academia isn’t your passion, you can put your academic training to great use in the NHS, as our brilliant host and guests demonstrate. -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel – http://www.youtube.com/dementiaresearcher -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Researching Inequalities in Dementia Care

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Adam Smith speaks with four researchers from The University of Liverpool, dedicated to better understanding (and then addressing) Inequalities in Dementia Care. This weeks guests are Dr Clarissa Giebel, Senior Research Fellow, PhD students James Watson and Thais Caprioli and Research Associate Laura Prato. Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- When we think of inequalities, we most focus on disparities in access, quality, and treatment. However, this is a complex topic inequality in this podcast we discuss the work of our four guests and what they have discovered working in the UK, covering: Diagnosis: People from ethnic minorities, lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those living in rural areas may be less likely to receive a timely and accurate diagnosis of dementia. Access to care: People with dementia and their caregivers may face challenges in accessing appropriate support and services, including specialist services, community support and respite care. Quality of care: The quality of care received by people with dementia may vary depending on where they live and their personal circumstances, such as their financial resources and social support. It may also be affected by the care pathway of the individual organisation treating them. Caregiver burden: Caregivers of people with dementia often experience high levels of stress, financial strain, and social isolation, particularly if they have limited support – and issue that worsened during the pandemic. Addressing these inequalities in dementia care requires a multi-faceted approach that considers social, economic, cultural, and systemic factors – which is the next step and challenge in turning research into action. -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel – http://www.youtube.com/dementiaresearcher -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Blood Based Biomarkers for Dementias

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Over the past decade, blood-based biomarkers for dementia have been increasingly studied as way to diagnose and track the progress of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. In this podcast three leading blood-based biomarker pioneers come together to discuss the field, their research and motivations, current challenges and future directions of this field of research (they also reveal a little about themselves as people away from the lab too – find out which if them wants to drive refuse trucks…). In the host chair is Dr Nicholas Ashton, Associate Professor of Neurochemistry from University of Gothenburg and King’s College London. Nicks has more than a decade of experience in biofluid analysis and assay development for Alzheimer’s disease, which ranges from discovery mass spectrometry methods to ultra-sensitive immunoassays. Recently this has produced ultra-sensitive single molecular array (Simoa) assays for phosphorylated tau in blood, which are now widely used in research settings, therapeutics trials and being validated for clinical use. -- Nick’s guests are: Oskar Hansson, Professor of Neurology & Senior Consultant in Neurology at Lund University in Sweden. Oskar explores fluid and imaging biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders. His inspiration came at medical school when diagnosing dementias. It became clear to him that we needed to be able to identify these diseases before widespread neurodegeneration and disabling symptoms have already developed. At these early disease stages, we are more likely to substantially slow down or even stop the disease progression by different types of interventions. Henrik Zetterberg, Professor of Neurochemistry, Senior Consultant in Clinical Chemistry, Head of Department at UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London and University of Gothenburg. With a background in molecular biology and medicine, Henrik has have spent the last 15 years developing biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease and other brain disorders - becoming a world expert in the process. He has published more than 1100 scientific articles and has received numerous awards. -- If you’re listening to this podcast, you probably already know that Biomarkers are proteins, molecules, or other measurable substances that can provide valuable insight into diagnosing and measuring the progression of a medical condition or disease. For a many years researchers have been exploring the potential of what can discover from blood, to help diagnose Alzheimer’s and other Neurodegenerative diseases. -- You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Investigating Parkinson's Disease

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0100

Dr Fiona McLean from University of Dundee guest hosts this podcast discussing some of the latest research into Parkinson’s disease with two group leaders from the UK Dementia Research Institute - Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly, from Cardiff University and Dr Sarah Marzi from Imperial College London. For those who don’t know (but we’re sure you do) Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease. Despite advancements in the understanding of the pathology and its treatment, the cause of PD remains unknown (although our guests have some thoughts on this). Research into the disease has focused on identifying the underlying mechanisms that lead to its development, as well as potential therapeutic strategies – both of these topics are discussed today. Recent research has implicated genetic and environmental factors in the development of PD, as well as changes in the dopaminergic system – this also happens to be the expert area of our brilliant guest Dr Marzi. A number of genes associated with PD have been identified, including those that encode for α-synuclein and parkin, two proteins that are associated with the development of PD. Additionally, environmental factors, such as exposure to certain neurotoxins and head trauma, have been linked to PD – an area that the awesome Dr Beccano-Kelly know much about. Studying the role of the dopaminergic system in PD, is an area also being investigated. This system is responsible for the production and release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in motor control. In PD, there is an imbalance between the dopaminergic neurons and the other neurotransmitters, resulting in impaired motor control. But that’s enough from us… listen to the show to hear from Sarah and Dayne to hear about their work in the field and the latest research into Parkinson’s disease. -- You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

2022 End of Year Reflections from Dementia Researchers

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0100

It’s our last podcast of 2022. We’re breaking from our usual tradition of bringing you old clips and instead we brought together eight of our brilliant researcher bloggers for a chat. In this show hosted by Adam Smith, they talk about their personal highlights from the year, share what they’re most looking forward to in 2023 and give us a glimpse into what they like away from work. We’re delighted to welcome Dr Yvonne Couch from University of Oxford, Dr Aida Suarez Gonzalez & Dr Anna Volkmer from University College London, Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali from Teesside University, Beth Eyre from University of Sheffield, Dr Gaia Brezzo from the UKDRI at The University of Sheffield, Dr Sam Moxon from The University of Manchester and new blogger Dr Connor Richardson from Newcastle University. -- Read or listen to all of our researchers blogs at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/support-resources/blogs/ -- You can find out more about our bloggers and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode + if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you'll find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/AJUw-mx-xCw -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.

Update from the Dementia Research Charity Chatathon

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Adam Smith is back to let you know that the Dementia Research Charity Chatathon was a great success. Over 2,500 people joined the livestream of have watched back since, and almost £1100 has been raised. You can find links to all the recordings at https://www.chatathon.uk If you prefer to listen... all the sessions have been converted to audio and put in their own dedicated podcast. You can find them in your podcast app or head over to https://podfollow.com/chatathon -- Bright Wish by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100377 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Food for Thought - Brain-Healthy Foods with Dr Michael Greger

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Dr Sam Moxon, Research Associate from the University of Manchester brings us another podcast in his ‘Food for Thought’ series – exploring the connections between what we eat and nutrition, dementia, cognition, and brain health. In this show he interviews world leading expert and best-selling author Dr Michael Greger MD. A founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Michael Greger, M.D., is a physician and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition. His science-based non-profit website, NutritionFacts.org, offers a free online portal hosting more than 2,000 videos and articles on myriad health topics. Dr Greger is a sought-after lecturer and has presented at the Conference on World Affairs and the World Bank, testified before Congress, and was invited as an expert witness in Oprah Winfrey’s defence in the infamous “meat defamation” trial. A graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr Greger is also an acclaimed author. How Not to Die, The How Not to Die Cookbook, and How Not to Diet became instant New York Times Best Sellers. More than a million copies of How Not to Die have been sold. All proceeds he receives from the sales of his books and speaking honoraria are donated directly to charity. -- For more information on Michael and his brilliant work visit: https://nutritionfacts.org -- You can find out more about Michael, and his work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support. -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Dementia Researcher, or our funders, the show does not endorse one particular diet over another and strongly recommends you consult your healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

ISFTD Conference 2022 Highlights

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we bring you highlights from the International Society for Frontotemporal Dementias (ISFD) Conference, which was held in Lille, France from the 2nd – 5th November 2022. Regular Guest Host Dr Anna Volkmer talks with Dr Chris Hardy, Jess Jiang and Dr Jochum Van't Hooft all from University College London discussing their work, and what they’re taking away from this year’s conference. -- The International Society for Frontotemporal Dementias is a non-profit scientific society focused on frontotemporal dementias. Members include the leaders in FTD research around the world, and the society is associated with a large, international biannual meeting presenting the latest findings. For more information visit: https://isftd.org -- You can find out more about our guests and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript of the show: http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Prefer to watch rather than listen? Then check-out our YouTube channel for a full video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/6j6JkinUhQ8 -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Dementia Research Charity #Chatathon - 2nd December

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Adam Smith asked us to interupt our usual schedule to bring you some special news... The 2022 Dementia Research Charity Chatathon LIVE will take place on Friday 2nd December. Adam will host 12+ hours non-stop chat with over 60 researchers and special guests working accross all areas of discovery to beat Alzheimer's disease and all forms of dementia. Raising money for Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society, Race Against Dementia and The Lewy Body Society and providing insights into the latest research taking place across the UK and Worldwide. Find details on the event and liverstream speakers, schedule and how to make a donation at: http://www.chatathon.uk Be sure to also tell all your friends and colleagues. -- Note Dementia Researcher is not officially involved in this event, we're just delighted to support this great work, direct and questions or queries directly to adam.smith@ucl.ac.uk

Evaluation and Implementation of Tech & Trials

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Technology & Dementia Week Special – Episode Three - Evaluation & Implementation of Tech & Trials. So, you have done the research, found a tech intervention that could help people… what next? This week we turn the spotlight on tech and dementia research, we have three special podcasts (released on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), numerous blogs from people researching and using the latest technologies, and updates on the wider field. Our podcasts have all been recorded with early career researchers working across Europe, undertaking research projects aiming to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers through technology and from the DISTINCT Programme (Dementia: Intersectorial Strategy for Training and Innovation Network for Current Technology). In this show guest host Dr Anna Volkmer talks to Simone Felding and Kübra Beliz Budak from the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), and Dr David Neal from Amsterdam University Medical Centre. -- In addition to exploring evaluation and delivery, each guest shares information on their own projects: *Simone is interested in the anthropology of health her work focusses on observing how a social robot interacts with people with dementia living in nursing homes, which is linked to how social robots are implemented in long-term care. *Kubra is a Psychologist by training. She is interested in the implementation processes of Active Assistive Living (AAL) technology to enhance psychosocial well-being of people with dementia. *David originally worked as an NHS doctor, and is founder of health tech start-up Vesalian. David is carrying out a randomized controlled trial of the FindMyApps intervention (FMA). FMA is designed to support people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia to use tablet computers, with the aim of increasing social participation and self-efficacy. For more information on DISTINCT and guests projects visit: http://www.dementiadistinct.com -- You can find out more about our guests and all the special content for our tech & dementia special on our website. There you will also find a full transcript of the show: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Prefer to watch rather than listen? Then check-out our YouTube channel for a full video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/cEIqt2-D0Vg -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Design & development of Tech Interventions

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Technology & Dementia Week Special – Episode Two - Learning about the Design & development of Tech Interventions. Exploring the challenges and practicalities of how to set-up and deliver a tech and dementia intervention trial. This week we turn the spotlight on tech and dementia research, we have three special podcasts (released on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), numerous blogs from people researching and using the latest technologies, and updates on the wider field. Our podcasts have all been recorded with early career researchers working across Europe, undertaking research projects aiming to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers through technology and from the DISTINCT Programme (Dementia: Intersectorial Strategy for Training and Innovation Network for Current Technology). In this show guest host Dr Anna Volkmer talks to Fanny Monnet from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Josephine Rose Tan from Amsterdam University Medical Centre and Gianna Kohl from University College London. -- In addition to the overview, each guest shares information on their own projects: *Fanny is researching an interactive website for advance care planning (ACP) for people with dementia and their family. *Josephine is a health psychologist evaluating the effectiveness of a person-centred touch-screen based photo-activity for people with advanced dementia. *Gianna is researching the use of technology in disclosure of dementia by the diagnosed individual to their social networks. For more information on DISTINCT and guests projects visit: www.dementiadistinct.com/ -- You can find out more about our guests and all the special content for our tech & dementia special on our website. There you will also find a full transcript of the show: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Prefer to watch rather than listen? Then check-out our YouTube channel for a full video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/r2MvLPhRrQw -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

DISTINCT & Tech Interventions

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Technology & Dementia Week Special – Episode One - Learning about the DISTINCT Programme and tech in dementia research. This week we turn the spotlight on tech and dementia research, we have three special podcasts (released on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), numerous blogs from people researching and using the latest technologies, and updates on the wider field. Our podcasts have all been recorded with early career researchers working across Europe, undertaking research projects aiming to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers through technology and from the DISTINCT Programme (Dementia: Intersectorial Strategy for Training and Innovation Network for Current Technology). In this show guest host Dr Anna Volkmer talks to Pascale Heins from Maastricht University, Lesley Garcia from University of Nottingham and Mauricio Molinari Ulate from University of Salamanca. -- In addition to the overview, each guest shares information on their own projects: *Pascale is working on improving social participation in dementia with the Geographic Information system-based intervention 'Viamigo'. *Mauricio is exploring psychosocial applications of technology for health and wellness, with coaching of older adults with dementia and mild cognitive impairment and their carers in rural areas. *Lesley is an Occupational Therapist adapting recovery-oriented approaches and technology use in dementia. For more information on DISTINCT and guests projects visit: https://www.dementiadistinct.com/ -- You can find out more about our guests and all the special content for our tech & dementia special on our website. There you will also find a full transcript of the show: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Prefer to watch rather than listen? Then check-out our YouTube channel for a full video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/KK7JaZ3qJj0 -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Alzheimer Europe Conference Roundup 2022

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Last week Adam Smith attended the 32nd Alzheimer Europe Conference in Bucharest, Romania. In this podcast Adam and his guests bring you highlights from the discussion and an informal chat around some of the issues being explored on the agenda. This week’s guests are husband and wife team - Chris Roberts, Chair of the European Working Group of People with Dementia, Jayne Goodrick, Dementia Carers Count Advisory Member. We also have three fantastic early career researchers, Dr Joni Gilissen & Charlèss Dupont from Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Simone Felding from DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases. In this great show we not only get the highlights from our researchers, but we have the privilege of getting first-hand commentary from Chris and Jane, whose personal experience of living with dementia and its impact on their lives, provides a unique, thought provoking, often moving, and essential perspective. This year’s conference was held under the motto “Building bridges”. As in previous years, this conference is one of the few in the diary that provides a great networking opportunity which brings together people with dementia, their carers, volunteers and staff of Alzheimer associations, policy makers, health and social care professionals, researchers, academics and industry representatives from all over Europe and beyond. It received over 300 abstracts for oral and poster presentations covering a broad range of topics, from fundamental science to care, diagnosis, policies, interventions, treatments and more. Links discussed in the show: Conference Website - https://bit.ly/3gm4eTo Conference hashtag - https://bit.ly/3Sn4ezT Alzheimer Europe Reports - https://bit.ly/3Srxo0V INTERDEM World Café 5th December 2022 - https://bit.ly/3Ttj9dk -- You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

How to create a Narrative CV

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast Dr Yvonne Couch, Associate Professor of Neuroimmunology and ARUK Research Fellow at University of Oxford is joined by four experts to discuss Narrative CV’s, why they’re being introduced, and how to build one. Prefer to watch rather than listen? Find the video version of this podcast exclusively on YouTube. -- This weeks guests are: Dr Katie Meadmore, Senior Research Fellow, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC), University of Southampton. Dr Ola Thomson, Research Associate in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at University of Bristol, the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research. Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK. Dr Claartje Vinkenburg an Independent Expert Consultant in careers and diversity working with Universities, European Commission and Research Funders. -- Background In October 2019 The Royal Society published “Résumé for Researchers”, and since then many UK and European research funders have adopted the requirement for grant applicants to use a Narrative CV, including UK Research & Innovation, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dutch Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland. A Narrative CV is a content-rich alternative to the traditional CV. It enables applicants to showcase a broader range of contributions to research e.g., Science Communications, teaching, mentoring etc. Through the use if this new format, funders hope address concerns that they is an over focus on success measures such as publications in high impact journals and big grant funding (although of course these still help). -- Resources UK Research & Innovation R4RI Guidance - https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/improving-your-funding-experience/introducing-a-better-way-for-you-to-evidence-your-contributions/ ARUK Narrative CV Guidance - https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research/for-researchers/resources-and-information/narrative-cvs/ Royal Society Résumé for Researchers - https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/research-culture/tools-for-support/resume-for-researchers/ Dr Katie Meadmore, Thematic Framework for use of Narrative CV - https://openresearch.nihr.ac.uk/documents/2-15 DORA Guidance on progressing adoption - https://sfdora.org/resource/using-narrative-cvs-process-optimization-and-bias-mitigation/ Hows and Whys from University of Bristol - https://www.bristol.ac.uk/blackwell/news/2021/narrative-cvs-blog.html -- You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. pHI09jSnY2tl7gi4Cl7E

Why, how and what it's like to work in hospital research

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Recorded LIVE on Twitter Spaces on Wednesday 28th September 2022. Primarily aimed at Clinicians and Healthcare Professionals, through this discussion we hope to share some insights as to the different ways to become involved in clinical research, why you might want to do that, and what that might look like. Adam Smith, Dementia Researcher Programme Director hosts this informal discussion with five people working within the NHS and in research to share their experience. Guests are Dr Ross Paterson and Dr Alex Tsui all from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Brady McFarlane from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Antoinette O’Connor from Tallaght University Hospital, Ireland, and Dr Emma Broome from Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre. -- Below are links to some of the resources mentioned during the chat: Careers Webinar - https://bit.ly/3CsOCq4 Trials information - https://bit.ly/3UNIbVs Dr Anna Volkmer Blogs - https://bit.ly/3Eb80ZU NIHR Clinical Careers Funding - https://bit.ly/3y8hpxr Alz Forum Grants - https://bit.ly/3RuQBy7 Dementia Research Careers Festival – https://bit.ly/3LWDIMl Dementia Researcher Meet the Researchers - https://bit.ly/3LWDIMl Association of British Neurologists - https://www.theabn.org/# Royal College of Nursing Research Careers - https://bit.ly/3E6KvRC -- Guest mini bios Dr Emma Broom Bio - https://bit.ly/3SREL2q Dr Alex Tsui Bio - https://bit.ly/3CsTpYx Dr Brady McFarlane Bio - https://bit.ly/3CaOhbe Dr Ross Patterson Bio - https://bit.ly/3CaOhbe Dr Antoinette O’Connor Bio - https://bit.ly/3LYxjQx -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- A full transcript of the podcast can be found on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast or find a video version on our YouTube Channel with closed captions at https://www.youtube.com/dementiaresearcher

How to be a GREAT Peer Reviewer

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we share top tips on how to avoid being Reviewer #2. Our guests talk through the importance (and flaws) of the peer review process, how they approach it, how you can write papers to help avoid a bad review, and the benefits of getting involved. Adam Smith, Dementia Researcher Programme Director talks with Dr Yvonne Couch, ARUK Research Fellow and Associate Professor at University of Oxford, Dr Isabel Castanho, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School and Dr Martina Bocchetta, Senior Research Fellow at University College London. -- Peer review is essential in assisting editors in selecting high quality, novel research papers, and to ensure errors are corrected. Though the peer review process still has some flaws, a more suitable screening method for scientific papers has not yet been developed (UK Research & Innovation has announced a review of the peer review system). So… for now we’re stuck with it (although our recent survey has identified some ways that the process could be improved e.g. blinding, compensating reviewers etc.). -- Peer review training courses: Nature Masterclass: https://bit.ly/3C3tDd7 Wiley Training: https://bit.ly/3r6FYGU Elsevier Academy: https://bit.ly/3BEFf4X RC Psych Training: https://bit.ly/3LCqfZO Fundamentals of peer review: https://bit.ly/3g4WPaT -- You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Perfect to watch rather than listen? A video version of this podcast is available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/qSvndN_nO5k -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Methods Matter - Oral Histories & Story Telling

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Methods Matter Podcast - from Dementia Researcher & the National Centre for Research Methods. A podcast for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this second series Clinical Research Fellow, Dr Donncha Mullin from The University of Edinburgh brings together leading experts in research methodology, and the dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! Episode One – Oral Histories & Story Telling In expert corner - Dr Kahryn Hughes, from University of Leeds. Director of the Timescapes Archive, Editor in Chief of Sociological Research Online, Convenor of the MA Qualitative Research Methods and a Senior Fellow for the NCRM. In researcher ranch - Dr Katya Sion, Postdoctoral Researcher in Living-Lab in Ageing and Long-Term Care at Maastricht University. Katya’s research is focused on quality of residential elderly care from the resident’s perspective and how to assess this. Her current postdoc position is aimed at the national valorisation of the narrative method ‘Connecting Conversations’, which was developed during her PhD. Further reading referenced in the show: The Oral History Society - https://www.ohs.org.uk Books by Joanna Bornat - https://bit.ly/3RIJ9Qx Rachel Thompson Website - https://rachelintheoc.com Ken Plummer Documents of Life - https://kenplummer.com -- Read more about our guests and listen to more great podcasts at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a service to learners, trainers and partner organisations in the research methods community - methodological training and resources on core and advanced quantitative, qualitive, digital, creative, visual, mixed and multimodal methods. https://www.ncrm.ac.uk -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Methods Matter - Grounded Theory

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Methods Matter Podcast - from Dementia Researcher & the National Centre for Research Methods. A podcast for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this second series Clinical Research Fellow, Dr Donncha Mullin from The University of Edinburgh brings together leading experts in research methodology, and the dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! Episode Two – Grounded Theory In expert corner - Dr Kahryn Hughes, from University of Leeds. Director of the Timescapes Archive, Editor in Chief of Sociological Research Online, Convenor of the MA Qualitative Research Methods and a Senior Fellow for the NCRM. In researcher ranch – Nisha Dhanda, Audiologist, Teaching Fellow, and PhD Candidate from Aston University. Nisha has always had an interest in the way people communicate and how this is affected with unmanaged hearing loss and associated comorbidities like cognitive impairment and dementia, an interest that has inspired her teaching and her PhD. Further reading referenced in the show: Barney G Glaser / Anselm L Strauss Book - https://bit.ly/3BhznQ3 Anselm L Strauss / Juliet Corbin Book - https://www.socresonline.org.uk/4/2/strauss.html Kathy Charmaz career and books - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Charmaz Discussion with Kathy Charmaz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5AHmHQS6WQ Virginia Braun and Victoria Clark website - https://www.thematicanalysis.net -- Read more about our guests and listen to more great podcasts at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a service to learners, trainers and partner organisations in the research methods community - methodological training and resources on core and advanced quantitative, qualitive, digital, creative, visual, mixed and multimodal methods. https://www.ncrm.ac.uk -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Methods Matter - Focus Groups

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Methods Matter Podcast - from Dementia Researcher & the National Centre for Research Methods. A podcast for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this second series Clinical Research Fellow, Dr Donncha Mullin from The University of Edinburgh brings together leading experts in research methodology, and the dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! Episode Four – Focus Groups In expert corner - Dr Kahryn Hughes, from University of Leeds. Director of the Timescapes Archive, Editor in Chief of Sociological Research Online, Convenor of the MA Qualitative Research Methods and a Senior Fellow for the NCRM. In researcher ranch – Nadine Mirza is a PhD Student and Research Assistant in the Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research at the University of Manchester. Nadine’s research explores cognitive testing in ethnic minorities and the experience of dementia diagnosis and access to dementia services in British South Asians. Further reading referenced in the show: Jenny Kitzinger, The Methodology of Focus Groups - https://bit.ly/3ey6YMR Rosaline Barbour, Doing Focus Groups - https://bit.ly/3TNxzWe Rosaline Barbour, YouTube - https://youtu.be/5xPYGXJ_hM4 Focus Group Methodology: Principles and Practice - https://bit.ly/3x31OPk NCRM Focus Group Resources - https://bit.ly/3TP38Pr -- Read more about our guests and listen to more great podcasts at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a service to learners, trainers and partner organisations in the research methods community - methodological training and resources on core and advanced quantitative, qualitive, digital, creative, visual, mixed and multimodal methods. https://www.ncrm.ac.uk -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Methods Matter - Visual & Creative Methods

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Methods Matter Podcast - from Dementia Researcher & the National Centre for Research Methods. A podcast for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this second series Clinical Research Fellow, Dr Donncha Mullin from The University of Edinburgh brings together leading experts in research methodology, and the dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! Episode Three – Visual and Creative Methods In expert corner - Dr Kahryn Hughes, from University of Leeds. Director of the Timescapes Archive, Editor in Chief of Sociological Research Online, Convenor of the MA Qualitative Research Methods and a Senior Fellow for the NCRM. In researcher ranch – Dr Sarah Campbell, Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University. Sarah has worked on various projects funded through a range of different funders. The underlying theme being to explore ways to understand the lived experiences of dementia and ageing, and explore ways to improve social care and their lives. Further reading referenced in the show: Details of Professor Helen Lomaz - https://bit.ly/3AYeoQH Sage Visual Methods Collection by J Hughes - https://bit.ly/3D0ZUSP Sage Handbook of Visual Research Methods by Pauwels & Mannay - https://bit.ly/3TRtWyk Professor Sarah Pink - https://bit.ly/3qgw45d Approaches to democratising qualitative research methods - https://bit.ly/3D4XVNi Sociological Research Online - https://www.socresonline.org.uk Dementia and Place Book - https://bit.ly/3TN7WF0 -- Read more about our guests and listen to more great podcasts at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a service to learners, trainers and partner organisations in the research methods community - methodological training and resources on core and advanced quantitative, qualitive, digital, creative, visual, mixed and multimodal methods. https://www.ncrm.ac.uk -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Methods Matter - Surveys & Questionnaires

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Methods Matter Podcast - from Dementia Researcher & the National Centre for Research Methods. A podcast for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this second series Clinical Research Fellow, Dr Donncha Mullin from The University of Edinburgh brings together leading experts in research methodology, and the dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! Episode Four – Surveys and Questionnaires In expert corner - Dr Petra Boynton. Petra is a Social Psychologist, specialising in International Health Research from a critical perspective. Over the past 20 years she has taught, supervised, and undertaken research across the social and health sciences and development within university and community settings as well as writing extensively Academic life, including publishing a book called ‘Being Well in Academia’, and being an Agony Aunt. In researcher ranch – Dr Larissa Bartlett, who is an ISLAND Research Fellow at the Wicking Dementia Research & Education Centre at the University of Tasmania. Larissa’s PhD focussed on the promises and challenges of workplace-delivered mindfulness interventions for employee health and performance. Now Larissa leads the ISLAND Study, a large, 10-year prospective public health cohort study with nested interventions targeting modifiable dementia risk factors at population-level in adults aged 50+. Further reading referenced in the show: Sage Video Tutorials - https://methods.sagepub.com/Search/Results Scribbr Guide - https://www.scribbr.co.uk/research-methods/surveys/ NCRM Survey Guidance - https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/search/?q=surveys Julie Ponto, Understanding and Evaluating Survey Research - https://bit.ly/3RHZRzp BMJ Hands On Guide to Questionnaires - https://www.bmj.com/content/328/7452/1372 Write a Questionnaire, a Little Quick Fix - https://bit.ly/3cSBroj -- Read more about our guests and listen to more great podcasts at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a service to learners, trainers and partner organisations in the research methods community - methodological training and resources on core and advanced quantitative, qualitive, digital, creative, visual, mixed and multimodal methods. https://www.ncrm.ac.uk -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Diet & Alzheimer's Disease - ISTAART Research Perspectives

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The best way to reduce your risk of dementia is to adapt various aspects of your lifestyle, including eating certain foods, taking regular exercise, not smoking, and maintaining normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Evidence shows that a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and cereals, and low in red meat and sugar could help reduce dementia risks. However, nutrition and dietary components are challenging to research with controversies still raging around the role of many micronutrients and health outcomes in dementia, which is why what to eat, what not to eat, how often and how much is constantly in the news. In this ISTAART Research Perspectives Special, Fernando Peres and Dr Clara Domínguez Vivero get two perspectives on diet and nutrition and its connections to cognition and dementia, from the researcher and the person who lives with the disease. This time we are joined by Dr Claire McEvoy, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Ageing Research at Queens University Belfast. Claire is a Dietitian and Senior Atlantic Fellow at the Global Brain Health Institute. Her research investigates the role of nutrition (particularly plant-based diets) and other lifestyle behaviours in age-related disease, with a special interest in cognitive decline. Her focus is on epidemiologic investigation of diet and dementia risk across the life-course, and the design and evaluation of interventions targeting behaviour change to improve cognitive health and well-being. Our second perspective comes from Dr Daniel Gibbs, Retired Neurologist from Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA. Daniel retired in 2013 due to developing Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease. Since then, he has been studying and writing about his own brain and disease for a book titled ‘A Tattoo on my Brain: A Neurologist’s Personal Battle against Alzheimer’s Disease’. He has also continued to work on several journal papers and has a blog https://www.tattooonmybrain.com Find out more about our hosts and guests and review a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-diet-and-alzheimers-disease-istaart-research-perspectives/ For information on ISTAART visit: http://www.alz.org/istaart -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Royal Society Pairing Scheme - Insights from Westminster

