About Join Dementia Research
Join Dementia Research is run by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, Alzheimer’s Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society. The nationwide initiative makes it easy for people to take part in important dementia research studies. Whether you have dementia or memory problems, care for someone who does, or are simply interested in contributing to research, you can sign up and get involved.
Why Research is Important
Every 3 minutes someone in the UK develops dementia.
The only way to improve diagnosis, treatment and care is through research.
Dementia is one of the biggest health challenges we face today. Around 944,000 people are currently living with dementia in the UK. This is estimated to increase to more than 1 million by 2030 and to 1.4 million by 2040. Research offers hope. It is only through research that we can understand what causes the disease, develop effective treatments, improve care and hopefully one day find a cure. But for research to progress we need more people to take part in more studies. Our knowledge