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Each year 30 research scientists are paired with UK parliamentarians and civil servants. They learn about each other’s work by spending time together in Westminster and the researcher’s institutions. Those taking part gain an insight into how research findings can help inform policy making, and come away with a better understanding of how they can get involved. In this podcast we hear from three researchers who were part of the 2022 cohort - learning about their experience. Dr Fiona McLean from University of Dundee talks with Dr Dayne Beccano-Kelly from Cardiff University and Dr Sarah Marzi from Imperial College London, both group leaders within the UK Dementia Research Institute. For more information on the Royal Society Pairing Scheme visit: https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/pairing-scheme/ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-royal-society-pairing-scheme-insights-from-westminster/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC 2022 - Day Four

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Coverage from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) bringing together early career researchers to share their conference highlights. In the last of this weeks special shows, Dr Natasha Clarke from Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal chairs the discussion with Dr Richard Lofthouse from University of Aberdeen, Dr Diana Karamacoska from Western Sydney University and Anqesha Murray, at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York. Sharing highlights from the third day of the world’s largest dementia conference. Follow the conference live at #AAIC22 You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-2022-day-four/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC 2022 - Day Three

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Coverage from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) bringing together early career researchers to share their conference highlights. In today’s show, Dr Sarah Bauermeister from University of Oxford hosts, with guests Dr Claire Lancaster from University of Sussex, Esther Hui from University College London and and Dr Darina Petrovsky, Rutgers University Sharing highlights from the third day of the world’s largest dementia conference. Follow the conference live at #AAIC22 You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-2022-day-three/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC 2022 - Day Two

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Coverage from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) bringing together four attendees to chat over coffee, and share their highlights. In todays show, we welcome back Dr Isabel Castanho to take her first turn in the hosts chair, with special guests and show newcomers Dr Annalise Rahman-Filipiak from University of Michigan, Dr Connor Richardson from Newcastle University and Dr Bhargav Teja Nallapu from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Sharing highlights from the second day of the worlds largest dementia conference. Follow the conference live at #AAIC22 You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-2022-day-two/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC 2022 - Day One

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0100

For the first time since 2019, we’re back at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in-person – which means we can bring together attendees to chat over coffee, and share their highlights. In todays show, long-time listener and contributor, Sarah Gregory from the University of Edinburgh is our guest host, talking with Dr Ríona McArdle, from Newcastle University, Dr Lillian Hung from University of British Columbia and Dr Sarah-Naomi James from University College London. Sharing highlights from the Tech and Dementia Preconference session and the first day, with a focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, and co-production. Follow the conference live at #AAIC22 You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-2022-day-one/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Biofluid Based Biomarkers PIA

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART Relay Podcast is back for a third, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Five – Erica Dove interviews Professor Charlotte Teunissen, representing the Biofluid Based Biomarkers PIA. Erica Dove is a third year PhD Student, studying at University of Toronto. Her research aims to co-develop an exercise video game designed to reduce falls risk among people with dementia. Inspired to work in dementia through personal experience, when not at work, she can be found obsessing over floral patterns (Yes really). Erica is representing the ISTAART Technology and Dementia PIA. Charlotte Teunissen is a Professor in Neurochemistry at Amsterdam UMC. Charlotte explores Biomarkers in body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid and blood, to understand the disease and improve care for neurological diseases, especially dementias and Multiple Sclerosis. She is representing the ISTAART Biofluid Based Biomarkers PIA. The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 29 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART (free for students worldwide, and for people of all grades in Low and Middle Income Countries) and a PIA visit: http://www.alz.org/istaart To book your place at this years AAIC Confernence visit: https://aaic.alz.org/ Visit our YouTube Channel to watch the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/WvCGBmnVElE Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/istaart-relay-podcast-biofluid-based-biomarkers-pia/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Technology and Dementia PIA

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART Relay Podcast is back for a third, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Four – Dr Louise Ince interviews Erica Dove representing the Technology and Dementia PIA. Dr Louise Ince is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Texas at Austin. Louise's work focuses on circadian (daily, ~24 h) rhythms in immune function: why our body’s inflammatory response varies depending upon the time-of-day. She is particularly interested in how the dynamics of neuroimmune responses change with aging and in dementia (she is also an expert in pyrotechnics, and hails from Blackpool in the north of England). Louise is representing the ISTAART Immunity and Neurodegeneration PIA. Erica Dove is a third year PhD Student, studying at University of Toronto. Her research aims to co-develop an exercise video game designed to reduce falls risk among people with dementia. Inspired to work in dementia through personal experience, when not at work, she can be found obsessing over floral patterns (Yes really). Erica is representing the ISTAART Technology and Dementia PIA. The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 29 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART (free for students worldwide, and for people of all grades in Low and Middle Income Countries) and a PIA visit: http://www.alz.org/istaart To book your place at this years AAIC Confernence visit: https://aaic.alz.org/ Visit our YouTube Channel to watch the video version of this podcast: http://www.youtube.com/dementiaresearcher Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/istaart-relay-podcast-technology-and-dementia-pia/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Immunity and Neurodegeneration PIA

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART Relay Podcast is back for a third, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Three – Dr Hamid Sohrabi, interviews Dr Louise Ince representing the Immunity and Neurodegeneration PIA Dr Hamid Sohrabi is Director of the Centre for Healthy Ageing - Associate Professor of Psychology and Clinical Neurosciences at Murdoch University, Australia. His research is focussed on screening and clinical diagnostic measures as well as identifying dementia risk factors and resilience and resisting factors including cognitive reserve. Outside work he loves DIY (but never ask him to fit a gate in your garden). Hamid is representing the ISTAART Reserve, Resilience and Protective Factors PIA. Dr Louise Ince is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Texas at Austin. Louise's work focuses on circadian (daily, ~24 h) rhythms in immune function: why our body’s inflammatory response varies depending upon the time-of-day. She is particularly interested in how the dynamics of neuroimmune responses change with aging and in dementia (she is also an expert in pyrotechnics, and hails from Blackpool in the north of England). Louise is representing the Immunity and Neurodegeneration PIA. The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 29 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART (free for students worldwide, and for people of all grades in Low and Middle Income Countries) and a PIA visit: http://www.alz.org/istaart To book your place at this years AAIC Confernence visit: https://aaic.alz.org/ Visit our YouTube Channel to watch the video version of this podcast: http://www.youtube.com/dementiaresearcher Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/istaart-relay-podcast-immunity-and-neurodegeneration-pia/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Reserve, Resilience and Protective Factors PIA

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART Relay Podcast is back for a third, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Two – Dr Rik Ossenkoppele, interviews Dr Hamid Sohrabi representing the Resilience and Protective Factors PIA Dr Rik Ossenkoppele is an Associate Professor of Translational Neuroscience at Amsterdam UMC and Lund University. His area of research is Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, brain imaging, biomarkers, cognition. Rik also happens to be a qualifiied PE Teacher, and he is representing the ISTAART Atypical Alzheimer's Disease PIA. Dr Hamid Sohrabi is Director of the Centre for Healthy Ageing - Associate Professor of Psychology and Clinical Neurosciences at Murdoch University, Australia. His research is focussed on screening and clinical diagnostic measures as well as identifying dementia risk factors and resilience and resisting factors including cognitive reserve. Outside work he loves DIY (but never ask him to fit a gate in your garden). Hamid is representing the ISTAART Reserve, Resilience and Protective Factors PIA. The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 29 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART (free for students worldwide, and for people of all grades in Low and Middle Income Countries) and a PIA visit: http://www.alz.org/istaart To book your place at this years AAIC Confernence visit: https://aaic.alz.org/ Visit our YouTube Channel to watch the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/iWBLNot4M6E Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/istaart-relay-podcast-immunity-and-neurodegeneration-pia/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Atypical Alzheimer's Disease PIA

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART Relay Podcast is back for a third, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part One – Professor Charlotte Teunissen, interviews Dr Rik Ossenkoppele representing the Atypical Alzheimer's Disease PIA Charlotte Teunissen is a Professor in Neurochemistry at Amsterdam UMC. Charlotte explores Biomarkers in body fluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid and blood, to understand the disease and improve care for neurological diseases, especially dementias and Multiple Sclerosis. She is representing the ISTAART Biofluid Based Biomarkers PIA. Dr Rik Ossenkoppele is an Associate Professor of Translational Neuroscience at Amsterdam UMC and Lund University. His area of research is Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, brain imaging, biomarkers, cognition. Rik also happens to be a qualifiied PE Teacher, and he is representing the ISTAART Atypical Alzheimer's Disease PIA. The Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer’s and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 29 PIAs covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART (free for students worldwide, and for people of all grades in Low and Middle Income Countries) and a PIA visit: http://www.alz.org/istaart To book your place at this years AAIC Confernence visit: https://aaic.alz.org/ Visit our YouTube Channel to watch the video version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/3CO3_W_0qtw Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/istaart-relay-podcast-immunity-and-neurodegeneration-pia/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Researching Sanfilippo syndrome

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0100

In this weeks Dementia Researcher Podcast, we hear from Dr Karissa Barthelson, one of the latest Race Against Dementia Research Fellows from Flinders University – discussing her research, and specifically an introduction to Sanfilippo syndrome, a rare form of childhood dementia, and her research on this disease. Regular Dementia Researcher Bloggers Dr Anna Volkmer & Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali lead the interview, helping us to understand Karissa’s work and exploring the science. All types of neurodegenerative diseases share common molecular mechanisms responsible for disease etiology and progression. Karissa, is interested in understanding these shared mechanisms, as targeting the common problems could lead to new therapeutics to benefit more individuals who live with these diseases. To understand the shared molecular mechanisms, Karissa utilises zebra fish, as a model organism. Introducing mutations into zebrafish, equivalent to those which cause neurodegenerative diseases in humans (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Sanfilippo syndrome childhood dementia), then analysing their brains with very high molecular detail. For more information about Sanfilippo syndrome visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanfilippo_syndrome For more information on Race Against Dementia visit: https://www.raceagainstdementia.com You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-researching-sanfilippo-syndrome/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC Preview 2022

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0100

In this week’s podcast, Adam Smith speaks with Alzheimer’s Association Director, Scientific Programs and Outreach, Dr Claire Sexton. Discussing this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) July 31 - August 4, 2022. Taking place in-person in San Diego, USA and online - the world’s leading basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community will share breaking research discoveries that will lead to methods of prevention and treatment and improvements in diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease. Learn what the organisers have planned for this year’s event, new features and about some of the amazing sessions planned for those attending in-person and online. Students worldwide and researchers from Low- and Middle-Income Countries are now eligible for free ISTAART Membership (and ISTAART members can attend the AAIC Online for Free) - Become a member, then register for the conference if you can't make it in-person. To book your place visit - https://aaic.alz.org/ Join ISTAART to get a free online ticket - www.alz.org/istaart A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-2022-preview/ Dr Claire Sexton Bio https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-claire-sexton/ Adam Smith Bio https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-profile-adam-smith/ _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Writing the BEST Fellowship Application

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast, Dr Stefania Forner, Director of Medical & Scientific Relations at Alzheimer's Association guest hosts a discussion with current and past awardees of the Association's Fellowships and international grant programs. They recap on the take-aways from a recent grant writing master glass and explore how grants are evaluated, what makes a successful application. Visit our YouTube Channel to watch the video version of this podcast - just look for dementia researcher. Meet our guests: Dr DeAnnah R. Byrd, Assistant Professor at Arizona State University. Studying the effects of chronic conditions & stressors in older Blacks and reducing dementia among minority populations. Dr Joe Abisambra, Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Associate Dean of Diversity and Health Equity at University of Florida. Focussing on tau biology in the context of Alzheimer’s and traumatic brain injury. Dr Eduardo R. Zimmer, Assistant Professor at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Researching Glial Cells, neuroimaging and neurodegeneration at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. The next Alzheimer’s Association International funding round will open later this summer, keep an eye on the Dementia Researcher and Alzheimer’s Association websites: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/funding-calls https://www.alz.org/research/for_researchers/grants/types-of-grants -- You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

What's New With Alzheimer's Society Grants - LIVE

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Recorded LIVE on Twitter Spaced on Wednesday 15th June 2022. Adam Smith, chats to the Alzheimer's Society research grants team, discussing their newly launched 2022 funding call, getting details on their all new PhD, Fellowship, Careers and Project Grants. Sophie Roberts, Dr Jennie Gabriel and Katherine Gray - share details on how the Society's funding programmes have been transformed and updated to better support ECRs, with improvements in the applicatio process, contract lenghts and stipends, and all new programmes. They also discuss eligabilty, and how to apply. For details on all the calls visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/alzheimers-society-launch-new-funding-schemes/ https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/researchers/our-application-process To keep up to date with news from Alzheimer's Society Research Team you can now follow them on twitter @AlzSocResearch - there you will also find details of an upcoming webinar for applicants.

Race Against Dementia Discovery Hub

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Back in February the charity Race Against Dementia started by former Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart announced funding of its first Discovery Hub, and funding to transform and quickly delivery drug discovery to clinical trials in partnership with University of Edinburgh and the Alzheimer Center, Amsterdam. In this podcast Dr Sam Moxon talks with three of the people behind this exciting new project – RAD CEO Bridget Barker, and Neurologists Professor Philip Scheltens of the Alzheimer Center, Amsterdam and Professor Siddharthan Chandran from University of Edinburgh. Listen to hear how this project came about, what they’ll be doing differently and hope to achieve, and why drug discovery and drug repurposing could be key in finding a new treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-rad-discovery-hub -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. You will also find video versions of some of our podcasts on YouTube – check out our channel.

Food for Thought - Food and Lifestyle to Prevent Cognitive Decline with Dr Dean Sherzai

Mon, 23 May 2022 06:00:19 +0100

In this podcast Dr Sam Moxon speaks with behavioral neurologist and neuroscientist Dr Dean Sherzia. They discuss diet and lifestyle and how they effect the brain, and how big and small changes can have an effect on cognition both before and after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. For those who don't know Dr. Dean Sherzai is dedicated to behavioral change models at the community and population level. Dean and his wife Dr Ayesha Sherzia, are authors of the book 'The 30-Days ALzheimer's Solution: The Definitive Food and Lifestyle Guide to Preventing Cognitive Decline'. Ocean Robbins, CEO of the Food Revolution Network said of the book "This simple, step-by-step guide is your road map to a life of clear mind, strong memory, and lasting wellness. You won’t believe how easy (and how delicious!) it can be to transform your life." Buy the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0062996959/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_GTX1Q4K6B685MKKT0YNQ Dean finished his medical and neurology residencies at Georgetown University with a subsequent fellowship in neurodegenerative diseases at the National Institutes of Health, followed by a second fellowship in Dementia and Geriatrics at the University of California, San Diego. He also holds two master’s Degrees; in advanced sciences at UCSD and in lifestyle epidemiology from Loma Linda University. He has received a PhD in Healthcare leadership focused on community empowerment from Loma Linda/Andrews University. Finally, he completed the executive leadership program at Harvard Business School. His vision has always been to revolutionize healthcare by empowering communities to take control of their own health. You will also find this video podcast in your favourite podcast app and on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast You can also find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/DOyNHL8uIwM To find out more about the guests, and access a transcription of this podcast visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-food-for-thought-food-and-lifestyle-to-preventing-cognitive-decline-with-dr-dean-sherzai/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Dementia Researcher, or our funders, the show does not endorse one particular diet over another and strongly recommends you consult your healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Sleep, Cognition & Dementia - ISTAART Research Perspectives

Mon, 09 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Is there a connection between sleep, memory, and dementia? Well, it’s complicated. Different types of dementia are associated with different sleep problems, and it is a hot topic for researchers. Whether poor sleep causes or exacerbates dementia, is being looked at and then the separate but related issue of dementia contributing to poor sleep. It is clear that more research is needed to understand this relationship; in particular research that observes large groups of affected people for very long periods of time. In this ISTAART Research Perspectives Special, Fernando Peres and Dr Clara Domínguez Vivero get two perspectives on a research topic, from the researcher and the person who lives with the disease. This time we are joined by Epidemiologist and Sleep Research expert Dr Yue Leng from University of California, San Francisco and Helen Rochford-Brennan, who has been living with dementia for a number of years and transformed her live into campaigning for improved awareness and human rights through charities and the European Working Group for People Living with Dementia. Find out more about our hosts and guests and review a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast For information on ISTAART Visit – https://www.alz.org/istaart -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Listening to Early Career Researchers - ISTAART & UCL Survey Results

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0100

To investigate researchers’ experiences of their workplaces, fields, careers and support, University College London and The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) Professional Interest Area to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERS) surveyed ECRs working in the field of dementia or those who had recently left the field. In this podcast the study lead Adam Smith hosts a discussion with three of his ISTAART collaborators Dr Beth Shaaban, from University of Pittsburgh, Dr Lindsay Welikovitch from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital and Wagner Brum from University of Gothenburg and Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Behind every discovery are researchers, with the majority falling into the category of being at the early career stage. Early Career Researchers (ECRs) significantly contribute to the field, but from within, there are concerns about how supported individuals feel to thrive and remain within research. There are also questions around what actions research institutions, funders and policy makers are taking to address research careers issues. This report provides the results of the survey conducted between the 1st September to 31st October 2021. Further details and the full data can be freely accessed at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/survey -- You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-listening-to-early-career-researchers -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Vascular Brain Health Science

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0100

This week Dr Fiona McLean from University of Dundee is with three colleagues all at the cutting edges of their fields to discuss their research, and the science behind vascular brain health, and what brain cells you’d really enjoy hanging out with on a night out in Glasgow! List to find out more… Maintaining a healthy brain is essential to having a healthy and long life. Brain health is increasingly talked about, but what does that really mean, and how does the vascular system play a role in that? Well, did you know that the health of your brain and your heart are connected? By keeping your heart and vascular system healthy, you also lower your risk for brain problems such as stroke and dementia… controlling blood pressure, eating health foods, and limiting alcohol, managing your risk of diabetes, not smoking and staying active and rested are important… this week our guests explore the science so don’t worry if you don’t know your extravascular cells from your endothelial cells, our great guests will explain (and if you do know, then you need to listen to discover our guests favourite cells, and which cells are which on a night out). This week’s guests are: Dr Josie Fullerton, Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Glasgow studying extracellular vesicles, hypertension, stroke, heart & vascular disease & neuropathology. Dr Gaia Brezzo, Research Fellow in Cerebral Vascular Disease and Dementia at the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh. Dr Sophie Quick, Post-doctoral researcher in the Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh researching neuroscience, specifically Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. -- You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-vascular-brain-health-science/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Virtual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Studies

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 06:00:13 +0100

This week Dr Anna Volkmer is back in the hosts chair, interviewing PhD Students, Esther Hui and Emily Fisher. Esther and Emily both study in the International Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Centre at University College London. Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is an evidence-based therapy for people with dementia. It is the only non-medical therapy endorsed by UK government guidelines for the cognitive symptoms of dementia. Group CST treatment involves 14 or more sessions of themed activities, which typically run twice weekly. The aims of sessions are to actively stimulate and engage people with dementia, whilst providing an optimal learning environment and the social benefits of a group. CST is widely used across the UK as well as globally, with work ongoing in at least 35 countries. The International CST Centre was set up to co-ordinate this work and is directed by Professor Aimee Spector. In this podcast Esther and Emily discuss the programme, their studies and how they’re adapting CST to work in different cultures and settings. For more information visit: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/international-cognitive-stimulation-therapy/ http://www.cstdementia.com/ -- You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-virtual-cognititive-stimulation-therapy-studies/ -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ADPD Conference Highlights 2022

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100

A special podcast recorded during last weeks AD/PD™ 2022, Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference in Barcelona (isn't it great to be back meeting face to face). Katy Hole, PhD Student from University of Bath guest hosts talking with four early researchers sharing their reflections on the week, and conference and science highlights. Guests are: Dr Amanda Heslegrave, Senior Research Fellow in the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London. Dr Percy Griffin, Director of Scientific Engagement at Alzheimer's Association Wagner Brum, MD-PhD student from University of Gothenburg Anna Wernick, PhD Student at University College London _________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-adpd-conference-highlights-2022 _________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

The Effects Of Space Travel On The Brain

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Today is the UK Space Agency Mars Day, it celebrates the 6th anniversary of the launch of the first ExoMars mission, and a year since NASA’s Perseverance rover started exploring Mars. In just three years’ time NASA aims to return humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis Mission, and in just a decade it’s onward to the surface of Mars – the tech and engineering may be ready, but are we? Being in space has well-documented negative effects on the body. But the effect of being in space on the brain has been studied less. In this podcast Dr Yvonne Couch, ARUK Research Fellow at University of Oxford hosts a discussion with three world leading experts to explore the effects of space travel on the brain. We’re joined by Chris Mason, Professor of Genomics, Physiology, and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medicine, USA. Chris is one of the people behind the landmark Twins Study that followed identical twins Scott and Mark Kelly, while one spent a year on earth and the other spent a year in space – he works with NASA, runs multiple labs, and utilises computational and experimental methodologies to identify and characterise the essential genetic elements that guide the function of the human genome, with a particular emphasis on the elements that orchestrate the development of the human brain. Chris has also written a fantastic book ‘The Next 500 Years’ about our future in space. Next we have Dr Iya Whiteley, Space Psychologist and Director of the Centre for Space Medicine at Mullard Space Science Laboratory, at University College London. Dr Whiteley works with the European Space Agency is a trained Astronaut Instructor and has published several papers about fatigue in astronauts. She helps develop tools to support crew autonomous operations in complex human spacecraft and works at the cutting edge of psychological support of astronauts going to the moon and mars. Iya is also the author of a new book titled “Toolkit for a Space Psychologist - to support astronauts in exploration missions to the Moon and Mars” Last by far from least we have the unstoppable Henrik Zetterberg, Professor of Neurochemistry and neurodegenerative disease expert at University College London and the University of Gothenburg. Henrik is a leading expert in fluid based biomarkers in dementia, and in 2020 he discovered a new method to detect the disease about two decades before significant symptoms are present. In this show he does an amazing job of keeping the show on track as we explore radiation, gravity, psychology, food, sleep and everything that makes astronauts ‘Super Human’, or are they? The Next 500 Years – https://amzn.to/3t2iCV1 Toolkit for a Space Psychologist – https://amzn.to/3CGmTAE Twins Study - https://www.nasa.gov/twins-study More on Mars Day - https://marsday.org.uk/ -- You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ARUK Conference Roundup 2022

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100

This week we have a we have a special podcast recorded during last weeks Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Brighton. In this show Dr Katy Bray, ARUK Public Engagement Manager guests hosts talking with four early career researchers sharing the research and their conference highlights. Our guests are Beth Eyre, PhD Student from The University of Sheffield Sophie Sanford, University of Cambridge Dr Mike Daniels, UK DRI at The University of Edinburgh Josh Harvey, University of Exeter _________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website. There you will also find a full transcript: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aruk-conference-roundup-2022/ For more information on ARUK visit: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research/ _________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Neuronal Activity

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast Dr Mike Daniels, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh guests hosts a discussion with three researchers who know a great deal about Neurons – they discuss their research, lab life and mice challenges, the amyloid hypothesis, and the reproducibility. The healthy human brain contains tens of billions of neurons—specialized cells that process and transmit information via electrical and chemical signals. They send messages between different parts of the brain, and from the brain to the muscles and organs of the body. Alzheimer’s disease disrupts this communication among neurons, resulting in loss of function and cell death. This weeks guests are: Dr Soraya Meftah, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh. Sorya explores the Neurophysiology of dementia (synaptic, neuronal, network dysfunction). Tabitha Broadbelt, PhD Student at The University of Edinburgh. Tabitha works in the field of Behavioural Neuroscience, Learning and Memory. Specifically looking at mechanisms of learning modulation in a mouse model of amyloid pathology. Jack Bray, PhD Student at University of Aberdeen. Jack is investigating EEG and behavioural abnormalities in preclinical mouse models of dementia (he also knows how to drive a ferry). You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Support Networks for Minoritised Scientists

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0100

In this week’s podcast Dr Oz Ismail talks with three dementia researchers who have made in their business to build supportive communities that celebrate and empower Black and minoritised scientists and dementia researchers. In the UK, around 7 per cent of undergraduate students are black, matching the percentage of black people aged 18 to 24. But the number plummets when you look at PhD students. For the past five years, the proportion of black PhD students at Russell Group universities – seen as the UK’s most prestigious – has stagnated at around 2 per cent. The story is similar in the US, where African Americans make up nearly 13 per cent of the population, but win only 6.5 per cent of doctorates earned. Our guests discuss, what needs to be done, and what inspired them to act both personally and professional to support others from similar backgrounds – to follow their paths into science, and support them to remain. They go on to discuss just a few of the amazing resources and services are out there to support Black and minoritised researchers and scientists working in dementia and other diseases. Meet the guests... Dr Oz Ismail is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Mishra Lab, Oregon Health & Science University, USA. He studies the links between small stroke events and the onset of Alzheimer’s pathology later in life. He also occasionally performs stand-up comedy, drawing upon his experiences as a millennial, immigrant, and scientist. Dr Yolanda Ohene, is a Biophysicist and Postdoctoral Research Associate at The University of Manchester. Yolanda is developing new MRI techniques to measure blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease. Her top tips for ECRs? Remember to write down as many details as possible in your lab book! She is also passionate about encouraging others from diverse cultural backgrounds to work in science. Victor Ekuta is a linQ Catalyst Fellow and MD Candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is researching Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers (he is also an awesome dancer: Hip hop, popping, and shuffling). In his spare time, he has led multiple outreach programs and neuroscience courses for underrepresented students – he is also a member of Black in Neuro. Caitlin Corona-Long is a PhD Student at Johns Hopkins University, researching structural, functional, and fluid biomarkers of amnestic mild cognitive impairment. As a first generation PhD student born to a Sierra Leonean father and an American mother, Caitlin has been involved in a number of programmes to support black scientists and to support and encourage improved diversity – she also happens to be related to two Presidents. You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Exploring the New Alzheimer's Research UK ECR Programme

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0100

This week Adam Smith talks with three of the people behind the new Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) Early Career Researcher Programme. For those who don’t know ARUK are one of the amazing charities that support Dementia Researcher and this podcast. We share common goals of furthering dementia research, and ensuring that ECRs are attracted to the field, and supported to remain – so it was a pleasure to hear about their brilliant new programme. This weeks guests are Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research for ARUK and two people who advised them in devising the new programme, Dr Jill Fowler, Research Fellow from The University of Edinburgh and Michael Coleman, Professor of Neuroscience at University of Cambridge. Here are some essential links for you to follow-up on the topics discussed in the show: Key elements of the new programme include: - A new funding scheme to help retain talented researchers. - Leadership and management training. - An ARUK Network-wide mentorship scheme. - A career development group. News Item - https://bit.ly/3o2riYh ARUK ECR Portal - https://bit.ly/3Gbefu8 --You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast --Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much. --Dementia Researcher is brought to you by University College London, Queen Square Biomedical Research Centre, and is funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society.

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy - ISTAART Research Perspectives

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 07:00:08 +0100

There are a number of interventions that can help people living with dementia improve their memory and thinking skills and to enable them to cope better, or even slightly delay the loss of memory. In this podcast we discuss Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) – an intervention which has been significantly researched and supported by a large amount of evidence. In this ISTAART Research Perspectives Special, Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) Fellows Fernando Peres and Dr Clara Domínguez Vivero talk with CST expert and researcher Dr Elisa França Resende and Alzheimer’s Association Volunteer and person living with dementia Pam Montana. Our two guests give two perspectives from each side of the treatment, researcher and provider and recipient and user. Exploring the research and how CST has helped to support Pam to live with the progressive symptoms of dementia. -- Fernando Perez is a Journalist, Writer and GHBI Fellow based in Brazil. -- Dr Clara Dominguez Vivero is a Neurologist, PhD holder, Neuroinflammation Researcher and GHBI Fellow based at Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela. -- Dr Elisa de Paula França Resende is a Neurologist and GBHI Fellow, researching Cognitive Reserve and dementia in people with low education at Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. -- Pam Montana was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2016 at the age of 61. A former Intel executive, Pam managed and led sales teams until her early retirement in 2017. Pam is a champion for dementia research and a former member of the Alzheimer’s Association National Early-Stage Advisory Group. Find out more about our hosts and guests and review a full transcript of this podcast on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Further Reading: CST to Maintain Memory - https://bit.ly/3quKXC5 CST Toolkit - https://bit.ly/33xjBSD GBHI - https://www.gbhi.org/ For information on ISTAART Visit – https://www.alz.org/istaart -- This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Why grants get funded and why they don't

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Postdoc Scientist at the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Dr Mike Daniels presents what he learned from attending the Alzheimer’s Research UK grant review board. Sharing tips on why grants get funded and why they don’t. --Hosted by Dr Fiona McLean and recorded live in front of an audience at the ARUK Scotland Network Meeting on the 3rd December 2021. --You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast --Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much. --Dementia Researcher is brought to you by University College London, Queen Square Biomedical Research Centre, and is funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society.

Blogs 2021 - Thriving Not Just Surviving

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

We’re finishing the year with 5 special themed podcasts sharing some of the narrated blogs we’ve published throughout the year, introduced by Adam Smith. Our last compilation of the week has been titled Thriving not just Surviving – we had a lot of blogs early in the year sharing life during lockdown, the importance of mental health, and how, as researchers you need to have an extra level of resilience to cope with the extra challenges that come with failed applications and rejection – and how to bounce back. So today, we’re sharing a few blogs on surviving lockdown and coping with the stressors of academia. Adam Smith narrates his own blog blog titled "How to Build Resilience and Bounce Back". Beth Eyre, PhD Student at The University of Sheffield shared her tips in a blog called "Looking after your wellbeing as a PhD Student... During a Pandemic". Dr Sam Moxon, Research Associate from The University of Manchester shares his advice on "Keeping Sane in Lockdown". Morgan Daniel, now an Assistant Psychologist at UCLH shared her year as an MSc Student, this blog was one of her last during the journey "Tips for Taking Care of yourself during Gradschool". If you enjoyed these blogs, remember that we have a dedicated blogs podcast channel, where we publish several new posts every week - subscribe in your podcast app, or read them all on our website. Dedicated Blogs Podcast - apple.co/3BMzhxu Read more blogs, and find out about our contributors at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Blogs 2021 - The Importance Of Care

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

We’re finishing the year with 5 special themed podcasts sharing some of the narrated blogs we’ve published throughout the year, introduced by Adam Smith. If you’re just catching up, earlier this week we covered some science, we had tips for new researchers, the importance of involving people in research and today, we have four more blogs on the topic of care and psychosocial interventions. It is so important that care research be undertaken alongside the basic science, helping to ensure we can look after those who live with the disease today, whilst also working to understand and prevent the disease. Dr Anna Volkmer, Senior Researcher and Speech and Language Therapist from University College London narrates her blog titled "Dementia Care over the Past 25 Years - from there is nothing we can do, to a range of interventions". Dr Alys Griffiths, Psychologist, Lecturer and Research Tutor at The University of Liverpool narrates her blog titled "Relational Councelling As a Psychosocial Intervention in Dementia". Nathan Stephens, PhD Student from University of Worcester reads his blog discussing "Rebalancing Gender in Care". Dr Prerana Sabnis, reads her blog discussing the research published by Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez How the COVID-19 Lockdown Impacted People with Dementia and their Carers". If you enjoyed these blogs, remember that we have a dedicated blogs podcast channel, where we publish several new posts every week - subscribe in your podcast app, or read them all on our website. Dedicated Blogs Podcast - apple.co/3BMzhxu Read more blogs, and find out about our contributors at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Blogs 2021 - Involving People In Research

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

We’re finishing the year with 5 special themed podcasts sharing some of the narrated blogs we’ve published throughout the year, introduced by Adam Smith. So far this week we’ve absorbed some science, shared tips for new researchers, but today it’s all about people living with dementia, who should be at the heart of all our research endeavours. We’re going to hear about the importance of patient and public involvement, and hear how researcher adapted to ensure they can keep research going even when qualitative research moves online. Bethany McLoughlin, PhD Student from University of Warwick shares experiences from taking her research online is a blog titled "Conducting Qualitative Interviews Online During COVID-19". Dr Clarissa Giebel, Research Fellow from University of Liverpool narrates her blog titled "Taking Research Out of it's Bubble". Dr Anna Volkmer, Senior Research Fellow and Speech & Language Therapist from UCL talks about "Including the Voices of People Living with Dementia in Research" Dr Sarah Giffiths & Dr Hannah Wheat, Qualitative Researcher from University College London & University of Plymouth provides some valuable guidance in her blog "Interviewing People with Dementia and Carers Remotley". If you enjoyed these blogs, remember that we have a dedicated blogs podcast channel, where we publish several new posts every week - subscribe in your podcast app, or read them all on our website. Dedicated Blogs Podcast - apple.co/3BMzhxu Read more blogs, and find out about our contributors at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Blogs 2021 - Reading In To The Science

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

We’re finishing the year with 5 special themed podcasts sharing some of the narrated blogs we’ve published throughout the year, introduced by Adam Smith. This week we’ll be covering some amazing science and care and psychosocial research, exploring public engagement and with the rise of omicron we’ll go back to earlier in the year to learn some lessons from previous lockdowns and think about wellbeing and resilience. Today, we’ve selected four blogs which share some of the amazing knowledge held in the heads of our bloggers who are based in the lab, exploring some science and biology. Dr Christina Toomey, Researcher from University College London narrates her blog titled "How does the Brain Bank Work". Dr Sam Moxon, Research Associate at The University of Manchester narrates his blog titled "Tissue Stiffness an Overlooked Aspect of Dementia". Dr Yvonne Couch, Associate Professor and ARUK Fellow at University of Oxford, invites you to join her in a blog titled "The Hunt for Tiny Messengers" Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali, Research Associate at University of Glasgow discussed her research in this blog "Why does Brain Injury Increase the Risk of Dementia" If you enjoyed these blogs, remember that we have a dedicated blogs podcast channel, where we publish several new posts every week - subscribe in your podcast app, or read them all on our website. Dedicated Blogs Podcast - apple.co/3BMzhxu Read more blogs, and find out about our contributors at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Blogs 2021 - Essentials For New Researchers

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 07:00:06 +0100

We’re finishing the year with 5 special themed podcasts sharing some of the narrated blogs we’ve published throughout the year, introduced by Adam Smith. This week we’ll be covering some amazing science and care and psychosocial research, exploring public engagement and with the rise of omicron we’ll go back to earlier in the year to learn some lessons from previous lockdowns and think about wellbeing and resilience. Today, we’ve selected four blogs which are perfect for new Researchers, PhD & Masters Students, anyone thinking of coming to work in the field. Dr Anna Volkmer, Senior Researcher & Speech and Language Therapist at University Collect London narrates her blog titled "Why Dementia Research is the most exciting place to be working". Beth Eyre, PhD Student at The University of Sheffield covers "What I wish I’d known before starting my PhD" Dr Emily Oliver, Lead Dementia Nurse and Clinical Researcher shares her tips on "What should I research and how do I formulate a research question?" Nadine Mirza, Postgraduate Researcher and Research Assistant at the University of Manchester shares a personal story "A Product of Failure – How I fell into dementia research. If you enjoyed these blogs, remember that we have a dedicated blogs podcast channel, where we publish several new posts every week - subscribe in your podcast app, or read them all on our website. Dedicated Blogs Podcast - https://apple.co/3BMzhxu Read more blogs, and find out about our contributors at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Highlights from the Year - 2021 Round-up

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

It's that time of year when we put out a special show of highlight clips, just to give everybody a couple of weeks off. 2021 has been another year of highs and lows, but despite the challenges, it's been wonderful to be able to continue to bring researchers together to discuss their work, and of course, careers advice. 2021 has been wonderful for partnerships too. We've worked with the National Center for Research Methods, Alzheimer's Association, and many of the great partners to bring you news. But what continues to blow us away is the amazing engagement we get from all of you, the listeners. The Dementia Researcher Podcast is now a regular in over 60 countries, and this year should see us hit over a 100,000 downloads, and our subscriber and listening numbers have once again increased year on year, now for four years straight. Of course, all of this is only possible thanks to the National Institute for Health Research, Alzheimer's Research UK, and Alzheimer's Society. We would also like to thank our fantastic colleagues at University College London, and of course, all of our contributors and guests on the show. Next year, we're going to be back and mixing up the format to ensure we regularly cover all topics you enjoy. We're also going to introduce some new themes, and hopefully, COVID allowing, make sure that we're recording back in the studio and at live events. So thank you again for listening. Have a great festive season and a Happy New Year. We hope you enjoy our highlights real, and check back between Christmas and the New Year wehn we'll be releasing some narrated blog collections we will be back on the 3rd of January with a special podcast we recorded live at the recent ARUK Scotland Network Meeting - getting the year to a great start with "Why grants get funded, and why they don't". You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Perpetual Postdoc - Breaking the Perpetual Postdoc Cycle

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Adam Smith & Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali host this Twitter Spaces discussion for Dementia Researcher. They speak with four dementia research Professors about their careers, how they navigated the path to professor, discovering what they learned along the way, what they might do differently and getting their advice for any postdocs who are looking to progress, decide what comes next or who just feel stuck in the endless cycle of short-term contracts. Our guest panellists are: Tara Spires-Jones - Professor of Neurodegeneration & Deputy Director, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences within the UK Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh. Sci-fi fan and working on the Neurobiology of synapse degeneration. Louise Serpell - Professor of Biochemistry & Director of Sussex Neuroscience at the University of Sussex. Leading a busy research group with four Postdocs and three PhD students. Researching proteins and how they fold and misfold and proving her physics teacher wrong every day! Professor Claire Surr - Director of the Centre for Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett University, cycling and researching Dementia care and services with particular interest in care homes and hospital care and workforce education and training. Tammaryn Lashley - Professor of Neuroscience and Director of Research for the Queen Square Brain Bank at University College London. UCL 18 year veteran, leading a Neuropathology lab, supervising 11 PhD Students and wrangling two children. If you would like to get involved and join us for our next social audio chat drop us a line at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk and follow us on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/dem_researcher ________________________ Odd News by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

Perpetual Postdoc - It’s Broke, So Let’s Fix It, A discussion Important People Need to Hear

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to our mini-series on post-doccing in the 21st century, where we discuss the highs, the lows, the problems and the potential solutions. In this series Dr Yvonne Couch, ARUK Research Fellow from the University of Oxford is joined by Dr Kritika Samsi, Senior Research fellow at King’s College London, Dr Sarah Kate Smith, Research Fellow at Sheffield Hallam and one of our new regular bloggers at Dementia Researcher Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali at the University of Glasgow. If you’ve not listened to either of the first two episodes go back and have a gander. In the first we our great postdoc panel give advice to early career researchers based on their experiences and in the second they talk about how their experiences have affected them and what they enjoy, as well as what we don’t, about life in academia. In this, the final episode, Yvonne, Kritika, Kamar and Sarah talk about some of the problems they bought up last time in more depth and contemplate what needs to happen in order for things to change. Tune in for some important discussion about the road to change. All this week Dementia Researcher is publishing content aimed providing help, advice and support for anyone who feels a little 'stuck' at the postdoc career stage. Ideal for anyone looking to break out into indepednant research, avoid ever getting in the situation, hoping to work out how to get a promotion or accept this but challenge the issue of short-term contracts. You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Perpetual Postdoc - Avoiding the Ostrich Approach, Some Tricky Conversations About Academia

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to our mini-series on post-doccing in the 21st century, where we discuss the highs, the lows, the problems and the potential solutions. In this series Dr Yvonne Couch, ARUK Research Fellow from the University of Oxford is joined by Dr Kritika Samsi, Senior Research fellow at King’s College London, Dr Sarah Kate Smith, Research Fellow at Sheffield Hallam and one of our new regular bloggers at Dementia Researcher Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali at the University of Glasgow. If you’ve not yet listened to it, go back and listen to the first episode where we pass on our wisdom to the next generation. In this, the second episode in the series, they discuss some of the things they love about academic life and some of the major obstacles they face. Tune in for the occasional painful truth about life in academia. All this week Dementia Researcher is publishing content aimed providing help, advice and support for anyone who feels a little 'stuck' at the postdoc career stage. Ideal for anyone looking to break out into indepednant research, avoid ever getting in the situation, hoping to work out how to get a promotion or accept this but challenge the issue of short-term contracts. You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Perpetual Postdoc - 20/20 Hindsight, Tips from Perpetual Post-Docs

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to our mini-series on post-doccing in the 21st century, where we discuss the highs, the lows, the problems and the potential solutions. In this series Dr Yvonne Couch, ARUK Research Fellow from the University of Oxford is joined by Dr Kritika Samsi, Senior Research fellow at King’s College London, Dr Sarah Kate Smith, Research Fellow at Sheffield Hallam and one of our new regular bloggers at Dementia Researcher Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali at the University of Glasgow. In this first episode they their years of experience in academia and outside of it to generate some sage advice for the next generation. Tune in to find out more + comback on Wednesday for the next installment. All this week Dementia Researcher is publishing content aimed providing help, advice and support for anyone who feels a little 'stuck' at the postdoc career stage. Ideal for anyone looking to break out into indepednant research, avoid ever getting in the situation, hoping to work out how to get a promotion or accept this but challenge the issue of short-term contracts. You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

MSc Complete - Reflecting on the year with Morgan Daniel

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0100

For the past year Dementia Researcher has been following Morgan Daniel as she studies for her Dementia & Neuroscience MSc at University College London. In this final round-up podcast, Adam Smith catches up with Morgan as she completes her degree to reflect on the year. It’s been an eventful year for Morgan, moving from Glasgow, studying during the pandemic, learning and finding a new way to study, and deciding what comes next. For the past year Morgan has been writing a monthly blog to share her experiences, and providing great tips for anyone going working through grad school. Catchup with Morgan’s blogs on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/tag/morgan-msc-story/ You will be pleased to know that since recording this podcast Morgan received a number of job offers, and successfully started her dream job as an Assistant Psychologist in Neuropsychology at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Follow Morgan & Adam on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MorganDaniel99 https://www.twitter.com/BetterResearch You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much. Dementia Researcher is brought to you by University College London, Queen Square Biomedical Research Centre, and is funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society.

Food For Thought - The gut microbiome and Dementia with Dr Alan Desmond

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0100

In this show staff blogger Dr Sam Moxon returns to host another podcast on the theme of ‘Food for Thought’ interviewing people who can shed light on the links between food and brain health. In this episode, he talks with author and Consultant Gastroenterologist, Dr Alan Desmond, discussing the links between the gut microbiome and dementia. Can the billions of bacteria that occupy your gut really have an impact on your brain? They explore the gut microbiome, why it's important, and delved into some of the recent scientific breakthroughs of how changes in the bacteria of your gut can possibly directly cause the progression of dementia. Dr Alan Desmond is a Consultant Gastroenterologist. Certified in both Gastroenterology and General Internal Medicine, he completed his specialist training in Cork, Dublin and Oxford. He has years of experience in diagnosing and treating patients with digestive problems; including coeliac disease, diverticular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Dr Alan really enjoys cooking and eating a varied, whole food, plant-based diet – and it is this passion that led him to write the book “The Plant Based Diet Revolution”. He is a member of the Royal College of Physicians, and founding advisory board member for Plant-Based Health Professionals UK, a Charitable Organisation that works to improve education and awareness of the benefits of a healthy plant-based diet. Follow Dr. Alan on Instagram. (Instagram) www.instagram.com/dr.alandesmond/ The Plant Based Diet Revolution by Dr. Alan Desmond (Amazon) http://amzn.to/3q4Gsy7 Food for thought - Eating for Brain Health, Dr Neal Barnard (Podcast) http://bit.ly/3q0txx7 You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Dementia Researcher, or our funders, the show does not endorse one particular diet over another and strongly recommends you consult your healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Methods Matter - Qualitative Secondary Analysis

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The Methods Matter Podcast - from Dementia Researcher & the National Centre for Research Methods. A podcast for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this first series PhD Student Leah Fullegar from the University of Southampton brings together leading experts in research methodology, and dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! Episode Five - Qualitative Secondary Analysis To go with the podcast we had a great artist called Jack Brougham provide an amazing visual guide to this method - Download our free visual how-to guide poster here - https://bit.ly/2ZgEAaa In expert corner - Dr Kahryn Hughes, from University of Leeds. Director of the Timescapes Archive, Editor in Chief of Sociological Research Online, Convenor of the MA Qualitative Research Methods and a Senior Fellow for the NCRM. In researcher ranch – Dr Anna Volkmer is a Speech and Language Therapist and researcher in Language and Cognition, Department of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London. Anna is researching Speech and language therapy interventions in language led dementia. Further reading referenced in the show: The Timescapes Archive https://timescapes-archive.leeds.ac.uk/ Qualitative Dementia Research Network - https://twitter.com/DemiQual Professor Sarah Irwin Books & Papers - https://bit.ly/3ncRNch Dr Anna Tarrant Books & Papers - https://bit.ly/3AYCsRy Professor Jennifer Mason Books & Papers - https://bit.ly/3kGpWBa Dr Niamh Moore Books & Papers - https://bit.ly/3jjpuIc Professor Bren Neale Books & Papers - https://bit.ly/3DUXtP2 Big Qual Analysis Resource Hub - https://bigqlr.ncrm.ac.uk/ ‘Re-Using’ Qualitative Data - https://bit.ly/3jDBnsP Qualitative Secondary Analysis by Kahryn Hughes & Anna Tarrant https://bit.ly/2Z6bvOw Read more about our guests and listen to more great podcasts at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a service to learners, trainers and partner organisations in the research methods community - methodological training and resources on core and advanced quantitive, qualitive, digital, creative, visual, mixed and multimodal methods. https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/ NCRM is delighted to bring you the 2021 Research Methods e-Festival in collaboration with methods@manchester. Held on 25-29 October 2021, the event will be a celebration of research methods with an interdisciplinary social science flavour.

Methods Matter - Multilevel Modelling

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The Methods Matter Podcast - from Dementia Researcher & the National Centre for Research Methods. A podcast for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this first series PhD Student Leah Fullegar from the University of Southampton brings together leading experts in research methodology, and dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! Episode Four - Multilevel Modelling To go with the podcast we had a great artist called Jack Brougham provide an amazing visual guide to this method - Download our free visual how-to guide poster here - https://bit.ly/3b6Cf4o In expert corner - Bill Browne. Bill is a Professor of Statistics who works across many disciplines including Education and Animal Welfare and Behaviour, his research spans the area of statistical modelling, from the development of statistical methods to fit realistically complex statistical models to describe real-life problems, and the implementation of those models in statistical software. In researcher ranch – Dr Jacqueline Mogle. Jacqueline is co-director of ReMind Lab, which focuses on promoting health and well-being in older adults and identifying early indicators of changes in psychological and cognitive health. Jacqueline’s current projects examine psychological and behavioural risk factors associated with the development of early cognitive decline. These projects are designed to uncover early intervention targets for older adults prior to precipitous declines in everyday cognitive functioning. Further reading referenced in the show: ReMind Lab - https://remindlab.psu.edu/ LEMMA Training Course - https://bit.ly/3C1qesD Multilevel modelling software - https://bit.ly/3lWKTsg Multilevel Analysis Book By Tom Snijders - https://amzn.to/3aWsy8o Multilevel Analysis Book By Roel Bosker - https://amzn.to/3vs39Nk Multilevel Statistical Models By Harvey Goldstein - https://bit.ly/3jjoHqM Read more about our guests and listen to more great podcasts at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a service to learners, trainers and partner organisations in the research methods community - methodological training and resources on core and advanced quantitive, qualitive, digital, creative, visual, mixed and multimodal methods. https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/ NCRM is delighted to bring you the 2021 Research Methods e-Festival in collaboration with methods@manchester. Held on 25-29 October 2021, the event will be a celebration of research methods with an interdisciplinary social science flavour.

Methods Matter - Qualitative Longitudinal

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The Methods Matter Podcast - from Dementia Researcher & the National Centre for Research Methods. A podcast for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this first series PhD Student Leah Fullegar from the University of Southampton brings together leading experts in research methodology, and dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! Episode Three - Qualitative Longitudinal To go with the podcast we had a great artist called Jack Brougham provide an amazing visual guide to this method - Download our free visual how-to guide poster here - https://bit.ly/3m5j418 In expert corner - Dr Kahryn Hughes, from University of Leeds. Director of the Timescapes Archive, Editor in Chief of Sociological Research Online, Convenor of the MA Qualitative Research Methods and a Senior Fellow for the NCRM. In researcher ranch – Professor Andrew Clark, from the University of Salford. Andrew has completed research on a wide range of topics, though he is particularly interested in three areas: neighbourhoods & communities; dementia; and innovation & creativity in social science research methods. Further reading referenced in the show: The Time Scapes Archive https://timescapes-archive.leeds.ac.uk/ Professor Bren Neale Books / Papers - https://bit.ly/3DUXtP2 The Neighbourhoods & Dementia Study - https://bit.ly/2Zaf1ba Professor Nick Emmel Books / Papers - https://bit.ly/3ne7D6q Professor Janet Holland Books / Papers - https://bit.ly/3nddrgC Professor Rachel Thomson Books / Papers - https://bit.ly/3aZ6b24 Dr Sheila Henderson Papers - https://bit.ly/3jksPXl Big data, qualitative style: a breadth-and-depth method for working with large amounts of secondary qualitative data - https://bit.ly/3E2bUAZ Read more about our guests and listen to more great podcasts at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a service to learners, trainers and partner organisations in the research methods community - methodological training and resources on core and advanced quantitive, qualitive, digital, creative, visual, mixed and multimodal methods. https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/ NCRM is delighted to bring you the 2021 Research Methods e-Festival in collaboration with methods@manchester. Held on 25-29 October 2021, the event will be a celebration of research methods with an interdisciplinary social science flavour.

Methods Matter - Social Network Analysis

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The Methods Matter Podcast - from Dementia Researcher & the National Centre for Research Methods. A podcast for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this first series PhD Student Leah Fullegar from the University of Southampton brings together leading experts in research methodology, and dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! Episode Three - Social Network Analysis To go with the podcast we had a great artist called Jack Brougham provide an amazing visual guide to this method - Download our free visual how-to guide poster here - https://bit.ly/2ZenYA3 In expert corner - Dr David Griffiths from the University of Stirling. His research focuses on social connections and social advantage. And what tool does he rely on to get to the heart of the issues? You guessed it social network analysis, and social survey methods. In researcher ranch – Dr Anne-Nicole Casey, Qualitative Research Associate from the University of New South Wales within the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (DCRC) and Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA). Further reading referenced in the show: Social Network Analysis By John Scott - https://amzn.to/3n9Lp5R Doing Social Network Analysis By Gary Robins - https://amzn.to/3n80Jjb Read more about our guests and listen to more great podcasts at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a service to learners, trainers and partner organisations in the research methods community - methodological training and resources on core and advanced quantitive, qualitive, digital, creative, visual, mixed and multimodal methods. https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/ NCRM is delighted to bring you the 2021 Research Methods e-Festival in collaboration with methods@manchester. Held on 25-29 October 2021, the event will be a celebration of research methods with an interdisciplinary social science flavour.

Methods Matter - Qualitative Interviews

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The Methods Matter Podcast - from Dementia Researcher & the National Centre for Research Methods. A podcast for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this first series PhD Student Leah Fullegar from the University of Southampton brings together leading experts in research methodology, and dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! Episode One - Qualitative Interviews To go with the podcast we had a great artist called Jack Brougham provide an amazing visual guide to this method - Download our free visual how-to guide poster here - https://bit.ly/3DYtBRG In expert corner - Dr Kahryn Hughes, from University of Leeds. Director of the Timescapes Archive, Editor in Chief of Sociological Research Online, Convenor of the MA Qualitative Research Methods and a Senior Fellow for the NCRM. In researcher ranch - Dr Jemima Dooley, conversation analyst, qualitative researcher and NIHR School for Primary Care Research Fellow, from University of Bristol. Further reading referenced in the show: The Timescapes Archive https://timescapes-archive.leeds.ac.uk/ Professor Ann Oakley Website https://www.annoakley.co.uk/ Professor Jennifer Mason Books / Papers https://bit.ly/3kGpWBa Professor Joanna Bornat Books https://bit.ly/3u9PzO0 Dr Kritika Samsi and Professor Jill Manthorpe - https://bit.ly/3EOPKmK Read more about our guests and listen to more great podcasts at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk The National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) provides a service to learners, trainers and partner organisations in the research methods community - methodological training and resources on core and advanced quantitive, qualitive, digital, creative, visual, mixed and multimodal methods. https://www.ncrm.ac.uk/ NCRM is delighted to bring you the 2021 Research Methods e-Festival in collaboration with methods@manchester. Held on 25-29 October 2021, the event will be a celebration of research methods with an interdisciplinary social science flavour. -- *Minor clarification - Although Jennifer Mason drew on the idea of interviews as 'conversations with a purpose', this language was originally formulated in the work of Robert Burgess. For those of you keen to learn more, check out: Burgess, Robert G. (l988).Conversations with a purpose: the ethnographic interview in educational research, in: Robert G. Burgess, (Ed)Studies in Qualitative Methodology vo!. 1: Conducting Qualitative Research. Greenwich Connecticut: JAIPress.

Trailer for next weeks Methods Matter mini-series

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0100

If you follow us on social media you probably already know that we've been recording a special research methods mini-series, with support from the National Centre for Research Methods. The Methods Matter Podcast - for people who don't know much about methods...those who do, and those who just want to find news and clever ways to use them in their research. In this first series PhD Student Leah Fullegar from the University of Southampton brings together leading experts in research methodology, and dementia researchers that use them, to provide a fun introduction to five qualitive research methods in a safe space where there are no such things as dumb questions! So join us every day next week and download from 7am.

The Brain Health and Dementia Research Strategy for Scotland

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast Adam Smith interviews Craig Ritchie, Professor Psychiatry of Ageing from The University of Edinburgh and Jim Pearson, Director of Policy & Practice at Alzheimer Scotland. They discuss the recently launched Scottish Brain Health & Dementia Research Strategy. Prepared by Alzheimer Scotland, The Scottish Dementia Research Consortium and Brain Health Scotland, and endorsed by a broad range of national organisations, the strategy sets the direction of travel for research in Scotland by defining key areas with strategic actions. They explore how the policy was developed, what it hopes to achieve and how support for Early Career Researchers is a key feature of the policy. Review the policy at: https://www.sdrc.scot/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Scottish-Brain-Health-Dementia-Research-Strategy-2021-min-1-1.pdf For more information on the organisations behind the policy: https://www.brainhealth.scot/ https://www.alzscot.org/ https://www.sdrc.scot/ Professor Ritchie is a Professor of the Psychiatry of Ageing at the University of Edinburgh having moved from his role as Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Mental Health at Imperial College London in October 2014. Craig is a leading authority on Clinical Trials in Dementia and has been senior investigator on over 30 drug trials of both disease modifying and symptomatic agents for that condition. Craig has published extensively on the topics of dementia and delirium. He is also one of the leading editors in the Cochrane Collaboration’s Dementia Group. Additionally Craig leads the Alzheimer Society-funded PREVENT project; a major initiative nationally which will identify mid-life risks for later life dementia and characterise early changes of neurodegenerative disease, this is in addition to multiple other projects, including leading on Brain Health Scotland. Jim is Alzheimer Scotland's Director of Policy & Practice and is responsible for Alzheimer Scotland's public policy engagement. He has a background in welfare rights and a particular interest in promoting as well as protecting the rights of people living with dementia. He played a significant role in developing Scotland's Charter of Rights for people with dementia and their carers, which puts human and other legal rights at the heart of each commitment of Scotland's first and second dementia strategies. Jim also sit on the Board of Alzheimer Europe. You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast ________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Literature meets science - ISTAART Research Perspectives

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast Dr Claire Sexton, Director of Scientific Programs & Outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association interviews Professor Cindy Weinstein and Professor Bruce L. Miller. Discussing their collaboration on a new book ‘Finding the Right Words – a story of literature, grief, and the brain’. This podcast was originally recorded as an ISTAART webinar in August 2021. This is the moving story of an English professor studying neurology in order to understand and come to terms with her father's death from Alzheimer's. Finding the Right Words follows Cindy’s decades-long journey to come to terms with her father's dementia as both a daughter and an English professor. Although her lifelong love of language and literature gave her a way to talk about her grief, she realized that she also needed to learn more about the science of dementia to make sense of her father's death. To write her story, she collaborated with Professor Bruce L. Miller, neurologist and director of the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, and Co-Director of the Global Brain Health Institute. It combines a personal memoir, literature, and the science and history of brain health into a unique, educational, and meditative work. Cindy articulates dealing with a life-changing diagnosis, describing the shock of her father's diagnosis and his loss of language and identity. Writing in response Bruce describes the neurological processes responsible for the symptoms displayed by her father. He also reflects upon his own personal and professional experiences. Their two perspectives give readers a fuller understanding of Alzheimer's than any one voice could. Find out more about the authors on their website and order the book with the links below: https://www.weinsteinandmiller.com/ Amazon - https://amzn.to/3icHpj0 Book Store - https://bit.ly/3i9HZyk You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Meet the new Race Against Dementia ARUK Fellows

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0100

It's World Alzheimer's Day - a day when we discuss the disease, work to raise awareness and call for action. Today’s podcast is a special edition to announce a very important action from Race Against Dementia (RAD) supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK, the appointment of four new Research Fellows. In the show we talk to new Chief Executive Bridget Barker, who introduces their newly appointed Fellows. They share their research plans, what they’re most looking forward to about the programme and provide a few top tips for those applying for similar positions. Meet the new RAD Fellows: Dr Maura Malpetti, from University of Cambridge. Maura uses multimodal imaging techniques (multi-tracer PET and MRI) integrated with fluid markers, post-mortem validation, and prognostic modelling approaches in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Dr Aitana Sogorb Esteve, from the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London. Maura is looking for fluid biomarkers of synaptic dysfunction in genetic FTD and aiming to develop a technique for measuring these synaptic markers in blood. Dr Emily Hill, from University of Warwick. Emily uses detailed electrophysiological approaches to understand the mechanisms underlying tau pathology in neurodegeneration. This work aims to highlight new targets for the treatment of tauopathies like Alzheimer’s disease. Dr Wioleta Zelek, from Cardiff University. Wioleta is an Immunologist focussing on the complement system, its biology, roles in disease and in manipulating the system for therapy. Of particular interest is in the terminal pathway of the complement system that generates the highly pro-inflammatory molecules C5a and the membrane attack complex (MAC). The RAD Fellowship has been discussed on the show before, it is unique in providing five years of funding, with research costs, only open to people who have completed their PhD within the past three years, and provided with a whole programme of additional support – from performance coaching, mentoring through to connections to cutting edge industries and Formula One Teams. The charity started Formula One legend Sir Jackie Steward, aims to instil Formula One attitude into scientific research, to accelerating pace discovery, and with these latest appointments they now fund 10 Fellows based in the UK, USA and Australia. In the UK the programme is supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK, and the James Dyson Foundation. Find out more about RAD and its Fellows, and how you could provide your own support for their work: https://www.raceagainstdementia.com/ You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast This podcast also sits on YouTube with English Language Subtitles. _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. ______________ Complete the UCL ISTAART #ECRPIA Survey at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/survey

Supporting Social Care Research And Building Capacity

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0100

This week we’re discussing Social Care Research, why it is important, and what is being done to try and ensure there is more of it. Social care is a term that generally describes all forms of personal care and other practical assistance for children, young people, adults and older adults who need extra support. However, as you would expect, we’re looking at its connection to dementia and how it supports older adults. We welcome back Senior Research Fellow and regular blogger Dr Clarissa Giebel from University of Liverpool as host, and first time guests Teresa Atkinson from University of Worcester, Dr Michael Clark from the NIHR School for Social Care Research and Tom Redfearn Public Affairs Manager at the Alzheimer’s Society. This podcast was recorded on the 25th June, and a few things have changed since then (which we should probably mention), the UK Government has announced its new plan for health and social care, and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dementia published its report Fuelling the Moonshot which includes recommendations for improving investment in Dementia Care and Social Care Research: Here are some links that were referenced in the show: NIHR School for Social Care Research - https://bit.ly/3l68y7W What is social care and how does it work - https://bit.ly/2XdixAC UK Government Our Plan for Health and Social Care - https://bit.ly/3txP5kk You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast This podcast also sits on YouTube with English Language Subtitles. _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. ______________ Complete the UCL ISTAART #ECRPIA Survey at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/survey

Fuelling the Moonshot - Recommendations from the UK APPG on Dementia

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Today marks the release of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dementia’s report on their recent inquiry about the state of dementia research. In this episode, Alzheimer’s Society’s Dr Clare Jonas, Jordan Clark and Dr Rich Oakley and the University of Manchester’s Dr Sarah Ryan discuss how an APPG inquiry works, the policy recommendations that the report makes, and how the dementia community can use this report to affect future research policy. For more information and to download the report visit: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/policy-and-influencing/all-party-parliamentary-group-dementia You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast This podcast also sits on YouTube with English Language Subtitles. _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. ______________ Complete the UCL ISTAART #ECRPIA Survey at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/survey

Supporting Early Career Researchers - ISTAART & UCL Survey Launch

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Early career researchers face many challenges – from difficulties finding, funding, publishing and career progression to problems with research culture and individual forms of prejudice. University College London and the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART) Professional Interest Area to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERS) is working to better understand the challenges and what helps. In this podcast Dr Anna Volkmer talks with five members of the ISTAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers. Discussing their work, and their newly launched survey. This weeks guests are Dr Beth Shaaban, Dr Sara Bartels, Wagner Brum, Dr Lindsay Welikovitch. Please note a Chinese and Portuguese translation of this podcast is available as a caption on the version uploaded to youTube - https://youtu.be/uhlxW9BCAUQ The survey discussed is aimed at early career dementia researchers, or those who have previously been an early career dementia researcher but have left the field. We hope you can take a time to help! Complete the Survey - by 31st October 2021 https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/survey Share with your followers on Twitter - https://ctt.ac/eN8Y4 It asks questions about you and your research, how you are supported in your field, for your perceptions on how opportunities and support could be improved, and about the research culture that you work within (Please note please note this does include some sensitive questions relating to gender / ethnicity, and asks some questions which may be upsetting e.g. Your experiences of certain types of bullying or prejudice etc.). The results of this survey will be published to help institutions and research funders, to understand the thoughts of early career dementia researchers. The results will also be used to guide the development of future ISTAART programs and resources, and be shared with the World Dementia Council. _____________ Please note this survey has been approved by the University College London Research Ethics Committee. If you have any questions please contact Adam Smith, Programme Director – adam.smith@ucl.ac.uk. ______________ You can find out more about our guest, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Food For Thought - Eating for brain health with Dr Neal Barnard

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0100

This week Dr Sam Moxon interviews Dr Neal Barnard, American author, clinical researcher, Leading TED Talk speaker and founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). They discuss the affected of diet on the brain, and the importance of what you eat on brain and overall health. Dr. Barnard has led numerous research studies investigating the effects of diet on diabetes, body weight, the brain and chronic pain, including a ground-breaking study of dietary interventions in type 2 diabetes - paving the way for viewing type 2 diabetes as a potentially reversible condition. He has authored more than 100 scientific publications and 20 books (including some of the best ever selling Vegan health books) for medical and lay readers, and is the editor in chief of the Nutrition Guide for Clinicians, a textbook made available to all U.S. medical students. As president of the Physicians Committee, Dr Barnard also leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research. His research contributed to the acceptance of plant-based diets in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and in 2015, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. In 2016, he founded the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, D.C., as a model for making nutrition a routine part of all medical care. Working with the Medical Society of the District of Columbia and the American Medical Association, Dr. Barnard has authored key resolutions, now part of AMA policy, calling for a new focus on prevention and nutrition in federal policies and in medical practice. In 2018, he received the Medical Society of the District of Columbia’s Distinguished Service Award. He has hosted four PBS television programs on nutrition and health. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Dr. Barnard received his MD degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the same institution. He practiced at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York before returning to Washington to found the Physicians Committee. Find out more about the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: https://www.pcrm.org/ Latest publication - Study Shows Diet Causes 84% Drop in Troublesome Menopausal Symptoms—without Drugs: https://www.pcrm.org/news/news-releases/study-shows-diet-causes-84-drop-troublesome-menopausal-symptoms-without-drugs YouTube TED Talk: https://youtu.be/v_ONFix_e4k You can find out more about our guest, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Dementia Researcher, or our funders, the show does not endorse one particular diet over another and strongly recommends you consult your healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Investigating the ubiquitin proteasome system

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0100

In today’s podcast Professor Selina Wray from University College London, meets four early career researchers, who know a great deal about the brain, human iPSC derived cells and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (not that isn’t a new type of electric car). We’ll be discussing their research, discovering more about super resolution microscopy, and how they’re researching the ubiquitin proteasome system, and its connection to dementia. We’re delighted to welcome our guests: PhD Students Liina Sirvio, Katiuska Daniela Pulgar Prieto from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London. Georgie Lines, PhD Student from University College London and Dr Emma Mee Haynes a Postdoctoral Research Associate also from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London. What is the purpose of ubiquitin proteasome system? In eukaryotic cells, proteasomes perform crucial roles in many cellular pathways by degrading proteins to enforce quality control and regulate many cellular processes such as cell cycle progression, signal transduction, cell death, immune responses, metabolism, protein-quality control, and development. You can find out more about our guests, and access a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC 2021 Round-up - Live Plenary

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0100

In this episode we share a recording of the AAIC Highlights live plenary session, organised and delivered as part of the conference on 30th July. Session chairs Dr Rebecca Edelmayer & Dr Percy Griffin from Alzheimer's Association speak with panellists Wagner Brum, Karen Dorsman, Alexander Ehrenberg, Dr Maureen Okafor and Dr Anna Volkmer To see the live recording of this session, and more from the conference visit https://www.alz.org/aaic Details on the guest from this recording, and a full transcription can be found on our website - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts Thank you to Alzheimer's Association for giving us permission to share this recording - please note that this audio should not be copied or duplicated, and the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the Alzheimer's Association. _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC 2021 Round-up - Narrated Blog

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Usually at this time of year you would be expecting our daily Alzheimer's Association International Conference Round-up Podcasts - where we bring together ECRs and people attending to share their highlights. Unfortunately, this year, due time-zones and guest availability, it didn't work out. So instead, we asked Adam Smith to write and narrate a blog to share the main highlights and his own favourite sessions from the week. If you missed the conference, don't worry, it isn't too late to register and the content will be available for the next 30 days (to end August 2021) To book your place visit - https://www.alz.org/aaic Join ISTAART to get a free online ticket - https://www.alz.org/istaart using the code AAIC2021 to get 50% discount on membership. The text from this blog is available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-2021-highlights You will find a bio on Adam Smith and a link to his twitter feed, for more AAIC highlights here: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-profile-adam-smith/ https://twitter.com/BetterResearch _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Lewy body dementia PIA

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast is back for a second, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Five – Dr Claudio Babiloni interviews Dr Joe Kane Dr Claudio Babiloni is an Associate Professor of Physiology at Sapienza University of Rome. Claudio is investigating the brain rhythms underlying the regulation of vigilance and cognitive functions in aging, with a particular interest in the main progressive neurodegenerative diseases leading to dementia such as Alzheimer's, Lewy body, and Parkinson's diseases. The primary methods of this research are EEG and neuroimaging techniques. Claudio is representing the Electrophysiology PIA. Dr Joe Kane is a Clinical Academic Lecturer working at Queen’s University Belfast. Joe splits his time between research and clinical work as an old age psychiatrist. Having got his taste for academia during his PhD studies working in of Lewy body dementia on the DIAMOND-Lewy programme of studies. Joe is representing the Lewy body dementia PIA. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-relay-one-season-2 ___________________________ The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer's and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 27 PIA covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit www.alz.org/istaart/ _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. Finally, the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Electrophysiology PIA

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast is back for a second, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Four – Dr Betty Tijms interviews Dr Claudio Babiloni Dr Betty Tijms is an Associate Professor at the Alzheimer center, department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC in the Netherlands. Jennifer’s research focusses on better understanding interindividual differences in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease that are related to developing dementia, through MR imaging and CSF proteomic analyses. She has recently, started work on cerebrospinal fluid proteomics as one of the most comprehensive measures to get more insight into interindividual differences in underlying pathophysiological processes. Betty is representing the Neuroimaging PIA. Dr Claudio Babiloni is an Associate Professor of Physiology at Sapienza University of Rome. Claudio is investigating the brain rhythms underlying the regulation of vigilance and cognitive functions in aging, with a particular interest in the main progressive neurodegenerative diseases leading to dementia such as Alzheimer's, Lewy body, and Parkinson's diseases. The primary methods of this research are EEG and neuroimaging techniques. Claudio is representing the Electrophysiology PIA. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-relay-one-season-2 ___________________________ The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer's and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 27 PIA covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit www.alz.org/istaart/ _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. Finally, the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Neuroimaging PIA

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast is back for a second, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Three – Professor Jennifer Whitwell interviews Dr Betty Tijms Jennifer Whitwell is a Professor of Radiology at the May Clinic, Rochester having originally grown up and trained in the UK. Jennifer’s research focuses on the investigation of neuroimaging biomarkers, including MRI and PET, in different neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. She is particularly focused on using neuroimaging to better understand disease mechanisms and progression in patients with atypical clinical presentations of Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting the phenotypic heterogeneity present in this disease. Jennifer is representing the Atypical Alzheimer’s Disease PIA. Dr Betty Tijms is an Associate Professor at the Alzheimer center, department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC in the Netherlands. Jennifer’s research focusses on better understanding interindividual differences in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease that are related to developing dementia, through MR imaging and CSF proteomic analyses. She has recently, started work on cerebrospinal fluid proteomics as one of the most comprehensive measures to get more insight into interindividual differences in underlying pathophysiological processes. Betty is representing the Neuroimaging PIA. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-relay-one-season-2 ___________________________ Like what you hear? Then we have a favour to ask... Dementia Researcher is nominated in the 2021 Peoples Choice Podcast Awards - to get through round one, we need your votes - please head over to https://www.podcastawards.com/app/signup - complete the short registration form, and then select Dementia Researcher in the Medicine & Science and Peoples Choice categories (don't worry, you don't have to do any of the others) - hit submit, and verify - JOB DONE Winning this award would be a great way to thank and recognise the contribution of all our hosts and guests who give up their time freely, to share their science and career tips, and to support ECRs to succeed and to raise the profile of Dementia Research. _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. Finally, the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART PIA Podcast - Atypical Alzheimer’s Disease PIA

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast is back for a second, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Two – Professor Zahinoor Ismail interviews Professor Jennifer Whitwell Zahinoor Ismail is a Neuropsychiatrist; Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Epidemiology, and Pathology at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and O’Brien Institute for Public Health; Cumming School of Medicine; University of Calgary. Zahinoor works on Dementia prognostication and early dementia detection using non-cognitive markers, treatment of neuropsychiatric syndromes across the cognitive spectrum, pharmacoepidemiology. Zahinoor is representing the Neuropsychiatric Syndromes PIA. Jennifer Whitwell is a Professor of Radiology at the May Clinic, Rochester having originally grown up and trained in the UK. Jennifer’s research focuses on the investigation of neuroimaging biomarkers, including MRI and PET, in different neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. She is particularly focused on using neuroimaging to better understand disease mechanisms and progression in patients with atypical clinical presentations of Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting the phenotypic heterogeneity present in this disease. Jennifer is representing the Atypical Alzheimer’s Disease PIA. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-relay-one-season-2 ___________________________ The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer's and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 27 PIA covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit www.alz.org/istaart/ _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. Finally, the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Neuropsychiatric Syndromes PIA

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The Dementia Researcher, ISTAART PIA Relay Podcast is back for a second, 5-part series. Where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part One – Dr Joe Kane interviews Professor Zahinoor Ismail Dr Joe Kane is a Clinical Academic Lecturer working at Queen’s University Belfast. Joe splits his time between research and clinical work as an old age psychiatrist. Having got his taste for academia during his PhD studies working in of Lewy body dementia on the DIAMOND-Lewy programme of studies. Joe is representing the Lewy body dementia PIA. Professor Zahinoor Ismail is a Neuropsychiatrist; Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Epidemiology, and Pathology at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and O’Brien Institute for Public Health; Cumming School of Medicine; University of Calgary. Zahinoor works on Dementia prognostication and early dementia detection using non-cognitive markers, treatment of neuropsychiatric syndromes across the cognitive spectrum, pharmacoepidemiology. Zahinoor is representing the Neuropsychiatric Syndromes PIA. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-relay-one-season-2 ___________________________ The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer's and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 27 PIA covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit www.alz.org/istaart/ _________________________ Like what you hear? Then we have a favour to ask... Dementia Researcher is nominated in the 2021 Peoples Choice Podcast Awards - to get through round one, we need your votes - please head over to https://www.podcastawards.com/app/signup - complete the short registration form, and then select Dementia Researcher in the Medicine & Science and Peoples Choice categories (don't worry, you don't have to do any of the others) - hit submit, and verify - JOB DONE Winning this award would be a great way to thank and recognise the contribution of all our hosts and guests who give up their time freely, to share their science and career tips, and to support ECRs to succeed and to raise the profile of Dementia Research. _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. Finally, the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

AAIC 2021 Preview

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0100

In this weeks podcast, Adam Smith speaks with Alzheimer’s Association Director, Scientific Programs and Outreach, Dr Claire Sexton. Discussing this years Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 16-30 July 2021. Taking place in-person in Denver, Colorado, USA and online - the world’s leading basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians and the care research community will share breaking research discoveries that will lead to methods of prevention and treatment and improvements in diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease. Hear how the conference has adapted to ensure that vital science continues to be shared. How the new hybrid conference will work, get information on the themes and plenary speakers and how to get tickets. To book your place visit - https://www.alz.org/aaic Join ISTAART to get a free online ticket - https://www.alz.org/istaart A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-2021-preview Dr Claire Sexton Bio https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-claire-sexton/ Adam Smith Bio https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-profile-adam-smith/ _________________________ Finally, please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Diagnosing Dementia - Now and in the Future

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Whilst everyone may experience dementia and its symptoms differently, the pathway to diagnosis is very similar for most people, but could all that be about to change? This week Adam Smith, speaks to a Psychiatrist, a Neurologist and a Scientist. They discuss the current diagnosis pathway, the tests involved, and how that could change as with the development of blood based biomarkers. Exploring the science behind the new tests, their development, and how these new tests could be used in frontline services to improve accuracy, support clinical trials and to improve care – and is the NHS ready? This week’s guests are: Dr Elizabeth Coulthard, Consultant Neurologist and Associate Professor at University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust. Dr Josie Jenkinson, Consultant Psychiatrist for Older People and Clinical Academic at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust. Dr Amanda Heslegrave, Senior Research Fellow focussed on Biomarkers in Neurodegeneration at the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London. Emerging blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer disease are an exciting new development. They could provide an accessible, easy to delivery and inexpensive screening tool. Looking to the future, when disease-modifying or prevention treatments will be available, investigators are focused on how to detect the earliest biological signals of Alzheimer disease, perhaps even years or decades before clinical symptoms appear – and that’s when these tests could really become essential. However, how could they be used now? Could they improve accuracy of diagnosis? Replace the need for other more expensive tests? Ensure we no longer have to send people home, telling them they have Mild Cognitive Impairment? Reduce misdiagnosis? Patients and their families want to know, Is this Alzheimer disease, or something that can be reversed? Can we answer that question now? And Could this new biomarker help? All will be discussed in this weeks show. _________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-diagnosing-dementia-now-and-in-the-future _________________________ This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Social Isolation and Loneliness - ISTAART Research Perspectives

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0100

This week is #LonelinessAwarenessWeek – to raise awareness of the challenges of social isolation, and how this can lead to loneliness, and the connection to Dementia, we worked with The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART), and the Global Brain Health Institute (GHBI) to record this special podcast. The impacts of SI/L (social isolation/loneliness) on the health and longevity of older adults is substantial. Researchers have found that social isolation or loneliness in older adults is associated with a 50% increased risk of developing dementia. With 5-25% of people over the age of 65% saying they experience SI/L, prior to the pandemic, it is now surprise that the situation has only worsened in the last 18 months. Journalist, Writer and GHBI Fellow, Fernando Aguzzoli Peres discovers different perspectives of the challenges that come from SI/L, and the Research that is working to understand the issue and help. To get a first-hand of the difficulties and how one person is overcoming them, Fernando talks with Laureen Waters, Alzheimer’s Association National Early Stage Advisory Board Member who is herself living with a diagnosis of Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, living in Clover, South Carolina. To understand more about the research, how SI/L affects people and the impact we hear from Brian Lawlor, who is a Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, and Deputy Executive Director of the GBHI. Brian is a psychiatrist with an interest in dementia, late-life depression, loneliness and brain health. Brian has worked for over 30 years on developing services and delivering care to people with dementia. His research interests range from early detection and prevention to evaluating new treatments for dementia. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk For more information on this sensitive and important issue visit: In the USA - https://bit.ly/2RNF7Ny In the UK - https://bit.ly/35cCvf6 #LoneLinessAwarenessWeek - https://bit.ly/35duvKM For information on ISTAART Visit - http://www.alz.org/istaart _________________________ This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0100

This week regular guest host Dr Anna Volkmer talks with the joint co-ordinating editors of the Cochrane Dementia Group. Listen to hear about the work of Cochrane, how they support evidence-informed decision making in healthcare, their work on undertaking systematic reviews and how you could become involved. This weeks guests are: Dr Terry Quinn, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Honorary Consultant and Joint co-ordinating editor of Cochrane Dementia Group. Terry is a clinician working in stroke and older adult services in Glasgow is also the national lead for ageing research in Scotland. Dr Jenny McCleery, Consultant Psychiatrist & Joint co-ordinating editor of Cochrane who describes herself as first, and foremost a Clinician. In her day-job she works as part of a community team for Older Adults at Oxfordshire Health NHS Foundation Trust. Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group, is part of Cochrane’s Mental Health and Neuroscience Network. They aim is to provide the highest quality evidence about the care and medical treatment of people with dementia, delirium and other cognitive disorders, and about the diagnosis and prevention of these disorders. This is done through undertaking systematic reviews addressing questions which are important to patients, their families, and healthcare professionals from all disciplines. _________________________ You can read more about the scope of Cochrane Dementia and their work here: https://dementia.cochrane.org/our-work A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-cochrane-dementia-and-cognitive-improvement-group Dr Terry Quinn Bio https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-terry-quinn/ Dr Jenny McCleery Bio https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-jenny-mccleery/ _________________________ Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Building Computers from Human Brain Cells

Mon, 24 May 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Resident blogger, Dr Sam Moxon, Biomaterials scientist at The University of Manchester talks with Dr Eric Hill, Senior Lecturer in Stem cell biology and Bioethics from Aston University and Dr Paul Roach, Senior Lecturer in Biomaterials and Interface Science from Loughborough University, about their £3m Neu-ChiP Project. The Revolutionary Neu-ChiP project will see an international collaboration of scientists layer networks of stem cells resembling the human cortex onto microchips. They will then stimulate the cells by firing changing patterns of light beams at them. Sophisticated 3D computer modelling will allow them to observe any changes the cells undergo, to see how adaptable they are. This imitates the ‘plasticity’ of the human brain, which can rapidly adapt to new information - providing huge insights into the development of human neuronal networks. The applications of this work are have far reaching potential. _________________________ Dr Paul Roach Bio https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-paul-roach/ Dr Eric Hill Bio https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/profile-dr-eric-hill/ Information on the Neu-ChiP Project https://bit.ly/3vpyb7C A transcript of this podcast is also available here www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-building-computers-from-human-brain-cells _________________________ Register on our website to receive your weekly bulletin, and to access more great content – blogs, science, career support + much more http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

COVID-19 Care Home Research

Mon, 10 May 2021 00:00:00 +0100

This week regular Dementia Researcher blogger, Dr Clarissa Giebel, from University of Liverpool, leads a discussion on COVID-19 and Care Home research. The guests this week are: Adam Gordon, Professor of the Care of Older People at University of Nottingham. Adam is an NHS doctor, and his research focuses on Care of Older People, with a focus on care homes. Dr Ramona Backhaus, Postdoctoral Research in the Living Lab in Ageing and Long-Term Care at Maastricht University. Ramona’s research looks at staffing and people in long-term care. Paul Marlow, Carer and Research Champion. Paul cares for his mother who is living with dementia; and recently had first-hand experience of residential care. The Covid-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for everyone, but especially for people living in care homes, their families and the staff. Self-isolation and social distancing are essential tools in reducing the risk of infection, and research is important. Researchers have been working to understand the impact of the pandemic on dementia and residential care, how services can improve and learn lessons, how to deliver changes to safely and effectively and the impact on staff, carers and residents (to name just a few areas of focus). _________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-nihr-evidence-dementia-collection _________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Introducing the Dementia Researcher Podcast

Wed, 05 May 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the Dementia Researcher podcast, the fortnightly show for early career researchers, working in all areas of discovery. Join our community, contribute and find show transcripts and links to further resources at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nih.ac.uk Produced by Adam Smith at University College London, delivered by the National Institute for Health Research in partnership with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society. ____________________________________________ A special request - The Dementia Researcher Podcast has been nominated for a Peoples Choice Podcast Award in the Science & Medicine Category, to ensure we get through to the finals, we need your vote. It would be great if you could visit https://www.podcastawards.com/app/signup - register your account, select us in that category, and hit submit (don't worry you don't need to vote in the other areas) - voting closes 31st July.

BNA Festival 2021 Roundup

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0100

This week Professor Louise Serpell from University of Sussex talks to a great panel of early career researchers, discussing and sharing their highlights from this month’s British Neuroscience Association (BNA) Festival. With our largest ever panel of scientists, with backgrounds are as varied as the topics they discuss. Everything from misfolding proteins, the latest thoughts on amyloid, thought processing and much more. Our guests this week are: Dr Lilya Andrianova, Postdoctoral Research Associate from the University of Glasgow. Lilya is researching neural circuits in health and disease. Emily Beswick, PhD Student from The University of Edinburgh. Emily works in Clinical Trials in MND, wearable devices and extra-motor outcome measures. Sarah Gregory, PhD Student from The University of Edinburgh. Sarah is studying the HPA axis in midlife and it’s association with dementia. Silvia Anderle, PhD Student at University of Sussex. Silvia uses photon microscopy to investigate how different APOE alleles affect neurovascular coupling in targeted replacement APOE mice. Dr Annika Boldt, Postdoctoral Fellow at University College London. Annika studies metacognition, such as confidence and error detection; cognitive offloading; (perceptual) decision making. _________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-bna-festival-roundup _________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

NIHR Evidence - Dementia Collection

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Health research must be informative, accessible and relevant to the public, patients, clinicians, health professionals, researchers, policy makers and health service managers. NIHR Evidence presents high quality summaries of findings so that health and care research can be used by all members of society. In this podcast we discuss the new NIHR Evidence Dementia Collection. A collection of NIHR funded research summaries created in close collaboration with those who might use them, including clinicians, commissioners, patients and the public. In the host chair is Dr Emily Oliver, Lead Dementia Nurse for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and former NIHR Clinical Academic Fellow. Emily talks with one of the researchers whose work is included in the collection, Christina Victor, Professor of Gerontology and Public Health from Brunel University. They are joined by Ann Pascoe a dementia carer and founder / chair of Dementia Friendly Communities. The final guest comes from NIHR Evidence. Nick Spirit is Stakeholder Engagement Manager for the NIHR Centre for Engagement and Dissemination, his work involved ensuring that the thoughts and views of health and care professionals, patients, carers and the public are incorporated in to every aspect of NIHR funded research dissemination, knowledge mobilisation and public involvement. _________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-nihr-evidence-dementia-collection Access the NIHR Evidence Dementia Collection here https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/collection/dementia/ The National Institute for Health Research is the UKs largest funder of health and care research and it provides the people, facilities and technology that enables research to thrive. NIHR Evidence is managed by NIHR with a funding contribution from Health and Care Research Wales, Welsh Government. _________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ARUK Conference Roundup 2021

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0100

This week we have a two-part special discussing last weeks Alzheimer's Research UK Conference - this is part two. In this show we focus on sharing the research and highlights from the four main days of the conference, 23rd to 26th March. Dr Yvonne Couch, ARUK Research Fellow from University of Oxford takes the chair and she is joined by four great guests: Beth Eyre, PhD Student from The University of Sheffield Dr Lucy Russell, Research Fellow, University College London Dr Aitana Sogorb Esteve, Research Fellow, University College London Michelle Naessens, Research Assistant, University of Cambridge _________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aruk-conference-roundup For more information on ARUK visit: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research/ _________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ARUK Conference ECR Day Roundup

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0100

This week we have a two-part special discussing last weeks Alzheimer's Research UK Conference - this is part one. In this show we focus on sharing highlights from the ECR Day, held on Monday 22nd March. Dr Fiona Calvert, Science Communications Officer from Alzheimer's Research UK is joined by Dr Yvonne Couch, ARUK Research Fellow from University of Oxford, and PhD Students Mica Clarke from UCL and Katy Hole from University of Bath. _________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aruk-conference-2021-ecr-day/ For more information on ARUK visit: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research/ _________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Logopenic Progressive Aphasia and its characterisation

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0100

In this week’s show Dr Anna Volkmer takes the chair to talk with Shalom Henderson and Dr Siddharth Ramanan from the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (CBU) at the University of Cambridge, discussing their research on Understanding Logopenic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia (lvPPA). A little about lvPPA People with lvPPA have increasing trouble thinking of the words they want to say. As time goes on, people with lvPPA have more trouble getting the words out, and they eventually begin to speak slower and slower. The cause of lvPPA is unknown, we do know that in lvPPA there is a large build-up of amyloid and tau within brain cells, like in Alzheimer’s disease. As more and more proteins form in brain, the cells lose their ability to function and eventually die. This causes the affected parts of the brain, most often the left posterior temporal cortex and inferior parietal lobe, to shrink. Most people with lvPPA start to have symptoms in their 50s, although some people have shown signs earlier or later. While speech production skills are spared, people with lvPPA gradually have more trouble finding the words they want to use. For example, they may often pause to find the right word. They may develop problems with working memory, and as a result, they might have increasing difficulty repeating sentences and phrases, or following lengthy instructions. They may also begin to have some trouble naming people and objects. People with lvPPA generally do not lose the ability to understand words, as is the case in the semantic variant. Later in the disease, people with lvPPA may have such difficulty finding words that they might stop speaking completely. Difficulties with memory may develop or get worse, and reading and writing may become harder. Sometimes, later symptoms of lvPPA include getting lost or having trouble recognising people. lvPPA is a disease that changes with time. A person with lvPPA can live many years with the disease, although this can vary from person to person. Whilst there are no drug treatments to speak of, Speech and Language Therapists such as our guests today are working on ways to better understand this disease, and to find ways to support people living with it, and their carers and family members to support them. _________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-logopenic-progressive-aphasia-and-its-characterisation/ _________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Studying for an MSc in Dementia & Neuroscience

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0100

In today's show, Dr Prerana Sabnis is joined by three Dementia and Neuroscience MSc Students from University College London. Morgan Daniel, Aiko Robert and Vaiva Zarombaite, discussing what motivated them to this course, what they have been studying and what comes next. Completing an MSc can prepare you for further study at PhD level, or for those not attracted to academia, it can prepare you lots of great roles in the workplace. When thinking about dementia, an MSc is also a great way for someone who perhaps studies in a non-science related subject to acquire advanced subject knowledge and for everyone to try their hand at extended independent research during their dissertation. We hope after listening to this show you are motivated consider an MSc or further education yourself. One our website you will find a brand new directory of courses: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/higher-education-courses/ One of the aims of Dementia Researcher is to encourage people to consider a career in dementia research, both inside and outside academia. This week, we are very excited to be working with Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Race Against Dementia, Dementias Platform UK and the Dementia Research Institute to deliver our ‘Dementia Research Careers Festival’ as part of National Careers Week. We have a whole range of activities planned for the week, with live webinars, career blogs, q and a sessions and other activities which we hope will allow you to see how there really are opportunities for everyone, and how dementia really needs more people like you to become involved. For more information on our events, today's guests or to get a transcript of this podcast visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/careers _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

PhD Supervisors - The good, the great and the rest

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Your Supervisor will play a vital role in your PhD, supporting you from starting out to submission (and beyond). But what does ‘supervision’ actually mean in practice? What sort of support and assistance can you expect your supervisor to provide? In this podcast Adam Smith talks with three researchers about their relationships with their PhD Supervisors. Getting underneath what good looks like and how you can influence this. We also discuss what can go wrong, and what that relationship is broken, and strategies to deal that, and still ensure success. This week’s guests are: Dr Prerana Sabnis, Cognitive Neuropsychologist with an interest in language comprehension. Currently blogging for Dementia Researcher having completed her studies at University of Trento, Italy and Macquarie University, Australia. Dr Claire Lancaster, Research Fellow at University of Sussex working on early detection of Alzheimer’s Disease and lifespan risk reduction, with a particular focus on the ApoE gene. Dr Barbara Ann Bush, Tenure Track Professor from Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, WA. Barbara doesn’t focus on dementia, but lectures on Nationalism, nostalgia, identity, and memory and her focus is on Communications. _____________________________________________________________________ While this podcast is more likely to be listened to by PhD Students…. We realise that some of you may be Supervisors yourself. If you are, we hope you’re brilliant. Here is the supervisors guide from UCL, which is always worth revisiting: https://bit.ly/3pFYFy2 You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-phd-supervisors-the-good-the-great-and-the-rest/ _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Researching the impact of COVID-19 on dementia care

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100

This week we welcome Dr Tamlyn Watermeyer, Research Fellow from Edinburgh University into the hosts chair to talk with a research team, who rapidly responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploring how they adapted to research the impact of COVID-19 on dementia care, and what they have uncovered. People living with dementia has been some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the UK more than a quarter of those who have died had dementia, and an even larger number have been affected societal changes taken to protect people and to keep them safe. Loneliness and isolation are worsening symptoms and this has prompted a response from care services and researchers, to understand how best to help and deliver interventions. At the beginning of 2020, the NIHR and other research funders were fantastic. Very quickly providing funding to support COVID-19 related research. That funding wasn’t only spent on developing treatments and a vaccination, but also on how the virus and the measures taken to keep people safe, were affecting everyday life, society and care. This week’s guests are: Dr Clarissa Giebel, Research Fellow, University of Liverpool Jacqueline Cannon, Chief Executive of The Lewy Body Society Dr Stephen Mason, R&D Lead, Palliative Care Unit, University of Liverpool Along with the host of our show in her own work, Clarissa, Jacqueline and Stephen quickly adapted their research to discover, uncover what was happening within dementia care. To understand what was being done right, what was being doing wrong and what could be done better in the future. _____________________________________________________________________ View Dr Giebel et al. recent paper - COVID-19-related social support service closures and mental well-being in older adults and those affected by dementia: a UK longitudinal survey https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/1/e045889.full You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-researching-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-dementia-care/ _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Dementias Platform UK supporting researchers worldwide

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Cohorts and the data collected from them through longitudinal research studies have made a significant impact on our understanding of disease. With funding from the Medical Research Council, Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) has been at the forefront of this work for the past 5 years, providing dementia researchers with free access to more than 3 million health records from over 40 cohort studies, and a powerful, secure analytics platform. In our first ever ‘live recording’ we invited the audience into our virtual studio to watch Dr Megan O’Hare host a discussion on DPUK. Listen to discover what DPUK is, how it works, how it is helping researchers and how you can use the service. Guests on the show are Cognitive Neuropsychologist, Dr Sarah Baumeister, Senior Data & Science Manager from DPUK and University of Oxford and multi-disciplinary researcher Dr Danielle Newby, also from the University of Oxford. With a background in epidemiology, pharmacology and machine learning. Danielle is currently using DPUK to explore options for repurposing existing drugs for use in dementia. Adam Smith looks after the audience, and puts their questions to the panel at the end of the show. _____________________________________________________________________ For information on Dementias Platform UK visit: https://www.dementiasplatform.uk/ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-dementias-platform-uk-supporting-researchers-worldwide _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Researching Art to help people living with Dementia

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100

In this week’s show, we discuss how arts based methodologies and the knowledge and skills of an artist can be used within the field of health to create new understandings and promote wellbeing in people living with dementia. Our first guest is freelance Artist and Academic, Dr Megan Wyatt. Megan recently completed her PhD at Wrexham Glyndwr University, investigated how people living with dementia engage with and experience painting. We are also joined by Megan’s PhD Supervisor Dr Susan Liggett. Susan is the Associate Dean for the Research Faculty of Art Science and Technology at the University, and her research considers how visual arts can contribute to a better society. Both Megan and Susan are passionate about the benefits of Art in dementia, having both experienced the impact of the disease within close relatives. Together they co-authored a paper on “The Potential of Painting: Unlocking Disenfranchised Grief for People Living With Dementia” and are in the process of writing a chapter for the practical handbook of dementia to be published later this year. Dr Megan O’Hare hosted the show which was recorded in November 2020. The growing prevalence of dementia, combined with an absence of effective pharmacological treatments, highlights the potential of psychosocial interventions to alleviate the effects of dementia and enhance quality of life. Art, Dance, Music, Singing and other interventions have been proven to be effecting as a means to support improved wellbeing and reduce agitation in people living with dementia. Delivering these interventions and measuring their impact can be challenging, we hope this show is useful to anyone working in this field, and would love to hear from others to discuss this field in a blog for the Dementia Researcher website. _____________________________________________________________________ Review the paper discussed here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1054137318780577 You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-researching-art-to-help-people-living-with-dementia _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Blogs 2020 - Part 5

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100

Every week we publish blogs written by a fantastic group of regular contributors, and special guests from across the world. Researchers at all stages of their careers, working across all areas of science. Discussing their lives, their research and general careers topics. Their blogs are a fantastic source of information, advice and top-tips and we know from the feedback we receive, that they’re also great at helping you to know you’re not alone in the difficulties you face. Every blog is narrated by the author, so our Programme Director Adam Smith has taken a look back over this year’s blogs and collated a five-part podcast special. Today Adam introduces blogs from Dr Anna Volkmer, Dr Sam Moxon, Dr Emily Oliver, Beth Eyre, Dr Clarissa Giebel and Morgan Daniel. Covering: • Conversation analysis • Job hunting in a pandemic • Clinical Academic roles in nursing, do they exist and where can I find one • Introducing Beth Eyre and discovering science • Planning and hosting a virtual event • Managing your Imposter Syndrome You can find out more about our bloggers, and their work on our website. There you will also find the originals of these blogs, and more much more. Register on our website to receive our Friday bulletin, and never miss a blog in 2021. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Blogs 2020 - Part 4

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Every week we publish blogs written by a fantastic group of regular contributors, and special guests from across the world. Researchers at all stages of their careers, working across all areas of science. Discussing their lives, their research and general careers topics. Their blogs are a fantastic source of information, advice and top-tips and we know from the feedback we receive, that they’re also great at helping you to know you’re not alone in the difficulties you face. Every blog is narrated by the author, so our Programme Director Adam Smith has taken a look back over this year’s blogs and collated a five-part podcast special. Today Adam introduces blogs from special guests and Race Against Dementia Fellows, Dr Claire Durrant. New regular contributor Bethany McLoughlin, Dr Katy Stubs from Alzheimer’s Research UK and Dementia UK Consultant Nurse, Dr Emily Oliver. Covering: • Reflecting on the first year as a Race Against Dementia Fellow • Bethany’s career to date • A few thoughts on peer review • Getting started in public engagement and involvement with research You can find out more about our bloggers, and their work on our website. There you will also find the originals of these blogs, and more much more. Register on our website to receive our Friday bulletin, and never miss a blog in 2021. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Blogs 2020 - Part 3

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Every week we publish blogs written by a fantastic group of regular contributors, and special guests from across the world. Researchers at all stages of their careers, working across all areas of science. Discussing their lives, their research and general careers topics. Their blogs are a fantastic source of information, advice and top-tips and we know from the feedback we receive, that they’re also great at helping you to know you’re not alone in the difficulties you face. Every blog is narrated by the author, so our Programme Director Adam Smith has taken a look back over this year’s blogs and collated a five-part podcast special. Today Adam introduces blogs from himself, Dr Clarissa Giebel, Morgan Daniel and Dr Emily Oliver. Covering: • Should you do a Masters • Taking research outside its bubble • My Master’s degree so far • Ethics committee, an insight into the other side You can find out more about our bloggers, and their work on our website. There you will also find the originals of these blogs, and more much more. Register on our website to receive our Friday bulletin, and never miss a blog in 2021. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Blogs 2020 - Part 2

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Every week we publish blogs written by a fantastic group of regular contributors, and special guests from across the world. Researchers at all stages of their careers, working across all areas of science. Discussing their lives, their research and general careers topics. Their blogs are a fantastic source of information, advice and top-tips and we know from the feedback we receive, that they’re also great at helping you to know you’re not alone in the difficulties you face. Every blog is narrated by the author, so our Programme Director Adam Smith has taken a look back over this year’s blogs and collated a five-part podcast special. Today Adam introduces blogs from Morgan Daniel, Dr Emily Oliver, Dr Clarissa Giebel, Dr Anna Volkmer and one of his own. Covering: • Sharing my MSc Journey • World Alzheimer’s Day • Meet Dr Emily Oliver • London Calling • Using routine data for dementia research • The measure of COVID-19 on loneliness You can find out more about our bloggers, and their work on our website. There you will also find the originals of these blogs, and more much more. Register on our website to receive our Friday bulletin, and never miss a blog in 2021. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Blogs 2020 - Part 1

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Every week we publish blogs written by a fantastic group of regular contributors, and special guests from across the world. Researchers at all stages of their careers, working across all areas of science. Discussing their lives, their research and general careers topics. Their blogs are a fantastic source of information, advice and top-tips and we know from the feedback we receive, that they’re also great at helping you to know you’re not alone in the difficulties you face. Every blog is narrated by the author, so our Programme Director Adam Smith has taken a look back over this year’s blogs and collated a five-part podcast special. Today Adam introduces blogs from Dr Anna Volkmer, Dr Emily Oliver, Dr Clarissa Giebel, Michelle Naessens and one of his own. Covering: • Doing a virtual viva and completing those darned amendments • The ‘insider’ researcher debate in qualitative research • Waving a flag for better social care in dementia • Brexit a nose slowly strangling academic research in the UK • The Post doc puzzle • Ways to avoid rubbish video calls You can find out more about our bloggers, and their work on our website. There you will also find the originals of these blogs, and more much more. Register on our website to receive our Friday bulletin, and never miss a blog in 2021. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

2020 Roundup Christmas Special

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 07:00:19 +0100

As we prepare to welcome 2021 and say good riddance to 2020, we look back on some of the great podcasts we recorded over the last year, in this round-up of some of our favourite moments. A transcript of this podcast is available here on our website - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-2020-roundup-christmas-special Over the past year we’ve recorded 38 podcasts with 80 dementia researchers and expert panellists. Those podcasts have attracted over 25,000 plays from all over the world, in over 50 countries. The shift to remote recording has meant that that the audio quality isn't always as great as we would like. However, the pandemic has made the world a little smaller, and with video conferencing calls becoming the norm, it has allowed us to have more guests from across the world. We have covered a wide range of topics, from careers advice and support topics to basic science to care research, and the year isn't over yet! From the 28th December to 1st January, we will be releasing a new podcast everyday with a summary of our narrated blogs from across the year (essential listening for your festive recovery walks). We promise to continue in 2021. Remember the podcast is just a small part of what we do to support Dementia Researchers - on our website we regularly host webinars, have blogs and articles every week, and collate all the funding, events and job opportunities. Visit our website and register to receive our Friday bulletins. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Thank you for listening, and to our supporters Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society.

Looking back and learning from the PhD years

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100

In our last show we spoke with four dementia researchers who were at very first stages of their PhD studies. This week, is the sequel, we close the loop with three people who recently completed their PhDs and a guest from last week. We learn what got them through, what they would do differently, and what advise they have for those in their first year of a PhD. Hosted by Adam Smith with guests: Chloe Tulip, from Swansea University, researching sleep and dementia. Dr Anna Volkmer, Speech & Language Therapy Researcher, from University College London Dr Chris Hardy, Senior Research Fellow from University College London Dr James Fletcher, Teaching Fellow from King’s College London _____________________________________________________________________ This show is essential listening for anyone who is about to start a dementia or other science related PhD or for those within the first year. With practical advise and top tips, our guests share what they have learned, and highlight other tools that can help. If you enjoyed this episode, you may enjoyed out ‘PhD Essentials’ Playlist – only on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/dementia-researcher/sets/phd-essentials _____________________________________________________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-looking-back-and-learning-from-the-phd-years _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Finding your PhD feet

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0100

In this week’s show we’re chatting about those very early stages of a PhD. Those first few months, when you have taken the leap from following a Masters / Grad school fairly rigid format, to the new and often uncertain place of PhD Study. Adam Smith hosts the show, and is joined by four PhD Students who are all in their first year. They discuss the excitement of starting, transition to PhD learning, supervisors, pressure and mental health, good work habits and much more. If you’re in the first year, we are sure there will be aspects you recognise from this discussion, and the reassurance that you are not alone – with a few tips along the way. This week’s guests are: Chloe Tulip, from Swansea University, researching sleep and dementia. Tiffeny James, from University College London, investigating equity in service provision for people with dementia and their families Brendan Commane from the Royal College of Art, studying care home environments and art. Felicity Slocombe from Loughborough University studying Identity in dementia _____________________________________________________________________ Doctoral students show high levels of stress in comparison to other students, and ongoing uncertainty in terms of graduate career outcomes can make matters worse. A recent report from The Conversation updated that before the pandemic, one in five research students were expected to disengage from their PhD. Disengagement included taking extended leave, suspending their studies or dropping out entirely. COVID-19 has made those statistics far worse. In a recent study, 45% of PhD students surveyed reported they expected to be disengaged from their research within six months, due to the financial effects of the pandemic. Many factors influence whether students complete their doctorate. They include supervision support (intellectual and pastoral), peer support (colleagues, friends and family), financial stability and good mental health. Our panellists today discuss how they’re ensuring they are in the 55%. _____________________________________________________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-finding-your-phd-feet _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC Neuroscience Next Conference Round-up

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0100

In this week show, Adam Smith is joined by an extended panel of early career dementia researchers, to discuss their highlights from the AAIC Neuroscience Next Conference. AAIC Neuroscience Next organised by the Alzheimer’s Association was a global, no-cost virtual conference taking place on the 9-10th November 2020. It showcased the work of students and early career investigators in cognitive, computational, behavioural, and other areas of neuroscience research. In addition to the scientific presentations, attendees were given access to information on funding and career workshops and provided with networking opportunities. The panellists for this show are (for the first time) all from outside the UK. We were delighted to be joined by: Lindsay Welikovitch a PhD Student from McGill University, Canada (soon to be Dr having recently successfully defended her thesis). Courtney Kloske, PhD Student from the University of Kentucky, USA. Vee Balendra a Medical Student from St James School of Medicine, USA. Dr Wade Self a Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Chicago, USA. João Pedro Ferrari Souza a MD and PhD Student from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. _____________________________________________________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-aaic-neuroscience-next-conference-roundup _____________________________________________________________________ If you missed the live conference, don’t worry – ISTAART members receive extended access to all content through 10th December 2020 (30 days for non-members who have already registered). For details on ISTAART and the new PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers visit: www.alz.org/istaart _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Celebrating 100 Episodes

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 06:59:00 +0100

This is episode 100! We started the podcast in February 2018, and today we’re celebrating! Regular hosts Adam Smith & Megan O’Hare have a short informal chat about the show. Sharing a few insights, and thanking you all for making the show such a great success. With over 370 contributors and almost 50,000 plays, this unique podcast brings together early career researchers to talk about their work and careers topics which are important to them, and hopefully to everyone listening. _____________________________________________________________________ To celebrate we’re holding another prize-giveaway. To be in with a chance to win a Sonos One SL Smart Speaker: 1. Register as a user on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk 2. Tweet us using the #ECRDementia and tell us why you enjoy the show We will draw the winners name from the hat on the 30th November. _____________________________________________________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-celebrating-one-hundred-episodes _____________________________________________________________________ This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. Thank you for listening – looking forward to the next 100!

ISTAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERS)

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0100

In this bonus episode, Dr Anna Volkmer talks with four people who are heading up a new Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers (PEERS). Adam Smith, from University College London, changes chairs from host of the show to panellist, as Chair of the new PIA. Alongside Adam we have his co-applicants and Executive Committee Members - Dr Beth Shaaban, Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Pittsburgh (PIA Vice Chair), Dr James Quinn, Research Fellow from Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology (PIA Programs Chair) and Dr Naiara Demnitz, Postdoctoral researcher at the Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (PIA Communications Chair). This new PIA aims to: • Encourage young people and undergraduates to consider a career in dementia research, and act to inspire and support them to remain in the field. Working to challenge funders and institutions to deliver improvements and improve ECR careers. • Establish and maintain a supportive ECR network to share ideas and collaborate, discuss and troubleshoot career challenges, and gain leadership experience through officer and committee roles. • Develop multi-media online content to support the personal and career development of ECRs. To find out more visit the ISTAART website: https://www.alz.org/istaart Early Career Researcher listeners are encouraged join the new PIA. Login to your ISTAART account and update your registrations. Over the next few weeks as the Executive Committee information is finalised, there will be various opportunities to become involved in the PIAs leadership and work. AAIC Neuroscience Next registrants are invited to join ISTAART at a special 50% off rate. Use coupon code AAICNN50 at checkout (Coupon valid for AAIC Neuroscience Next registrants and new members only. Discounts reflected upon checkout.) You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-istaart-pia-to-elevate-early-career-researchers Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _____________________________________________________________________ This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Alzheimer's Society keeping research going during a pandemic

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast Hannah Churchill, Research Communications Officer for Alzheimer’s Society takes the chair to talk with three Alzheimer’s Society funded researchers to discuss how they adapted in response to the pandemic. People with dementia have been worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic – with over a quarter of people who died of COVID-19 between March and June 2020 having had dementia. Many dementia researchers have refocussed their work to study how the virus has impacted people living with dementia and their carers, to discover the likely long-term effects and to understand how care and support can be better provided in the future – ensuring lessons are learnt. Basic scientists turned their attention to COVID-19 testing, or took the time to learn new coding skills, write papers and to play the next stages of the research. While clinical researchers mostly returned to be entirely focussed on front line care within the NHS. The show is pleased to welcome: Dr Nuriye Kupeli, Senior Research Fellow from University College London. Nuriye, is works on understanding how compassion is experienced by family carers and developing interventions to support carers in their role. Dr Claire Pentecost, IDEAL Programme Manager from University of Exeter. IDEAL is the largest study of living well with dementia in the UK. The evidence will enable the development of new policy, interventions and initiatives to transform the lives of people with dementia and their carers. Remco Tuijt, PhD Student, University College London. Remco, is researching Post-diagnostic dementia care using interviews to explore healthcare experiences for people with dementia, their carers and their healthcare professionals. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-alzheimers-society-keeping-research-going-during-a-pandemic/ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _____________________________________________________________________ The Alzheimer’s Society “Worst hit: Dementia during coronavirus” report can be found here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-09/Worst-hit-Dementia-during-coronavirus-report.pdf Information on Alzheimer’s Society research grants can be found here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/researchers/grants For information on the IDEAL Study visit: http://www.idealproject.org.uk/ _____________________________________________________________________ This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Race Against Dementia Fellowships

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Founded by Formula 1 racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart, Race Against Dementia is a global charity, founded by Sir Jackie Stewart, to fund pioneering research into the prevention and cure of dementia. Adam Smith is in the driving seat, talking with Race Against Dementia CEO, Dr Penny Moyle, and Race Against Dementia Research Fellow, Dr Claire Durrant from The University of Edinburgh. In this week’s show we learn about the charity, its mission, the unique Fellowship programme and provide advise for anyone thinking of applying for the current funding call (deadline 20th January 2021). The Race Against Dementia Fellowship Programme draws from the most promising scientific talent around the world; to catalyse their research work by driving a shift in culture that learns from innovation in high technology engineering research and implementation, such as in Formula 1; and to drive collaboration across disciplines and institutions to help fast-track their progress to become leaders in the field. You can find out more about our panellists, and read a transcript of this podcast on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-race-against-dementia-fellowships/ _____________________________________________________________________ For more information on Race Against Dementia visit: https://www.raceagainstdementia.com/ For information, and details on how to apply for the Race Against Dementia Fellowship (Deadline 20th January 2021), administered by Alzheimer’s Research UK visit: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/grants/race-dementia-fellowship/ A webinar has been scheduled for 18:00 GMT on the 16th November. This is a a chance for potential applicants to hear from the existing Fellows, receive tips on the application process and to ask questions from the ARUK Team. To register for the webinar visit: https://ucl.zoom.us/webinar/register/9716038273385/WN_tOY98S8LQrGLJg_04E7Snw _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Register on our website to access information on all the latest research funding calls, to find events, blogs and to join our online early career dementia research community. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Using Artificial Intelligence & data to fight dementia

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Dr Megan O’Hare interviews Professor Bart De Strooper and Professor David Llewellyn, discussing the new UK Dementia Research Institute and DEMON Network partnership to unlock the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Professor Bart De Strooper is National Director and Group Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute and Group Leader in his own research he looks at the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Professor David Llewellyn is the DEMON Network Director and an Associate Professor at the University of Exeter Medical School and a Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute. His research aims to enhance the timely detection of dementia, with a focus on developing strategies for primary and secondary prevention using machine learning. The Deep Dementia Phenotyping (DEMON) Network brings together academics, clinicians and other partners from across the world, and now it has joined forced with the UK Dementia Research Institute. The aim of this new collaboration is to rapidly speed up the transformation of data into clinical and biologically relevant knowledge in neurodegeneration research, to strengthen links with clinical researchers and industry, and to drive forward experimental dementia research using data science and artificial intelligence. There is no universally agreed definition of AI. The term broadly refers to computing technologies that resemble processes associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning and adaptation, sensory understanding, and interaction. An important feature of contemporary AI technologies is that they are increasingly able to make sense of varied and unstructured kinds of data – so what could happen when you combine AI with large amounts of health and societal data? The potential is amazing, and could be the key to unlocking improved dementia risk analysis, diagnosis and treatments. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-gate-and-dementia Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _____________________________________________________________________ For more information on the collaboration visit: https://ukdri.ac.uk/news-and-events/new-partnership-with-the-demon-network-will-drive-forward-experimental-dementia-research To join the DEMON Network visit: http://demondementia.com/ _____________________________________________________________________ This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Gait and Dementia

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0100

This week Dr Anna Volkmer hosts a discussion with three researchers who use Gait Analysis as a key element of their research. We are pleased to welcome Dr Riona McArdle, Research Associate at Newcastle University; Dr Keir Yong, Senior Research Fellow at University College London and Dr Silvia Del Din, Senior Research Associate at Newcastle University Gait is a person’s pattern of walking. Walking involves balance and coordination of muscles so that the body is propelled forward in a rhythm. There are numerous possibilities that may cause an abnormal gait, many of which are neurological, which is why Gait and Dementia are considered in research. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-gate-and-dementia Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _____________________________________________________________________ On the 7th September 2020 our regular host Adam Smith hosted a 12 hour Dementia Research Live Chatathon - talking with 56 researchers + special guests, to raise much needed funding for Alzheimer's Research UK. You can catch-up on these fascinating sessions, and donate at http://www.chatathon.uk _____________________________________________________________________ This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Introducing Morgan Daniel, kick-starting a 12 month MSc Journey

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Over the next 12 months, NIHR Dementia Researcher is following Morgan Daniel as she studies for her Dementia MSc at University College London. Morgan will be blogging, podcasting and occasionally taking over our twitter feed to share news from her studies and life, documenting the hi's and lows', with tips for others who are considering post-graduate studies. In this podcast Adam Smith chats to Morgan, discussing about her background, the move the London, what motivates her, and what her first few weeks at UCL have been like. _____________________________________________________________________ In 2017 there were approximately 26,300 cancer researchers in the UK, compared to 6,100 working in dementia (link to statistics from Alzheimer's Research UK website) - further funding is required, but also the people to make use of funding. One of the core aims of NIHR Dementia Researcher is to inspire people to consider working in dementia research, we hope that through this partnership, we can support others to know that they are not alone, inspire students to complete their studies and encourage young people to consider dementia research as their career. _____________________________________________________________________ You can find out more about our Morgan, and read her first blog on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-introducing-morgan-daniel-kick-starting-a-12-month-msc-journey Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Music and Dementia

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Music is powerful! Whether it's 60s psychedelic rock, soul, opera, classical or songs from West End the shows, music can be calming, uplifting and bring to conger up long-forgotten memories. For a number of years researchers have been exploring the the power of music and singing and how it can help people living with dementia. This week Megan O'Hare is joined by three special guests who are researching and exploring ways to help people through music. Grace Meadows, musician, music therapist, and Programme Director for the Music for Dementia 2020 campaign. Dr Robyn Dowlen, Postdoctoral Research Associate at The Centre for Cultural Value, University of Leeds. Robyn is working to understand the difference arts and culture make to people’s lives and society, by making research more accessible and by supporting the cultural sector to capture and evaluate the value it produces. Emilie Brotherhood, Research Fellow / part-time PhD student at University College London. Emilie is investigating physiological responses to music in people living with Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA) and Alzheimer’s disease. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-music-and-dementia Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Regular host Adam Smith is hosting a 12 hour Dementia Research Live Chatathon - 7th September, 12 hours, over 56 researchers + special guests, to raise much needed funding for Alzheimer's Research UK. To find out more visit http://www.chatathon.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

What is normal? Using language and big data to inform diagnosis of dementia

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Detection and treatment of dementia benefits greatly from understanding the full scope of "typical" behaviour, which can increasingly be captured using big data methodology. Dr Anna Volkmer and Dr Vitor Zimmerer from the Department of Language and Cognition at University College London have a chat about the importance of understanding diversity in a population for dementia research, mostly using language and communication, which are their subjects of study, as examples. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-what-is-normal-using-language-and-big-data-to-inform-diagnosis-of-dementia/ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Regular host Adam Smith is hosting a 12 hour Dementia Research Live Chatathon - 7th September, 12 hours, over 56 researchers + special guests, to raise much needed funding for Alzheimer's Research UK. To find out more visit http://www.chatathon.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Neuroinflammation in mouse models

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Dr Megan O'Hare is joined by three researchers based at the UK Dementia Research Institute in Cardiff - Dr Sarah Carpanini, Dr Tom Phillips and Dr Megan Torvell to discuss neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration this time using mouse models to examine underlying pathophysiology during brain development and beyond. Join them to hear about physiological synapse loss that occurs during normal, healthy development of the brain contrasting to pathological synapse loss that occurs in disease states such as Alzheimer's Disease. Hear more about the role of microglia and the role of the complement cascade as well as the virtues of using mouse models in general for studying an ageing disease. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-neuroinflammation-in-mouse-models/ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Regular host Adam Smith is hosting a 12 hour Dementia Research Live Chatathon - 7th September, 12 hours, over 55 researchers to raise much needed funding for Alzheimer's Research UK. To find out more visit http://www.chatathon.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC 2020 - Day Four

Fri, 31 Jul 2020 16:17:37 +0100

This week we are recording a daily podcast, sharing all the news and highlights from this year’s Alzheimer's Association International ‘Virtual’ Conference. Day Four “Public Health; Dementia Care and Psychosocial Factors; Dementia Care Practice” – Adam Smith is joined by Dr Riona McArdle, Research Associate from Newcastle University, Dr Byron Creese, Senior Research Fellow from Newcastle University and Dementia Care Consultant Esther Wiskerke. This is the last of our AAIC 2020 podcasts. All the content from this conference will be available for 30 days for those who are registered by the 31st July (60 days for ISTAART Members)visit: https://www.alz.org/aaic/registration.asp Checkout the twitter feed with #AAIC20 to find more news from the world largest dementia conference. ______________________________________________ This podcast series is brought to you by Dementia Researcher. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts ______________________________________________ You can now find our podcasts on your preferred smart home speaker – just ask it for the “Dementia Researcher Podcast”

AAIC 2020 - Day Three

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0100

This week we are recording a daily podcast, sharing all the news and highlights from this year’s Alzheimer's Association International ‘Virtual’ Conference. Day Three “Clinical Manifestations; Drug Development” – Adam Smith is joined by Dr Anna Volmer, Speech & Language Therapist and academic at University College London, Danielle Wilson, Commercialisation Lead at the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London and Dr Leonidas Chouliaras, Psychiatrist and NIHR Clinical Lecturer at University of Cambridge and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.. Check back at this time tomorrow for news from day four, and checkout the twitter feed with #AAIC20 to find more. All the content from the AAIC Conference will be available for free for 30 days after the conference (60 days for ISTAART Members), register now at https://www.alz.org/aaic/overview.asp ______________________________________________ This podcast series is brought to you by Dementia Researcher. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts ______________________________________________ You can now find our podcasts on your preferred smart home speaker – just ask it for the “Dementia Researcher Podcast” This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC 2020 - Day Two

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0100

This week we are recording a daily podcast, sharing all the news and highlights from this year’s Alzheimer's Association International ‘Virtual’ Conference. Day Two “Biomarkers” – Adam Smith is joined by Dr James Quinn, Research Fellow, from Massachusetts General Hospital, Rory Boyle, PhD Candidate from Trinity College Dublin and Courtney Kloske, Doctoral Candidate at the University of Kentucky. Check back at this time tomorrow for news from day three, and checkout the twitter feed with #AAIC20 to find more. ______________________________________________ This podcast series is brought to you by Dementia Researcher. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts ______________________________________________ You can now find our podcasts on your preferred smart home speaker – just ask it for the “Dementia Researcher Podcast” This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

AAIC 2020 - Day One

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0100

This week we are recording a daily podcast, sharing all the news and highlights from this year’s Alzheimer's Association International ‘Virtual’ Conference. Day One “Basic Science and Pathogenesis” – Dr Megan O’Hare is joined by Professor Louise Serpell, from the University of Sussex, Dr Emily Maguire from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University and Dr Lindsay Sinclair from University of Bristol. Check back at this time tomorrow for news from day two, and checkout the twitter feed with #AAIC20 to find more. ______________________________________________ This podcast series is brought to you by Dementia Researcher. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts ______________________________________________ You can now find our podcasts on your preferred smart home speaker – just ask it for the “Dementia Researcher Podcast” This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Perioperative Cognition and Delirium PIA

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0100

A five-part special relay podcast series, where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Five - Dr Sietske Sikkes interviews Professor David Scott Dr Sietske Sikkes is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Epidemiologist and Assistant professor at the Alzheimer Centre Amsterdam at Amsterdam University Medical Centre & VU University, Netherlands. Sietske’s is researching Neuropsychology, cognition, instrument development, psychometrics and non-pharmacological interventions. She is representing the Non-pharmacological Interventions PIA and Subjective Cognitive Decline PIA. David Scott is Director of the Department of Anaesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and Professor, School of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia. David is researches Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders – in particular, delirium and cognitive decline associated with anaesthesia and surgery. He is representing the Perioperative Cognition and Delirium PIA. ______________________________________________ This podcast series is brought to you by Dementia Researcher. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts ______________________________________________ The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer's and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 25 PIA covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the Alliance of Women Alzheimer's Researchers (AWARE) PIA to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit www.alz.org/istaart/ ______________________________________________ Throughout July 2020, Dementia Researcher is giving you a chance to win a pair of Beats Studio Headphones. To be in with a chance to win, complete three east steps: 1. Leave us a review on iTunes 2. Register and attend one of our webinars 3. Register on our website. Winner will be chosen at random on the 1st August, and announced via Twitter follow-us @Dem_Researcher For more information visit www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk ______________________________________________ Finally, the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Subjective Cognitive Decline PIA

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0100

A five-part special relay podcast series, where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Four - Dr Cécilia Samieri interviews Dr Sietske Sikkes Dr Cécilia Samieri is an Epidemiologist and Senior researcher at INSERM (French National Institute for Health), in Bordeaux, France. Cécilia’s research looks at Nutritional epidemiology, lifestyle risk factors, exposome. She is representing the Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders PIA. Dr Sietske Sikkes is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Epidemiologist and Assistant professor at the Alzheimer Centre Amsterdam at Amsterdam University Medical Centre & VU University, Netherlands. Sietske’s is researching Neuropsychology, cognition, instrument development, psychometrics and non-pharmacological interventions. She is representing the Non-pharmacological Interventions PIA and Subjective Cognitive Decline PIA. ______________________________________________ This podcast series is brought to you by Dementia Researcher. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts ______________________________________________ The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer's and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 25 PIA covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the Alliance of Women Alzheimer's Researchers (AWARE) PIA to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit www.alz.org/istaart/ ______________________________________________ Throughout July 2020, Dementia Researcher is giving you a chance to win a pair of Beats Studio Headphones. To be in with a chance to win, complete three east steps: 1. Leave us a review on iTunes 2. Register and attend one of our webinars 3. Register on our website. Winner will be chosen at random on the 1st August, and announced via Twitter follow-us @Dem_Researcher For more information visit www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk ______________________________________________ Finally, the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders PIA

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0100

A five-part special relay podcast series, where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Three - Dr Prashanthi Vemuri interviews Dr Cécilia Samieri Dr Prashanthi Vemuri is Associate Professor of Radiology at The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, USA. Prashanthi’s research is focused on imaging biomarkers of Neurodegenerative and Cerebrovascular Disease. She is representing the Reserve, Resilience, and Protective Factors PIA. Dr Cécilia Samieri is an Epidemiologist and Senior researcher at INSERM (French National Institute for Health), in Bordeaux, France. Cécilia’s research looks at Nutritional epidemiology, lifestyle risk factors, exposome. She is representing the Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders PIA. ______________________________________________ This podcast series is brought to you by Dementia Researcher. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts ______________________________________________ The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer's and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 25 PIA covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the Alliance of Women Alzheimer's Researchers (AWARE) PIA to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit www.alz.org/istaart/ ______________________________________________ Throughout July 2020, Dementia Researcher is giving you a chance to win a pair of Beats Studio Headphones. To be in with a chance to win, complete three east steps: 1. Leave us a review on iTunes 2. Register and attend one of our webinars 3. Register on our website. Winner will be chosen at random on the 1st August, and announced via Twitter follow-us @Dem_Researcher For more information visit www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk ______________________________________________ Finally, the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Reserve, Resilience, and Protective Factors PIA

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0100

A five-part special relay podcast series, where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part Two - Professor Henrik Zetterberg interviews Dr Prashanthi Vemuri Henrik Zetterberg is Professor of Neurochemistry, Senior Consultant in Clinical Chemistry and Head of Department at The Sahlgrenska Academy within the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and University College London, UK. Henrik’s work is focused on Fluid biomarkers for neurodegenerative dementias. He is representing the Biofluid-based biomarkers PIA. Dr Prashanthi Vemuri is Associate Professor of Radiology at The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, USA. Prashanthi’s research is focused on imaging biomarkers of Neurodegenerative and Cerebrovascular Disease. She is representing the Reserve, Resilience, and Protective Factors PIA. ______________________________________________ This podcast series is brought to you by Dementia Researcher. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts ______________________________________________ The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer's and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 25 PIA covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the Alliance of Women Alzheimer's Researchers (AWARE) PIA to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit www.alz.org/istaart/ ______________________________________________ Throughout July 2020, Dementia Researcher is giving you a chance to win a pair of Beats Studio Headphones. To be in with a chance to win, complete three east steps: 1. Leave us a review on iTunes 2. Register and attend one of our webinars 3. Register on our website. Winner will be chosen at random on the 1st August, and announced via Twitter follow-us @Dem_Researcher For more information visit www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk ______________________________________________ Finally, the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

ISTAART Relay Podcast - Biofluid Based Biomarkers PIA

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0100

A five-part special relay podcast series, where the interviewee becomes the interviewer. With five leading researchers discussing their research, their field, and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART Professional Interest Area they represent. Part One - Professor David Scott interviews Professor Henrik Zetterberg David Scott is Director of the Department of Anaesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine, St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and Professor, School of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia. David is researches Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders – in particular, delirium and cognitive decline associated with anaesthesia and surgery. He is representing the Perioperative Cognition and Delirium PIA. Henrik Zetterberg is Professor of Neurochemistry, Senior Consultant in Clinical Chemistry and Head of Department at The Sahlgrenska Academy within the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and University College London, UK. Henrik’s work is focused on Fluid biomarkers for neurodegenerative dementias. He is representing the Biofluid Based Biomarkers PIA. ______________________________________________ This podcast series is brought to you by Dementia Researcher. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcasts ______________________________________________ The Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART) convenes the global Alzheimer's and dementia science community. Members share knowledge, fuel collaboration and advance research to find more effective ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer's and other dementias. Professional Interest Areas (PIA) are an assembly of ISTAART members with common subspecialties or interests. There are currently 25 PIA covering a wide range of interests and fields, from the Alliance of Women Alzheimer's Researchers (AWARE) PIA to Biofluid Based Biomarkers and everything in between. To sign-up to ISTAART and a PIA visit www.alz.org/istaart/ ______________________________________________ Throughout July 2020, Dementia Researcher is giving you a chance to win a pair of Beats Studio Headphones. To be in with a chance to win, complete three east steps: 1. Leave us a review on iTunes 2. Register and attend one of our webinars 3. Register on our website. Winner will be chosen at random on the 1st August, and announced via Twitter follow-us @Dem_Researcher For more information visit www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk ______________________________________________ Finally, the views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of NIHR Dementia Researchers, PIA membership, ISTAART or the Alzheimer's Association.

Neuroinflammation drug discovery in stem cell-derived microglia

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 06:00:11 +0100

In this week’s podcast we explore why Microglia are awesome, why our panellists use induced pluripotent stem cell models and how they feed Genome wide association studies hits and basic science into drug discovery with phenotypic screening. Meet our panellists: Dr Hazel Hall-Roberts, who is a black belt in Wado-Ryu karate and Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology & ARUK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute. Dr Emma Mead a Senior Neurobiologist, allotment holder, kitchen creative and Team Leader at the ARUK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute. Maria Kreger Karabova a DPhil student also at Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford. Maria’s claim to fame is that she once overhead-squatted her postdoc supervisor (I am sure a few of us would like to do that). Megan Calvert-O’Hare is hosting the discussion which was recorded over Zoom (so apologies if the sounds quality isn’t up to our usual high standards). You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-neuroinflammation-drug-discovery-in-stem-cell-derived-microglia _____________________________________________________________________ This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

If you can’t love yourself, then how the hell you gonna love your science - Part 1

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 06:00:12 +0100

This week Adam Smith is joined by three early career dementia researchers to discuss mental health struggles and self-care in academia. Are these problems that everyone goes through? Are there strategies that you can employ to help? We had so much to talk about… that we broke it down into two parts and this is part one. Those researchers are: Dr Katie Askew, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and owner of two house bunnies called Lola and Floki. Dr Isabel Castanho, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Exeter, and a practitioner of aerial yoga and a front line soldier in the battle against the Omnics (which in layman’s terms means she spends a lot of time playing video games) Last but not least we have Makis Tzioras who is a PhD student also from the University of Edinburgh. Panellists choose the title of each podcast and today is “If you can’t love yourself, then how the hell you gonna love your science?”: A semi-serious chat about self-care in academia” – thanks to Katie for the title. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-if-you-cant-love-yourself-then-how-the-hell-you-gonna-love-your-science-part-1 Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Enjoy our content? We are pleased to announce that we are now running a Midday Lecture Webinars - find recordings of previous lectures and details on how to register for future events at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/webinars Please note this podcast was recorded online as a result the sound quality may not be up to our usual high standard. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

If you can’t love yourself, then how the hell you gonna love your science - Part 2

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 06:00:12 +0100

This week Adam Smith is joined by three early career dementia researchers to discuss mental health struggles and self-care in academia. Are these problems that everyone goes through? Are there strategies that you can employ to help? We had so much to talk about… that we broke it down into two parts and this is part two. Those researchers are: Dr Katie Askew, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and owner of two house bunnies called Lola and Floki. Dr Isabel Castanho, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Exeter, and a practitioner of aerial yoga and a front line soldier in the battle against the Omnics (which in layman’s terms means she spends a lot of time playing video games) Last but not least we have Makis Tzioras who is a PhD student also from the University of Edinburgh. Panellists choose the title of each podcast and today is “If you can’t love yourself, then how the hell you gonna love your science?”: A semi-serious chat about self-care in academia” – thanks to Katie for the title. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/??? Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Enjoy our content? We are pleased to announce that we are now running a Midday Lecture Webinars - find recordings of previous lectures and details on how to register for future events at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/webinars Please note this podcast was recorded online as a result the sound quality may not be up to our usual high standard. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Patient and Public Involvement in Biomedical Research

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Join Megan O’Hare interviewing the panel for an insightful discussion on PPI in biomedical research. On previous podcasts, we have discussed the importance of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) – and the value it can add to research project development and also to researchers themselves, people living with dementia and their carers. Today’s podcast looks at PPI in biomedical research as there is a growing trend toward involving patients and public in lab-based projects. The panel – Dr Lindsey Sinclair, from Bristol University, Dr Claire Lancaster from Oxford University and Dr Martina Bocchetta from University College London, discuss how they have used PPI when developing their research projects and applying for funding and share tips on best places to seek out PPI help and involvement and what they have learned along the way. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-patient-and-public-involvement-in-biomedical-research/ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Enjoy our content? We are pleased to announce that we are now running a Midday Lecture Webinars - find recordings of previous lectures and details on how to register for future events at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/webinars This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

The concept of a Cognitive Footprint

Mon, 25 May 2020 06:00:03 +0100

In 2015 Professor Rossor from University College London and Professor Martin Knapp from The London School of Economics published a paper in the Lancet entitled ‘Can we model a cognitive footprint of interventions and policies to help to meet the global challenge of dementia?’ In this podcast Piers Kotting talks to Professor Rossor and Professor Parashkev Nachev exploring the concept of a ‘Cognitive Footprint’ and getting behind the follow-up research has already undertaken in this field, and plans for the new work recently funded by the Health Foundation. You can contact the Cognitive Footprint team via email at cognitivefootprint@ucl.ac.uk or find them on twitter @cog_footprint For more information on the Health Foundation Funded study visit:: https://www.health.org.uk/funding-and-partnerships/programmes/novel-methods-to-explore-the-value-of-cognitive-health-in-a- For the Lancet article visit: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)60248-3/fulltext You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-the-concept-of-a-cognitive-footprint Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Enjoy our content? We are pleased to announce that we are now running a Midday Lecture Webinars - find recordings of previous lectures and details on how to register for future events at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/webinars This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Staying Well & Staying Home

Mon, 11 May 2020 06:00:14 +0100

This week Adam Smith hosts this informal discussion with three lab-based researchers. Recorded remotely and discussing how they’re all managing to physically and mentally well, and how life has changed since the 23rd March. Dr Katy Askew, Postdoctoral Research Fellow and PhD student Makis Tzioras both from The University of Edinburgh and Dr Isabel Castanho a postdoc researcher at University of Exeter joined the podcast remotely to discuss and share. These three will be back again in a few weeks’ time to discuss in greater details, how they manage the pressures of academia with a focus on mental health and wellness. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-staying-well-and-staying-home Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. We are also run a Midday Lecture Webinar series - find recordings of previous lectures and details on how to register for future events at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/webinars This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Maintaining your clinical identity & skills as an academic

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Adam Smith talks with Dr Aida Gonzalez, Dr Daniel Jimenez both from University College London and Julieta Camino the University of East Anglia. Three panellists who all come from a clinical background and now find themselves working as academics. This week we explore how they maintain their clinical skills and identify, while working in academia. Academics with a clinical background and Clinical Academics may research similar things, however how they study and work can be very different. For one, being a clinician remain part of their day job, for others the clinical work may be left behind, but still be at the core of their research. Typically, a Clinical Academic will be part funded to enable them to split their time between their clinical work and research. But what about those who have broken away to study full time, but who need to maintain their clinical skills or even just remain in that space to support the research they’re doing? How do they maintain their skills and identity as clinicians? Particularly if they intend to return to practice. This weeks panel share their experiences on why clinical work remains important to their research, and how they avoid losing those skills which were learnt from years of training. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-maintaining-your-clinical-identity-skills-as-an-academic Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Enjoy our content? We are pleased to announce that we are now running Midday Lecture Webinars - find recordings of previous lectures and details on how to register for future events at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/webinars This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Relationships & Intimacy in Long-term Care

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 06:00:03 +0100

This week Anna Volkmer chairs a far reaching discussion exploring sexuality, relationships and intimacy in long-term and dementia care. There is there is limited research on what family members and front-line care home staff consider to be the best responses to the sexual expression of a person with dementia, whilst at the same time respecting relatives’ feelings, managing their possible distress and conflict. This week out panel share some insights on their work to address this challenging topic. This weeks panellist are Professor Jill Manthorpe, from King's College London who works on practice, policy and social work. Creating evidence and ideas about ways to improve systems of support. Next is Dr Dawne Garrett, Professional Lead for Older People and Dementia Care at the Royal College of Nursing. Her own research looks at experiences of sexual intimacy in older people in the context of partnership relationships. Finally, we have Esther Wiskerke, speaker, trainer, writer and dementia day care manager. Esther manages a day centre that specialises in managing Behavioural Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) via a non-pharmaceutical approach. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-relationships-and-intimacy-in-long-term-care Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Enjoy our content? We are pleased to announce that we are now running a Midday Lecture Webinars - find recordings of previous lectures and details on how to register for future events at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/webinars This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Dementia

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 06:00:03 +0100

In the UK there are 850,000 people living with dementia, and approximately 90% of people with dementia are affected by neuropsychiatric symptoms at some stage. This term generally refers to things like agitation, hallucinations, delusions, and depression that occur as a result of neurodegenerative disease. Megan O'Hare interviews three researchers who work in and around the field of psychiatry and dementia. Talking specifically about apathy, depression and treatments for the various symptoms. We also delve into the impact of the severe side effects that drug treatments can cause and how safer drugs can be developed. Dr Byron Creese, Senior Research Fellow at University of Exeter covers the range of symptoms and how transcriptomics may hold the key to developing good drugs. Miguel Vasconcelos Da Silva and Isabel Foote discuss their nursing backgrounds and the overlaps and differences between depression and apathy and how a clinical definition for apathy is needed. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-neuropsychiatric-symptoms-in-dementia Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Spanish Voices In Dementia Research

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:00:25 +0100

Our first ever Spanish Language Special! English & Spanish Transcripts for this podcast can be found on our website http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-spanish-voices-in-dementia-research ___________________________________________________________________ La investigación en el campo del deterioro cognitivo está llena de talento multicultural y de diversidad. Hoy queremos celebrar este hecho y resaltar la contribución científica de la comunidad hispanohablante. En este podcast, la doctora Aida Suarez Gonzalez entrevista a tres investigadores que se formaron en Latinoamérica y en Europa, y están ahora desarrollando sus carreras científicas aquí en el Reino Unido. Los tres vienen de profesiones muy diferentes y están en la actualidad trabajando en instituciones británicas de renombre internacional: Ivanna Pavisic, Julieta Camino y el Dr. Daniel Jiménez. Puedes encontrar más información sobre nuestros panelistas y sus líneas de investigación en nuestra web www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. La transcripción integra del podcast está disponible en www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast=spanish-voices-in-dementia-research. ¿Has disfrutado de este podcast? Si es así déjanos una crítica, un “me gusta” o compártelo con tus amigos y en redes sociales y recuerda subscribirte para no perderte futuras grabaciones. Por ultimo, abrimos foros de discusión por WhatsApp cada 2 semanas (la semana siguiente a la publicación de cada podcast) en los que participan los panelistas de dicho podcast. Para poder participar en estos foros, poder hablar con los panelistas, hacerles preguntas y charlar sobre el podcast, únete a nuestro grupo de WhatsApp usando el siguiente enlace: chat.whatsapp.com/BqxaDYhdjsML7doT6Qmbyd ____________________________________________________________________ Research in the field of cognitive degeneration is full of diversity and multicultural talent. In today’s podcast we celebrate this fact and also to highlight the Spanish speaking community’s contribution to science. Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez welcomes three researchers who trained in Latin America and Europe and are now developing their scientific careers in the UK. They come from very different professional backgrounds and are currently working in internationally renowned British institutions, Ivanna Pavisic, Julieta Camino and Dr Daniel Jiménez. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. There you will also find a Spanish and English transcript of this podcast Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Finally, we are now hosting a bi-weekly WhatsApp discussion (the week after each new podcast is released) which includes the panellists from this podcast. To talk to the panellists. ask questions and to chat about the topic with the rest of our community join our WhatsApp group using this link: chat.whatsapp.com/BqxaDYhdjsML7doT6Qmbyd This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Being a research active clinician

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:00:25 +0100

This week our panel of NHS clinicians are in the studio to discuss their stories of becoming 'research active'. With advise for others and details on how they are now working to support and encourage others on the front line of NHS care. As the NIHR in the UK, and research bodies in other countries work to encourage more clinical staff to become research active. This podcast provides information for clinicians from all professions and backgrounds, hoping to inspire the next generation of Principle Investigators. Piers Kotting is back in the hot seat with Dr Sylvie Halsey and Dr Zoe Clough from the Wessex Deanery and Dr Leonidas Chouliaras from the University of Cambridge and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-being-a-research-active-clinician Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. We encourage all of our listeners to visit our website, it doesn’t matter if you are in the UK or elsewhere in the world as there is something there for everyone. We add new content every day, from blogs discussing peoples research and their careers, a full dementia and research events planner, details of all upcoming funding opportunities + lots more. Register today, and you’ll receive a short weekly news round-up email each Friday, to ensure you don't miss a think. Finally, we are now hosting a bi-weekly WhatsApp discussion (the week after each new podcast is released) which includes the panellists from this podcast. To talk to the panellists. ask questions and to chat about the 'DEMON Network' with the rest of our community join our WhatsApp group using this link: chat.whatsapp.com/BqxaDYhdjsML7doT6Qmbyd This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

UK Dementia Care Research Summit 2020

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 07:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we reflect on the recent UK Dementia Care Research Summit 2020 hosted by Alzheimer’s Society, National Institute for Health Research and Economic & Social Research Council. Discussing the highlights, outcomes and next step (which we think are probably applicable in many countries). The dementia research community is driven by a desire to make positive change for people affected by dementia. Great progress has been made so far but change is still needed. Our host Adam Smith talks with Hannah Churchill from Alzheimer’s Society, Dr Tamara Backhouse from the University of East Anglia and Dr Keir Yong from University College London. Footage from the summit can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AlzheimersSociety/videos For details of all the speakers and the programme visit: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-01/Programme_A5_ONLINE.pdf Adam Smith the chair of this podcast has also written a blog with his top 10 suggestions for next steps, and what he thought were the main lessons learned and take-aways form the day: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-reflecting-on-the-first-uk-dementia-care-research-summit/ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-uk-dementia-care-research-summit-2020/ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Finally, we are now hosting a bi-weekly WhatsApp discussion (the week after each new podcast is released) which includes the panellists from this podcast. To talk to the panellists. ask questions and to chat about the 'DEMON Network' with the rest of our community join our WhatsApp group using this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BqxaDYhdjsML7doT6Qmbyd _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher

The ARUK DEMON Network

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:00:10 +0100

Today's topic is the new Alzheimer's Research UK DEMON Network (don't worry you don't have to be an evil spirit or tormentor to join), DEMON being an acronym for Deep Dementia Phenotyping (DEMON) Network. Led by the University of Exeter and supported by Alzheimer's Research UK, the Alan Turing Institute and Dementias Platform UK. It aims to unite experts from a wide range of fields to find new solutions to research in dementia. In this podcast, first time host Piers Kotting is with Professor David Llewellyn from the University of Exeter and Dr Carol Routledge, Director of Research from Alzheimer’s Research UK. To discuss what the they hope to achieve through the network and how Early Career Researchers from across all fields and countries, and not only in dementia, can become involved. To join the ARUK DEMON Network visit - https://www.decodedementia.com/research/demon/ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-alzheimers-research-uk-demon-network/ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. We encourage all of our listeners to visit our website, it doesn’t matter if you are in the UK or elsewhere in the world as there is something there for everyone. We add new content every day, from blogs discussing peoples research and their careers, a full dementia and research events planner, details of all upcoming funding opportunities + lots more. Register today, and you’ll receive a short weekly news round-up email each Friday, to ensure you don't miss a thing. Finally, we are now hosting a bi-weekly WhatsApp discussion (the week after each new podcast is released) which includes the panellists from this podcast. To talk to the panellists. ask questions and to chat about the 'DEMON Network' with the rest of our community join our WhatsApp group using this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BqxaDYhdjsML7doT6Qmbyd _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Illness perceptions & service use in dementia

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 07:00:00 +0100

Join Dr Megan O'Hare on the road at Surrey and Borders Partnership Foundation NHS Trust interviewing R&D Manager and PhD Student Jane Gregg and former guest Dr Josie Jenkinson. They discuss Jane's PhD understanding how people perceive themselves and their future once they receive a diagnosis of dementia and how that links with service use in the NHS. This far reaching discussion gives pause for thought and considers how research embedded within the NHS and healthcare can make a real difference. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-illness-perceptions-service-use-in-dementia/ Special thanks to Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for allowing us to record this podcast. Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to adam.smith@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher _________________________ This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Molecular Basis of Alzheimer's Disease

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 07:00:10 +0100

Listen to this week's podcast to hear Professor Louise Serpell and Dr Karen Marshall from the University of Sussex talk Biochemistry and drug development. Learn about what amyloid fibrils actually are, their structure, other diseases that are caused by them and ultimately what we can do with this knowledge. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available on here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-molecular-basis-of-alzheimers-disease Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. We encourage all of our listeners to visit our website, it doesn’t matter if you are in the UK or elsewhere in the world as there is something there for everyone. We add new content every day, from blogs discussing peoples research and their careers, a full dementia and research events planner, details of all upcoming funding opportunities + lots more. Register today, and you’ll receive a short weekly news round-up email each Friday, to ensure you don't miss a think. _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Consenting Research Participants

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0100

This week's podcast is hosted by Anna Volkmer discussing a topic that she is particularly passionate about; consenting participants into dementia research. She is joined by Dr Clarissa Giebel, Dr James Fletcher and Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez all who have first-hand experience of consenting adults into dementia research trials and studies and share their experiences and tips. Listen to hear how each of the panellists find navigating the 'grey area' of capacity, hear a remarkable story of bravery from one person who took part in dementia research and hear the panel discuss how we could all benefit from taking the time to produce inclusive documents that are not too long and jargon-filled. The panel discuss their experiences within the context of adhering to the English and Welsh mental capacity act of 2005: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents The useful website Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez mentions can be found here: https://www.changepeople.org/ The resources developed by Jill Pearl and Speakability can be found in their new home on the Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CAT). You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available on our website. Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

2019 Roundup Christmas Special

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100

As we prepare to welcome 2020 and a new year, we look back on some of the great podcasts we recorded during 2019 in this round-up of some of our favourite moments. A transcript of this podcast is available here on our website - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-2019-roundup-christmas-special/ Over the past year we’ve recorded 36 podcast with more than 70 dementia researchers and expert panellists. Those podcasts have attracted over 19,000 plays from all over the world, in over 50 countries (biggest increasing coming from the USA) and this hit a high for us in October when we started to trend at over 2,500 plays each month (3,245 in November and December is set to beat that record). We have covered a wide range of topics, from life in the lab, microglia and drug discover through to improving public engagement, care in hospitals and finishing the PhD and we promise to continue in 2020. Revisiting some topics, bringing you more researchers discussing their work, and new features including talking to senior researchers to understand what makes them successful. Remember the podcast is just a small part of what we do to support Dementia Research and Early Career Researchers. Our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk is packed with great content, from blogs discussing researchers work and careers, articles on coping with academic life, and useful summaries of all the funding opportunities, jobs and events that we can find. We also have a WhatsApp support group just for ECRs. Thank you to everyone of you for listening, we will be back on the 6th January with a podcast discussing study volunteer consent.

Prediction And Prevention In Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we talk we talk to three panellists, to reflect on what they discovered at the ‘Prediction and Prevention in Neurodegenerative Disease Symposium’ held on the 29th November and organised by the Preventative Neurology Unit (PNU) at Queen Mary University London. Recorded on location from QMU - Dr Megan O’Hare is join by PhD students Phazha Bothongo and Isabelle Foote from Queen Mary University and Dr Harri Sivasathiaseelan from University College London. The Symposium focused on the fascinating issues around early detection and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, and included a star studded lined-up of speakers, including Anette Schrag, Rimona Weil and Jonathan Schott from UCL. Dennis Chan, Carol Brayne and Richard Milne from the University of Cambridge and others from QMUL, Oxford and Maastricht. The PNU is a new group set up as part of the School of Medicine & Dentistry at Queen Mary University, London. Funded by Bart's Charity to try to prevent diseases that affect the nervous system, like dementia, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Researching people's risk of getting these diseases, and how we can spot them before there are any obvious signs. This will help us to come up with ways to try to slow down or even stop the progress of these conditions, and keep people's brains healthy for longer. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-prediction-and-prevention-in-neurodegenerative-diseases Special thanks to Charles Marshal @charl_marshall for allowing us to record this podcast. Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to adam.smith@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher _________________________

Neighbourhoods, dementia & co-creation to put research into action

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This week Adam Smith is at the University of Manchester to talk with a research team who over the last 5-years has been working collaboratively with people living with dementia and family carers on a study focusing on Neighbourhoods and Dementia. This weeks panel has Dr Sarah Campbell a Research Associate at the Manchester University, Professor Andrew Clark from the University of Salford and expert through experience Maria Walsh as Co-researcher and Study Adviser. In this podcast we discuss how researchers and study participants worked together to find innovative and meaningful ways to disseminate the findings from their research. Ensuring that what they learnt really was put into practice and shared with those who would benefit, and how co-production took them down the path of zines. PS you can find the zines mentioned in the podcast here: https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/neighbourhoods-and-dementia/work-programme-4/ The designer who produced the amazing graphics for this study has also written a blog for us, which you will find on our website. There you will also find profiled on all of our panellists and a transcript of this audio recording. www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk _________________________________ About the study: The Neighbourhoods and Dementia study was funded in the UK under the first Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia in 2012. The eight work programmes were framed around people, spaces and places and had the following overarching aims: 1. To address the meanings, experiences, and structure of neighbourhoods for people living with dementia, their care partners and other in-contact-groups and individuals. 2. To learn from the process and praxis of making people living with dementia and their care partners core to the research agenda. 3. To encourage innovative technological advances in dementia studies and in the development of a neighbourhood model of dementia. 4. To build capacity within the research community and the networks of people living with dementia and their care partners. 5. To develop the evidence base, methods and measures for understanding the significance of neighbourhoods for people living with dementia and their care partners. 6. To create, test and evaluate interventions that are pertinent to a neighbourhood model of dementia. You can find out about this study and all the outcomes on their website at: https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/neighbourhoods-and-dementia/?ID=3314

Alzheimer's Research UK Drug Discovery

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we welcome academics and industry to discuss the Dementia Consortium and drug discovery, from the basics of target validation to the question you always wanted to ask big pharma - what is their motivation for investing! The panel is made up of Dr Declan Jones and Dr John Isaac both from Johnson & Johnson, one of the seven industry partners of the Dementia Consortium, Professor Paul Whiting, the CSO at the Drug Discovery Institute at UCL and James Connell the Research Manager at Alzheimer's Research UK who coordinates the Dementia Consortium. The Dementia Consortium is a private-charity partnership between Alzheimer’s Research UK, Evotec and the pharmaceutical companies Abbvie, Astex Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly and MSD. The Consortium provides drug discovery resources, project management, industry expertise and tools as well as full funding support for projects. It can support small molecule or antibody-based strategies and aims to generate tools to achieve preclinical target validation. The ultimate goal is to progress successful projects from laboratories towards the clinic. You can find out more about the Dementia Consortium here, including details of their funding programmes throughout the year: https://www.dementiaconsortium.org/ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-alzheimers-research-uk-drug-discovery Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to adam.smith@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher _________________________ Join Dementia Research a topic of a previous podcast has been selected as a Top 100 innovation created by University College London. The overall winner will be decided by a public vote. It would be great if you could show your support by voting for them by hitting the thumbs up on this page - https://www.ucl.ac.uk/made-at-ucl/stories/join-dementia-research-getting-public-involved Thank you

Quality of Life After a Dementia Diagnosis

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This week's podcast was recorded at the Centre for Dementia Studies at the University of Sussex. Megan O'Hare is joined by Dr Ben Hicks and Dr Laura Hughes to discuss broadly the themes of inequalities in dementia care and quality of life and specifically look at the DeterMIND programme. Evidence has emerged of major inequalities in care for dementia, driven by factors including ethnicity, whether your care is self-funded or paid for by local authorities and whether you are diagnosed earlier or later. DeterMIND is designed to address critical, fundamental and as yet unanswered questions about inequalities, outcomes and costs following diagnosis with dementia. These answers are needed to improve the quality of care and therefore the quality of life. Join the podcast to hear an interesting discussion on the benefits and perceived downsides of an early diagnosis, results from Ben's PhD work on how different populations manage a clinical diagnosis and the way care homes can enhance the quality of life for people with dementia. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-quality-of-life-after-a-dementia-diagnosis/ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to adam.smith@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher _________________________ Join Dementia Research a topic of a previous podcast has been selected as a Top 100 innovation created by University College London. The overall winner will be decided by a public vote. It would be great if you could show your support by voting for them by hitting the thumbs up on this page - https://www.ucl.ac.uk/made-at-ucl/stories/join-dementia-research-getting-public-involved Thank you

What's new in Alzheimer's Society fellowships

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Alzheimer's Society have recently made some changes to the focus of their funding programmes; tune in to hear Faye Boswell and Katherine Gray from Alzheimer's Society discuss the focus for future funding programmes, tips on writing your applications and an in-depth discussion about the 4 I's: Implementation, Impact, Inclusion and Involvement. With insider experience from Antoinette O'Connor, an Alzheimer Society-funded Clinical Research Fellow. This is one not to be missed if you are thinking of applying to any of the Alzheimer Society programmes in the coming year (next round opens just before Christmas 2019, deadline 27th March 2020). Find out more about when they are receiving applications and also about including PPI in the planning stage of your application here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/researchers/our-funding-schemes You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-whats-new-in-alzheimers-society-fellowships Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to adam.smith@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher _________________________ Join Dementia Research a topic of a previous podcast has been selected as a Top 100 innovation created by University College London. The overall winner will be decided by a public vote. It would be great if you could show your support by voting for them by hitting the thumbs up on this page - https://www.ucl.ac.uk/made-at-ucl/stories/join-dementia-research-getting-public-involved Thank you

Rare Dementia Support Impact study

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This week Megan O'Hare interviews Emma Harding and Emilie Brotherhood, PhD students working on the Rare Dementia Support Impact study - a £3.5 million, five-year, multi-site collaboration research study into the value of multicomponent support groups for people living with or supporting someone with a rare form of dementia. They will discuss the 5 work packages involved but also the translation of all their work into other forms of dementia and the potential impact this could have on policy, particularly around financial support. More information on Rare Dementias and support can be found at http://www.raredementiasupport.org/ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk. A transcript of this podcast is also available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-rare-dementia-support-impact-study/ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to adam.smith@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher _________________________ Join Dementia Research a topic of a previous podcast has been selected as a Top 100 innovation created by University College London. The overall winner will be decided by a public vote. It would be great if you could show your support by voting for them by hitting the thumbs up on this page - https://www.ucl.ac.uk/made-at-ucl/stories/join-dementia-research-getting-public-involved Thank you

Collaborations and Qualitative Research in Dementia

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0100

What's possible when a group of creative, motivated, self-driven qualitative researchers find each other? Only time will tell, but if the first meeting of this group is anything to go by, you can expect some quality outputs, which add real value to helping people living with dementia. Dr Jemima Dooley (University of Bristol), Dr Sarah Griffiths, (University of Plymouth) and Anna Volkmer (University College London) work in the field of language and communications, an area which can be particularly challenging for people living with dementia. After becoming aware of each others work through social media, conferences and publications; they decided to come together to collaborate and invited others to join. Adam Smith joined the group's inaugural meeting, and in this podcast he talks with Jemima and Sarah to understand how the meeting came about, what they hope to achieve and what comes next. We hope that by sharing this story, we can encourage others across the UK and the rest of the world to come together to and make a breakthroughs possible (to quote great the ARUK strapline). A blog written by Anna Volkmer, sharing her take on the meeting is available here: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-meeting-of-minds-qualitative-research-in-dementia/ A transcript of this podcast is also available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-collaborations-and-qualitative-research-in-dementia/ _________________________ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to adam.smith@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher _________________________ Join Dementia Research a topic of a previous podcast has been selected as a Top 100 innovation created by University College London. The overall winner will be decided by a public vote. It would be great if you could show your support by voting for them by hitting the thumbs up on this page - https://www.ucl.ac.uk/made-at-ucl/stories/join-dementia-research-getting-public-involved Thank you

Preparing for your Viva

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Sitting your viva is the culmination of years of work, to say it is a big moment is an understatement. If you are about to walk into your viva or you are at the beginning of the PhD journey, we have a panel of viva survivors to discuss tips, anecdotes and things they would do differently. Regular contributor Anna Volkmer is joined Dr Sarah Aldous, a Post-doctoral research associate at UCL, Dr James Fletcher, a Teaching Fellow at King’s College London and Dr Robyn Dowlen, Research Associate at the University of Manchester. To see profiles on all of our panellists, and to find more blogs and articles on taking your viva visit our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is available via our website, at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-preparing-for-your-viva/ If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to adam.smith@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher ____________ Join Dementia Research a topic of a previous podcast has been selected as a Top 100 innovation created by University College London. The overall winner will be decided by a public vote. It would be great if you could show your support by voting for them by hitting the thumbs up on this page - https://www.ucl.ac.uk/made-at-ucl/stories/join-dementia-research-getting-public-involved

Writing Your Thesis

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Our panel today are talking about 'Thesis Writing', and by the end of the discussion we hope listeners will be inspired, perhaps realise they are not alone, have a few new ideas on approach and most importantly will be itching to get back to writing as opposed to finding every chore under the sun to do as a way of getting out of it (that includes looking at Facebook, cat videos, pairing socks and staring out of the window). Adam Smith (who is unable to ever keep recordings down to 30 minutes) talks with Dr Marianne Coleman, a research Orthopist from the University of Surrey, Dr Josie Jenkinson a Consultant Psychiatrist from Surrey and Maxine Mackintosh, a PhD student from UCL. To see profiles on all of our panellists, and to find more blogs and articles on writing visit our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to adam.smith@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher PS did you know the word Thesis comes from the Greek for "something put forth”.

Life In The Lab

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to this week's podcast, hosted by Oz Ismail. Oz is joined by Dr David Steadman, Yolanda Ohene and Christina Toomey who are all based in labs at University College London. The lab can be a home from home given the amount of time you can end up spending there - a place where late nights and early mornings are dictated by your experiments. A place filled with incredible highs (when your experiments work) and horrendous lows (when the experiment you have toiled on for months for some reason doesn’t work). Today's panel are discussing life in the lab, what works for them, and how they transitions from classroom to lab. We might even touch on the superstitions our panellists have for ensuring lab success! To see profiles on all of our panellists, and to find more blogs and articles on lab work, and even lab jobs visit our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk If you would like to share your own experiences or discuss your research in a blog or on a podcast, drop us a line to adam.smith@nihr.ac.uk or find us on twitter @dem_researcher

A longitudinal research study of familial Alzheimer’s disease

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Megan O'Hare talks to Ivanna Pavisic and Antoinette O’Connor about their different projects relating to ‘Longitudinal research study of familial Alzheimer’s disease' and the changes that occur at this clinically silent stage. Ivanna and Antoinette both work at the University College London, Dementia Research Centre which has had a longstanding research programme in autosomal dominantly inherited familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) led by Professor Nick Fox. In this podcast they talk about how the study provides a unique opportunity to explore the presymptomatic period of AD as pathogenic mutations are effectively 100% penetrant and the age at onset is relatively consistent within families and they also talk about the use and need for reliable biomarkers and cognitive tests. You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk Please take a moment to review, like and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode.

Integrating Dementia Research into Teaching

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0100

In many of our podcasts we discuss research studies and the work of PhD students. Today we are looking at what for many is one step earlier in the path to academia and focusing on MSc programmes. MSc programmes can act as a tool for existing and new health and social care professionals who want to gain a specific qualification in working with people who have dementia, for others who work with people with dementia, and for anyone looking for a path into academia. Megan O'Hare talks to Catherine Quinn and Dr Ana Barbosa from the University of Bradford. Discussing their new MSc in Advanced Dementia Studies programme, and explain more generally what these programmes are about, who they are for, and what people will get out of them.

AAIC 2019 - Day Four

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This week we are recording a daily podcast, sharing all the news and highlights from this years Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Los Angeles. Day Four (Final Day) - Adam Smith is joined by Dr James Pickett from Alzheimer's Society, Dr Claire Lancaster from the University of Oxford and Dr Emily Maguire from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff University. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to these podcasts and for listening. We hope they have been useful and interesting. The AAIC is a great event for Early Career Researchers, so we hope to see you there next year in Amsterdam. To get more news on the conference, visit their twitter feed with #AAIC19.

AAIC 2019 - Day Two

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This week we are recording a daily podcast, sharing all the news and highlights from this years Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Los Angeles. Day Two - Adam Smith is joined by Dr Sara Imarisio from Alzheimer's Research UK, Riona McArdle from Newcastle University and Dr Astrid Suchy-Dicey from Washington State University. Check back at this time tomorrow for news from day two, and checkout the twitter feed with #AAIC19 to find more.

AAIC 2019 - Day Three

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This week we are recording a daily podcast, sharing all the news and highlights from this years Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Los Angeles. Day Three - Adam Smith is joined by Robin Brisbourne from Alzheimer's Research UK, Dr Lucy Stirland from The University of Edinburgh and Thomas Doherty from Syneos Health. Check back at this time tomorrow for news from day four, and checkout the twitter feed with #AAIC19 to find more.

AAIC 2019 - Day One

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This week we are recording a daily podcast, sharing all the news and highlights from this years Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Los Angeles. Day One - Adam Smith is joined by Dr Clare Walton from Alzheimer's Society, Sarah Gregory from The University of Edinburgh and Dr James Quinn from Harvard Medical School. Check back at this time tomorrow for news from day two, and checkout the twitter feed with #AAIC19 to find more.

Talking Publishing

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Open science, open access, publication timelines are all discussed in our podcast this week with PLOS ONE Associate Editor George Vousden and Research Manager Rui Maruricio at ARUK. PLOS ONE has launched a call-for-papers, inviting researchers to submit their latest research on the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The impact of AD may be lessened by timely diagnosis, allowing access to care pathways and enabling planning for advanced care. Likewise, the ability to diagnose AD at its early stages is likely a prerequisite for the successful implementation of novel disease-modifying treatments. Submissions are welcome across all disciplines, including basic research, translational studies in animal models and studies in patient populations. https://collections.plos.org/s/alzheimersdisease

Announcing the winner of our 10,000 plays giveaway

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Last year the NIHR Office of the National Director for Dementia Research (that's us) launched ‘Dementia Researcher’, a new website and this podcast. The aim being to support early career dementia researchers. Bringing together researchers to talk about the topics that matter to them, and providing a platform to talk about, and share their work. Last month our podcast hit over 10,000 plays, with listeners coming from more than 50 countries - and that is all thanks to you, our listeners. To celebrate the event, we asked listeners to complete a short survey - to help us improve the podcast, and in return for completing, we promised to draw out the name of one of our lucky winners to win a fantastic pair of Sony WH-H900 Wireless Headphones. Professor Rossor, NIHR Director of Dementia Research said “The fantastic influx of new funding for dementia research has helped create a new generation of researchers. We hope that providing support for the community through the dementia researcher website and podcast helps them to progress and remain in the field”. Minister for Care Caroline Dinenage said “I want to make this the best country in the world to live with dementia, but to succeed we need to cultivate world-leading research into both care and cure. We must work together to promote dementia research as a career choice for the brightest and best, to help make breakthroughs into how we better support people with dementia and their families. The National Institute for Health Research are leading the way with their Dementia Researcher website to promote the benefits of working in this field, including their international podcast which has reached a fantastic 10,000 people.” We hope that our podcast and website work together to support you, our community. Helping you to collaborate, network and find the support you need; from funding opportunities, events, jobs, blogs and articles from other like you discussing their work and careers. Anne-Marie Greenaway, PhD Student from Reading University said “This really has helped me to connect with other early career researchers from the UK and further afield. The podcasts and blogs discussing things that genuinely relate to my work, both as a PhD student and specifically because they focus on dementia, have been invaluable resources. Being able to tap into another researcher’s hindsight and experiences has made my PhD journey more manageable and less daunting.”. Thank you again for listening, and if you haven't already visit our website and sign-up to get weekly updates and news that matters to you www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Building your online profile and using social media

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0100

As an Early Career Researcher, having an online profile is more than just 'being on twitter'. In this podcast our panellists Dr Lakshini Mendis, Dr Jack Rivers-Auty and Dr Kirsty McAleese discuss the importance of having an online presence as an ECR, what that might look like, all the different options, benefits and limitations. Later this week we will be celebrating 10,000 podcast plays. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, like, comment and share - and if you would like to come into the studio to talk about your research, drop us a line via our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

50 Shades of Microglia

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This weeks podcast was recorded a few weeks ago at the Alzheimer's Research UK Conference in Harrogate. Dr Katie Stubbs speaks with Dr Katie Askew, Dr Mike Daniels and PhD student Makis Tzioras. This team are all based at the UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh. Our special subject for this week is Microglia. For those listeners who don’t know, Microglia form part of the brain’s immune system and are key players in controlling brain health via multiple mechanisms. These mechanisms include releasing cytokines, phagocytosis of debris, synaptic pruning and forming the glio-vascular unit. In neurodegenerative diseases, like dementia, nearly all physiological microglial functions stray away from homeostasis and contribute to disease pathogenesis. So you can see why research in this field is important, and why it’s been such a hot topic at dementia research conferences this year. In the build up to celebrating 10,000 plays, we are asking listeners to complete our short survey to be in with a chance to win a great pair of high-end Sony Headphones. To find out more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/10000plays/ Please remember to like, subscribe and review our podcast.

Alzheimer's Society Conference 2019 - Day One

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 11:23:20 +0100

Dr Megan Calvert-O'Hare is joined by Alzheimer's Society Research Champion Gillian Harrison, Professor Claudia Cooper from UCL and Professor David Sharp from Imperial College and the Dementia Research Institute. This special recording was made on location from the Alzheimer's Society Conference, at the end of day one. The group share news from the conference, and discuss their own work including the UK Dementia Research Institute Care and Technology programme and the NIDUS (New Interventions for Independence in Dementia) project. In the build up to celebrating 10,000 plays, we are asking listeners to complete our short survey to be in with a chance to win a great pair of high-end Sony Headphones. To find out more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/10000plays/ Please remember to like, subscribe and review our podcast.

Alzheimer's Society Conference 2019 - Day Two

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Dr Aoife Kiely from Alzheimer's Society talks to Ruby Ali-Strayton, Journalist and Alzheimer's Society Research Champion, Dr Charlie Arber from UCL and Dr Claire Lancaster from the University of Oxford. This special recording was made on location from the Alzheimer's Society Conference, at the end of day two. The group share news from the conference, and discuss their own work including the latest in Stem Cell research at UCL and how the Game Changer Study is using smartphones to transform early detection of Alzheimer’s. In the build up to celebrating 10,000 plays, we are asking listeners to complete our short survey to be in with a chance to win a great pair of high-end Sony Headphones. To find out more visit: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/10000plays/ Please remember to like, subscribe and review our podcast.

Brains For Dementia Research

Mon, 27 May 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This week Dr Aoife Kiely from Alzheimer's Society and Dr Katie Subbs from Alzheimer's Research UK talk with Dr Kirsty McAleese and Dr Keeley Brookes about their work on Brains for Dementia Research. Brains for Dementia Research (BDR) was set up in 2007 to establish a network of brain bank facilities across England and Wales. It is now a ‘gold standard’ for brain tissue banking, linking six leading centres (based in London, Oxford, Newcastle, Bristol, Manchester and Cardiff) in a network of common standards, best practice and cooperation. This lays the foundation to enable the highest quality dementia research, which aims to find a cure for dementia. In each bank, people with mild cognitive impairment or a diagnosis of dementia, and healthy participants, are supported to donate their brain by specialist research nurses. This initiative is unique from other brain banks, as the memory, thinking and behaviour of each prospective donor are monitored throughout their later life through regular assessments. This provides researchers with a complete medical history to accompany the donated brain tissue, allowing them to see how brain changes correlate with symptoms. To find out more about the BDR service, and how it could help your research visit: http://www.brainsfordementiaresearch.org.uk/ You can find our podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Spotify, please remember to like, review and subscribe and if you would like to joins us for a recording please drop us a line. www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Getting A Fellowship

Mon, 13 May 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This weeks I have four early career researchers, who have all, very recently managed to successfully secure fellowships! It’s tough making post-doc applications, but with application deadlines for NIHR and ARUK looming, we thought this would be the perfect time to discuss (although maybe for the next round... if you take our panels advise). Dr Lashini Mendis talks with Dr Chris Hardy, Dr Kirsty McAleese, Dr Marianne Coleman and Dr Jack Rivers-Auty. All work in different fields of dementia research, and all shared their advice, tips and experiences of getting a fellowship. You can also read a blog we posted earlier this week on this topic, by Anna Volkmer - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-looking-back-my-experiences-of-applying-for-my-fellowship/ You can find our podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Spotify, please remember to like, review and subscribe and if you would like to joins us for a recording please drop us a line via our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Data the new frontiers in dementia research - Exeter Datathon

Thu, 02 May 2019 00:00:00 +0100

In this special podcast recording made on location from the Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) datathon at the University of Exeter, we discuss how ‘data’ is being used to push new frontiers in dementia research. Exploring what is happening at this ground breaking datathon, and how DPUK is working with researchers and scientists from different fields. Coming together to look at new ways to use cohort longitudinal data to tackle dementia, and potentially finding the causes, ways to better identify risks, improve diagnosis and beat dementia! Adam Smith talks with Richard Everson, Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Exeter, Dr Sarah Bauermeister a Senior Researcher and Senior Data Manager with the Dementias Platform UK at the University of Oxford and Dr Hadi Modarres a Data Scientist from Cognetivity. Form more information on DPUK, the datathon and future events visit their website https://www.dementiasplatform.uk. Finally, please remember to like, subscribe and share our podcast and visit our website at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk and watch out for our soon to be shared 10,000 plays celebration news.

PhD Life And Young-onset Dementia

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This week weeks podcast comes from the University of Sydney where Adam Smith spoke to PhD students Michelle Lai and Luisa Krein. We discuss Michelle's research on Young-onset Dementia and how both approach their work and study, as they enter their final year. We also discuss life in Sydney with tips for anyone thinking of studying in a new country, finding a supervisor, pressures to publish and work-life balance. Please remember to subscribe, like, review and share our podcast. If you would like to get involved drop us a line. Visit our website at http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk for daily career posts, blogs, funding opportunities, events and much more - everything an Early Career Dementia Researcher needs, all in one place.

Dementia & risk enablement in NHS and Social Care settings

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Dementia & risk enablement in NHS and Social Care settings by

Language And Communication In The Dementias - London

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 06:00:12 +0100

Today we are talking about Language and Communication in Dementia – part of a two part of a global special, where we catch up with people from both sides of the globe tackling the same challenges! Lakshini Mendis talks with this passionate group of people from University College London - Anna Volkmer, Professor Rosemary Varley and Dr Vitor Zimmerer. Language is important to humans, it's how we express our feelings and emotions, it impacts our quality of life, and life of those around us. So the ability to understand and produce language both spoken and written is important. Communication is bigger than language, not all is verbal and is integrated with other behaviours, like politeness and expression, and social behaviour. When the brain goes wrong we see language and communication change. Research is looking at ways to measure language, but it's complicated - how can you measure it? Can machine learning help? And how can we support people to continue to communicate and extend use of language when the brain fails? Is it also possible to determine the type of dementia someone has through how language is lost? In this podcast Rosemary, Victor and Anna will address these issues and more. Please remember to like, share, subscribe and review our podcast - available on SoundCloud, iTunes and Spotify and on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Language And Communication In The Dementias - Sydney

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Today we are talking about Language and Communication in Dementia – part of a two part of a global special, where we catch up with people from both sides of the globe tackling the same challenges! Communication impairment will affect people with dementia at some stage of the course of the disease. Such an impairment can have devastating effects on the person with dementia themselves but also on those who care about and for them. And for people with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) gradual and insidious deterioration of the ability to communicate profoundly affects their lives and that of their partners. How are researchers in Australia and the UK working to help patients and their carers improve and deal with these life changes challenges... on top of everything else the disease brings? Adam Smith, is recording on location, from the The University of Sydney Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, talking to Luisa Krein, from University of Sydney and Cathy Taylor-Rubin from Macquarie University, both at PhD Students and jobbing clinicians working in Speech and Language Pathology. Please remember to like, share, subscribe and review our podcast - available on SoundCloud, iTunes and Spotify and on our website: www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Alzheimer's Research UK Conference 2019

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0100

This week has seen Alzheimer's Research UK host its 20th annual conference in Harrogate, bigger than ever, and packed with talks from researchers working at all levels and across many areas. This podcast was recorded on location in Harrogate from the conference. Our panel share their highlights, and all they've seen and heard from across the three days, for those who couldn't make it, . Dr Katy Stubbs from Alzheimer's, Research UK is a great host, she is joined by Dr Chris Henstridge, from the University of Edinburgh, Dr Christina Toomey from University College London and Fiona Calvert from the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Please remember to subscribe, like, review and share our podcast. If you would like to get involved drop us a line www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Using Join Dementia Research

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we discuss ‘Join Dementia Research’ the free to use, NIHR service run in the UK which supports Early Career Researchers to find participants both with and without #dementia for theirs studies. Talking about how is helps researchers, and the practicalities of using it. Adam Smith is joined by Clare Shaw, Research Delivery Manager for Join Dementia Research, and two researchers who have used the service. Victoria Shepherd a Research Associate from Cardiff University and Anne-Marie Greenaway, also a research associate but from the University of Reading. A study published in the BMJ last year, showed that 44% of RCTs failed to meet their final volunteer recruitment targets, and at the same time the public is frustrated at not knowing how to get involved in studies. This is where Join Dementia Research helps. To find out more about the service and how you can use it visit: https://www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk/content/researchers To find out how you could play a part in promoting the service, and helping more people to become involved visit: https://learn.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk/ Please remember to subscribe, like, review and share our podcast. If you would like to get involved visit our website and drop us a line http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Career Paths to Studying Huntington's Disease Linked Dementia

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast, Dr Lakshini Mendis speaks with Dr Marina Papoutsi (Research Associate), Dr Akshay Nair (Wolfson Clinical Fellow) and doctoral student Lauren Byrne, who are all based at The Huntington's Disease Centre at University College London. The focus of this podcast is on Huntington's disease (HD) - an inherited neurodegenerative disorder that causes changes in movement, learning, thinking, and emotions. In addition to hearing about the work the panel is doing to understand cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms of HD, including HD-linked dementia, we also learn how their research can be translated to other areas of dementia research and the different career paths that led them to HD research.

The practicalities and realities of doing qualitative research – ethics on the move

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast the panel discusses how we as early stage researchers are not always fully prepared for qualitative research and the ethical procedure. There are many challenges surrounding ethical qualitative work; yet, insights from such research are extremely valuable. What did they learn? Dr Lakshini Mendis talks with first time panellist Sarah Wallcook a Doctoral Student from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, and regular contributor Yvette Vermeer a PhD student and sociologist based at University College London both are part of the Interdisciplinary Network for Dementia Using Current Technology (INDUCT) Programme (something we also discuss).

International Frontotemporal Dementia Genomics Consortium

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Megan O’Hare talks with Dr Raffaele Ferrari a Junior Research Fellow from UCL and Dr Claudia Manzoni, Associate Research Fellow at the University of Reading. The panel are discussing their research and the work of the International Frontotemporal Dementia Genomics Consortium (IFGC). This exciting work is making great progress in understanding FTD, and for those listeners who don’t know, genomics is the branch of molecular biology concerned with the structure, function, evolution, and mapping of genomes – an important focus for dementia research, and particularly in FTD.

Research and Improving NHS Dementia Care

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 07:00:05 +0100

In this weeks podcast Megan Calvert-O'Hare talks to Emily Oliver and Naomi Gallant who are both Clinical Doctoral Research Fellows at the University of Southampton. Emily and Naomi discuss their research into NHS Dementia Care, which focuses mealtimes and relational care. They also discuss their work with the NIHR Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRCs) in Wessex, and how the organisation supports their work and research. There are around 450,000 people with a diagnosis of dementia, and when we further consider those with some form of cognitive impairment, the numbers are probably more than double that. When you consider that on average people with dementia have two of more co-morbidities, it’s should be no surprise that sadly there is a lot of time spent in and around hospitals, as both in-patients and out-patients.

Navigating Research Ethics

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Research that involves human subjects (also known as people), or even human tissue will often raise unique ethical, legal and social issues. Research ethics is specifically interested in the analysis of ethical issues that are raised when people are involved, and even the most experienced of researchers find the process of getting a favourable ethical opinion, valuable and frustrating! This week Megan O’Hare speaks with Yvette Vermeer a PhD student from UCL, James Fletcher a Teaching Fellow at King’s College and Danielle Wilson a Clinical Research Operational Manager at Oxford University Hospitals and also Vice Chair of your local research ethics panel. Discussing the challenges, benefits and giving tips and advice for Early Career Researchers navigating this process. There are three objectives in research ethics: 1. The first objective is to protect human participants. 2. The second is to ensure that research is conducted in a way that serves interests of individuals, groups and/or society as a whole. 3. Last of all, the third objective is to examine specific research activities and projects for their ethical soundness, looking at issues such as the management of risk, protection of confidentiality and the process of informed consent. To see more topics on ethics from our website visit https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/?s=ethics&submit=Go

2018 Roundup Christmas Special

Fri, 21 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to our Christmas Special End of Year Roundup - from the crammed Dementia Researcher archive, here are some of the best bits in a 2018 compilation, featuring choice nuggets from this year,

Time For Dementia Study

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Time for Dementia is an exciting, innovative and award-winning educational programme. Funded by Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex it provides undergraduate healthcare professionals with on-going, regular contact with a person with dementia and their carer, designed to create a new generation of healthcare professionals who are more aware and understanding of dementia Due to the success of the programme, Time for Dementia has been embedded as a mandatory part of the curriculum for 1st year nursing and paramedics students at the University of Surrey and 2nd year medical students @ Brighton and Sussex Medical School. In this podcast Dr Lakshini Mendis welcomes three guests to discuss the programme and its success: Dr Stephanie Daley, a clinical research fellow at the centre for dementia studies at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School – Stephanie works at the programme and evaluation lead for Time for Dementia programme Gina Sherlock, a research assistant on the Time for Dementia programme also at the centre for dementia studies Ellen Jones, a carer for her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia 9 years ago. Ellen and her mother were amongst the 1st cohort of families to be involved in Time for Dementia. If you know a family who might be interested in taking part in Time for Dementia, please contact the following number or email address for more information Telephone: 07713 779582 Timefordementia@alzhiemers.org.uk

Gender Equality in Research

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast we are discussing gender discrimination and the issues that researchers face, and how to raise what we know is a very challenging issue to talk when researchers face concerns about upsetting current or previous institutes that have employed them. We want to openly acknowledge the hurdles that need to be overcome in the pursuit of gender equality as well as the steps that institutions are putting in place to tackle this issue. We also looking at specific issues around paternal leave and being a parent in research and how this is a gendered issue. Understanding that women are conventionally viewed as the default primary care giver, and does this mean women can be seen as a 'poor investment' as an employee as they might take up to a year of leave, if they do are they perceived as being less committed to the field? In the chair we have Dr Aoife Kiely, Research Officer at Alzheimer’s Society and she is joined by: Dr Natalie Marchant – Natalie is an Alzheimer’s Society funded senior fellow based at UCL. Her research focuses on whether repetitive negative thinking increases cognitive debt and so, the risk of dementia. She is a mother of one and has recently returned to work following maternity leave Dr Frances Wiseman – Frances is a senior research fellow based at UCL. She holds an Alzheimer’s Society grant which funds a PhD student and is investigating the cause of Alzheimer’s disease in people who have Down syndrome. She is mum of two and married to a fellow academic. Dr Penny Rapaport - Penny is a clinical psychologist having worked clinically for a number of years with people with dementia in community, hospital and care home settings. Now working in applied health research developing interventions that are fit for purpose in the messy real world.

Impact of Patient and Public Involvement in Research

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0100

In this latest podcast we hear from a volunteer, researcher and charity working closely together to ensure that people affected by dementia are involved in every stage of research to maximise impact. We discuss the challenges of PPI and provide some practical advice to support you to work with volunteers in a mutually beneficial way. Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research is a philosophy whereby research is carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ people affected by the condition rather than ‘about’, ‘for’ or ‘to’ people. Over the past twenty years an increasing value has been placed on including the lived experience of patients and the public in research covering the full spectrum of basic science through to health services. Our panellists today all work for or are funded by Alzheimer’s Society - Anna-Louise Smith, Research Engagement Manager, Dr Kirsten Moore, UCL Senior Research Fellow and Jane Ward, Research Network Local Area Coordinator. Alzheimer’s Society has pioneered the active involvement of people affected by dementia through their award winning Research Network, since 1999. More recently, over the last year Alzheimer’s Society has been considering the evidence surrounding how it involves people affected by dementia in research and moving the conversation about PPI forward from ‘proving’ why it should be done to ‘improving’ how it can do it in partnership with researchers. For more information on Alzheimer's Society work on Patient and Public Involvement and to get involved visit: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/play-your-part-research/patient-and-public-involvement To see other content on this topic via our twitter feed #PPIImpact visit: https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PPIImpact&src=typd

Student Health and Wellbeing

Mon, 05 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Research, the discovery of new knowledge, has been described as an endless frontier. There will certainly be instances during a PhD and beyond when curiosity driven activity can indeed seem vast and relentless. It is critical that researchers at whatever stage in their career develop the capacity and capability to generate an appropriate perspective on what they are facing. Put simply, and starkly, doing research depends on being well. As such, an awareness on health and wellbeing is central, and getting the right support is key. In this podcast Oz Ismail from UCL is joined by Géraldine Garrabet a Student Support and Welfare Officer, from the School of Physics & Astronomy at University of Manchester, Dr Caroline Selai a Senior Lecturer from the UCL Institute of Neurology and finally Kellie Morrissey a Research Fellow working at the Open Lab in Newcastle University.

Part Two - What do researchers need to know, advice from people living with dementia

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast Adam Smith from University College London talks to Chris Roberts, Jayne Goodrick and Hilary Doxford. Three fantastic people who directly and indirectly live with the effects of dementia every days, and have spent many years, campaigning to improve dementia awareness and championing the importance of research. In this two part special filmed on location at University of Exeter Medical School, the panel give advice to early career researchers. Exploring their personal experiences as research participants, and what they would like to see done better.

Part One - What do researchers need to know, advice from people living with dementia

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Dealing with Failure and Impostor Syndrome

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100

We all have to deal with failure during our careers. But how do you handle it? In this podcast regular host Chris Hardy is joined by Charlotte Mykura from Swansea University, and Oz Ismail and Anna Volkmer both from University College London. Being a researcher can be incredibly rewarding. The potential to improve the lives of people with dementia, improve care, find new treatments or better understand the disease and its causes is amazing. However, a thick skin is useful. Dealing with rejection, and trying to not feel like an imposter are important things for us to learn. These are issues that come up time and time again, and not just during early careers, but even for the most senior of people. Failed experiments, rejected papers, unsuccessful grant applications are all part of the job, and event when we are successful we have to avoid feeling like impostors, and enjoy the success and the rewards. Finally, of course, we are using the term ‘failure’, however, we are know that failure is open to interpretation. Because we learn from our failures as much as we do successes.... can our panellists help?

Communication training for people with language led dementia (primary progressive aphasia)

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0100

This week we have a fantastic panel of speech and language therapists, who came to studio to discuss their research around communication training for people with language led dementia (primary progressive aphasia). This week, we have Dr Lakshini Mendis from the NIHR Office of the National Director for Dementia Research in the chair. Lakshini is joined by Rosemary Townsend, a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and Chief Executive of Dyscover, Aphasia Support Charity in Leatherhead Surrey. Oliver Sawyer, a Student Speech and Language Therapist, University College London, and finally, regular contributor and blogger for the Dementia Researcher website, Anna Volkmer, who is a NIHR doctoral research fellow and Speech and Language Therapist, also at University College London.

Mentoring

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0100

PhD students today face more challenges than most professors ever did. The supervisor has mentoring responsibilities beyond academic performance, including the student's well-being. But can does your mentoring have to only come from your supervisor or manager? And what if you have finished your PhD, where do you turn? And how can mentoring help, how do you find the right balance between supervision and mentoring, and how can that be applied to you and your career? In this weeks podcast Megan O’Hare talks with Dr Ivan Koychev and Dr Christoph Mueller from the University of Oxford about the challenges, benefits and practicalities of mentoring.

Echos around the home - helping people with PCA Dementia

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0100

People with dementia face many challenges to their independence as the condition progresses, often increasingly relying on their caregivers for tasks which had previously been simpler, such as managing appointments and shopping lists. Many studies are looking at how technology can help. In this podcast Emma Harding and Dr Nicholas Firth talking to Megan O'Hare, discussing their cutting edge research and how they researched the use of Amazon Echo and new technologies to help people living with Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA).

Things I wish I had known sooner

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Hindsight suffuses our working life, perhaps none more so than in research. Being as it is a process of discovery and learning of things we didn’t know. As such in many ways there will always be things we wish we’d known earlier. Today we would like to discuss whether the investigative process brings with it complexities and uncertainties that are universal, and can therefore be shared with others as a means to avoid similar pitfalls - as our panel explore 'Things they wish they had known sooner'. In the chair we have Dr Amy Monaghan from the Alzheimer’s Research Drug Discovery Unit at University College London. Amy is joined by Dr Deborah Oliviera from the University of Nottingham, Hanna Isotalus from University of Bristol and Dr Mark Dallas a Lecturer in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience at the University of Reading.

AAIC 2018 - Day Four

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0100

This is our fourth and final podcasts recorded on location at the Alzheimer Association International Conference (AAIC) in Chicago. Each day we have been bringing you news and information from our panellists who are all presenting and attending the world largest dementia conference. Adam Smith the Dementia Researcher website Programme Lead for the NIHR is again hosting and today is joined by Katy Stubbs from Alzheimer’s Research UK, Nicholas Firth from University College London and James Quinn from THE University of Manchester. The panel discuss their work, and today’s highlights, including the news from Biogen and Eisai over the exciting trial results of #BAN2401, how the Gut, sleep and environmental pollutants could be important in #dementia – and James talks about Tau. We hope you enjoyed these podcast, from #AAIC18 – our next podcast will be out on Monday 6th August, when we will resume our usual fortnightly schedule. Please subscribe to our feed and share with your colleagues and friends using #ECRDementia.

AAIC 2018 - Day Three

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0100

This is the third and penultimate of our podcasts recorded on location at the Alzheimer Association International Conference (AAIC) in Chicago. Each day we will be bringing you news and information from our panellists who are all presenting and attending the world largest dementia conference. Adam Smith the Dementia Researcher website Programme Lead for the NIHR is again hosting and today is joined by Oz Ismail (aka Birthday Boy) and Yolanda Ohene both PhD Students at University College London and Isabel Castanho a PhD Student at Exeter University Medical School. The panel discuss their own presentations, and just how much the brain is like a fantastic water park. We also discuss their highlights from the third day here at the AAIC, including sessions on ‘Microbiome and the brain’ and the latest research on the impact of circadian rhythms. Oz and Isabel also share their experiences as ISTAART volunteers, whilst also encouraging others to consider supporting AAIC19. Tune in again tomorrow for day four, and our next panel.

AAIC 2018 - Day One

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0100

This is the first of our podcasts recorded on location at the Alzheimer Association International Conference (AAIC) in Chicago. Each day we will be bringing you news and information from our panellists who are all presenting and attending the world largest dementia conference. Today’s podcast is hosted by our own programme lead Adam Smith, he is joined by Dr Aoife Kiely from the Alzheimer’s Society, Dr Jack Rivers-Auty from Manchester University and Riona McArdle a PhD student from Newcastle University. The panel discuss their own presentations, the exuberant opening ceremony performance by the Chicago Boyz acrobatic team @ChicagoBoyzTeam, the fantastic research by Lennart Mucke from the Glasdstone institute on ‘Aberent Network Activity in AD, and preclinical investigation to clinical trials’, and other presentations and posters that caught their eye (including some scepticism on beers value in preventing dementia, and ‘Plaque-Out’ a nutraceutical supplement drink claiming to reduce b-amaloid (yes that’s how they spelt it on their sign) plaque in up to 41% of patients. Tune in again tomorrow for day two, and our next panel.

AAIC 2018 - Day Two

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0100

This is the second of our podcasts recorded on location at the Alzheimer Association International Conference (AAIC) in Chicago. Each day we will be bringing you news and information from our panellists who are all presenting and attending the world largest dementia conference. Today’s podcast is again hosted by our own programme lead Adam Smith (he is hosting them all week), he is joined by Sarah Gregory a study coordinator for the EPAD and Prevent studies at the University of Edinburgh, Nika Seblova a PhD student working on the casual effects of education on life-course cognitive ability and dementia at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Ivanna Pavisic who is a PhD student at University College London focusing on different neurocognitive assessments. The panel discuss their own presentations, if Chicago Pizza is real pizza…and their highlights from the second fantastic day here at the AAIC, including sessions on ‘Multimodal strategies for dementia prevention’ and the ‘aging brain and the risk for Alzheimer’s disease’ by Denise C Park at the University of Texas. We also discuss the effects of television on cognition and the fantastic ISTAART breakfast session by the Alliance of Women Alzheimer’s Researchers also known as AWARE discussing mentorship Tune in again tomorrow for day three, and our next panel.

Working and studying in the UK

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0100

This week we will be looking at ‘Working and studying in the UK. In the chair we have Dr Amy Monaghan from the Alzheimer’s Research Drug Discovery Unit at University College London. Amy is joined by Dr Deborah Oliviera from the University of Nottingham, Hanna Isotalus from University of Bristol and Raysa El Zein from Bournemouth University. All our panellists have made the leap to leave their home countries (Brazil, Lebanon and Finland) to live, study and work in the UK. Making a massive contribution to research here in the UK. Working abroad and travelling can be exciting, if a little scary. It's a big decision, but one which can be exciting and rewarding. But what is a really like? What should I think about? What challenges might you face? These hurdles may be the different infrastructures that provide grants and funding through to overcoming cultural issues a complex set of language barriers. Our panel today are all early career researchers from around the world. In this podcast we discuss their stories and what advice they might have for others thinking of following in the same path (not just to study in the UK but other countries too).

Creating award winning posters

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0100

A conference poster can be an effective networking tool, and an effective way to to articulately communicate your research. Sadly, too many posters fail to be really engaging, and turn into a mess of unintelligible data. With our panellists today we hope to offer guidance on how to produce a fantastic award winning conference poster, thinking about the abstract, scripting, concept, design, and logistics. In this podcast we welcome new host Francesa La Frenais, PhD Student from University College London. Frankie is joined by a panel of poster award winning Early Career Researchers, Dr Claire Durrant a Post Doc Researcher from University of Cambridge, Dr Aoife Kiely who works as a Research Communications Officer at Alzheimer’s Society and Physicist and PhD Student Yolanda Ohene also at University College London.

Improving Care & Support for People with Dementia

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0100

In this podcast Megan Calvert-O'Hare interviews Alys Griffiths, Rachael Kelley and Cara Sass from the Centre for Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett University. Research Fellows Alys and Rachael and PhD student Cara all work on studies aimed Improving Care & Support for People with Dementia. In podcast they talk about their most recent studies, including looking at the impact of sports-based reminiscence for men with dementia, the experiences of people receiving hospital based cancer treatment or residential care whilst living with comorbid cancer and dementia, and evaluating the impact of an 8-week carers training programme on health and well-being. They also discuss recently completed projects include the EPIC trial, which evaluated the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Dementia Care Mapping in care homes, the What Works? study, which explored effective ingredients to dementia training and education for the UK health and social care workforce, and an ethnographic study of the involvement of families in the hospital care of people with dementia. In 2013 the James Lind Alliance and Alzheimer’s Society undertook a priority setting partnership. Essentially, this is a big survey to discover what people feel future research priorities should be. You might may or may not be surprised to hear that 9 out of the top 10 were related to care… here are the top three: 1. What are the most effective components of care that keep a person with dementia as independent as they can be at all stages of the disease in all care settings? 2. How can the best ways to care for people with dementia, including results from research findings, be effectively disseminated and implemented into care practice? 3. What is the impact of an early diagnosis of dementia and how can primary care support a more effective route to diagnosis? Highlighting the importance of care research, and the contribution these three Early Career Researchers are having with their work.

Managing family life and research career

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0100

This weeks podcast is chaired by Dr Jo Barnes from University College London. Jo is joined by Dr Gemma Lace-Costigan from University of Salford, Dr Tammaryn Lashley from UCL and Dr Angelique Mavrodaris from University of Cambridge. ‘Work life balance’.... When that work is research, it brings with it an added layer of complexity. The way research posts are funded and delivered can make the decision to start a family or even have a 'life' difficult (assuming it’s a conscious decision, rather than a happy curve ball that life threw your way, and assuming you make it through the dreaded PhD years). Keeping the plates spinning is a challenge. Combine family and home life with the demands of the research process itself, and the funding, and it isn’t surprising to hear that career can impinge on family life too. So like all busy mums and dads, we find creative ways to manage, not just our time but the resonance that engaging in research can have on our way of living. And when you get the balance right… its fantastically rewarding. Our panel talk about their experiences, and share some top tips for those working in the field.

Research outside the NHS setting

Mon, 28 May 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Research occurs in a range of arenas, and places not all of which are clinical, or in an NHS setting. Sometimes the research itself may be about the environmental or geographical setting, or the care and impact by that place. Or it may just be the best and easiest way and best to engage with the participants are involved in the study. We know that dementia research is changing. Care, support, activity and environment are finally getting the much needed profile, and being seen as important as new drugs and other areas of science. This means we have to be prepared. An awareness for the context and settings of research and the subsequent application of results is vital. As more ECRs focus on research in these areas, understanding the differences in setting up, delivering and engaging with people in care homes, or in their own sitting rooms is important. We hope the panel in this weeks podcast can help. In the chair we have Megan Calvert-O'Hare from University College London and this week she is joined by Dr Catherine Quinn from the University of Exeter, Suzanne Hill from Bradford University and Charlotte Stoner also from UCL.

Getting funding and grant writing

Mon, 14 May 2018 00:00:00 +0100

In this Podcast, Chris Hardy from University College London chats to panellists Professor Simon Mead, Dr Adeel Razi also from UCL, and Dr David Llewellyn from Exeter University Medical School. Finding funding and grant writing is a much needed skill, and one that will be useful throughout your research career. There will be highs and lows. The need for insight, compelling argument and the hope of a novel outcome forms the basis for such applications. Finding the write funding call, and crafting a perfect application can be challenging, our panellists, have been on both sides of the process - writing applications, and as members of a grant review board. In this podcast our panel chat around the subject, sharing advice that will help any Early Career Researcher.

Collaborative work in non-cognitive aspects of Alzheimer's disease

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0100

In this weeks podcast we will look at how research has evolved quite considerably from the days of single author papers to exciting collaborations between researchers in different institutions bringing their own skills to the table. The discussion is chaired by Dr Megan O'Hare and on the panel we have Dr James Dachtler from Durham University, Dr Eleftheria Pervolaraki from the University of Leeds and Dr Stephen Hall from the University of York. You can find a transcript of this podcast on our website - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/collaborative-work-in-non-cognitive-aspects-of-alzheimers-disease/

How to choose a postdoc, and find the right PhD

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0100

It's a big decision isn't it? In this podcast we hope our panel can help you decide. Identifying an area of interest in working life, requires not only an awareness of where our own curiosity resides, but also an appreciation of the reality in which we can explore it. As such there is a certain degree of pragmatism in matching imaginative possibilities with practical actualities - and that includes finding funding, appropriate supervision, and location. In this weeks podcast our panel is chaired by Dr Charlotte Stoner, Research Associate from University College London. On the panel we have Christopher Madan from University of Nottingham, Angelique Mavrodaris a Clinical Research Fellow and Consultant in Public Health Medicine in Cambridge and Suzanne Hill a PhD student at University of Bradford. You can find a transcript of this podcast on our website - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/how-to-choose-a-postdoc-and-phd/

Discussing the MARQUE Study - Managing Agitation in Dementia

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0100

For many years people with dementia have been prescribed anti-psychotic drugs to manage challenging behaviours and agitation. Even today the reliance on this medication is too high, however, attitudes have changed, and over the past 5 years or more there had been a drive to reduce the use of these medications. However, that left the question of ‘what’s the alternative’ this is where studies like MARQUE are so vitally important. In this podcast Francesca La Frenais, and Dr Penny Rapaport from the Division of Psychiatry at UCL talk about the MARQUE Study, and how their work is helping us to understand what causes agitation and how the interventions tested in this study are improving quality of life for those living with dementia, and helping carers. You can find a transcript of this podcast on our website - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/discussing-the-marque-study/

Managing & fostering good relations with PhD supervisors

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Working life is inherently relational and in the case of doing a PhD, a specific and unique relation is that with your mentor or supervisor. Mutually nurturing this relationship, is key to success, or is it? In this weeks podcast, our panel explore how they have worked with, and managed their relationships with supervisors. How this develops over time, how you ensure your research is your own and their tips for success. This weeks host is Chris Hardy a Clinical neuroscience and Postdoc from University College London and the panellists are Jacki Stansfield a PhD working also at UCL, Robyn Dowlen, PhD Student at The University of Manchester and finally Lisa Thorpe a PhD Student, University of Chester. (Needless to say, they all have perfect relationships with their supervisors) Please share our podcasts using #ECRDementia and visit our website www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk where you will find lots of information and support for Early Career Dementia Researchers. You can find a transcript of this podcast on our website - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/managing-and-fostering-good-relations-with-phd-supervisors/

Working with people with dementia and their carers

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0100

In podcast #2 from dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk we have a great panel line up, talking about 'Working with people with dementia and their carers'. The people behind the disease are at the centre of what we do as dementia researchers. Biomedical research often involves directly working with patients and carers. This offers a fantastic opportunity and some unique challenges. In this recording Amy Monaghan talks to Timothy Rittman from University of Cambridge and Addenbrookes Hospital, Kellie Morrissey from the Open Lab at Newcastle University and Yvette Vermee from the Department of Psychiatry at University College London. We hear how these three individuals work with people with dementia, how this benefits their work, how to prepare, and how to approach working with individuals challenged by their symptoms. You can find a transcript of this podcast on our website - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/working-with-people-with-dementia-and-their-careers/

Managing a clinical and research career

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0100

The first podcast brought to you by dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk a new website for early career researchers - everything you need, all in one place. This week’s title is 'Managing a clinical and research career - The life of a clinical academic is a constant balancing act between the demands of delivering patient care and the requirement of driving research relevant to that. Although they are complimentary, there is often a gap between basic science and clinical application to be traversed. In this recording Amy Monaghan talks to Timothy Rittman from University of Cambridge and Addenbrookes Hospital and Ione Woollacott and Akin Nihat from University College London and University College London Hospitals. We hear how these three individuals meet this challenge, and what advice they might have for others. Here are a few useful links referenced in todays recording: www.twitter.com/hashtag/cvoffailures?lang=en https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/136472-what-is-slack-and-how-does-it-work https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/kirsty-marrins-use-slack-internal-communications/digital/article/1404584 You can find a transcript of this podcast on our website - https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/managing-a-clinical-and-researcher-career/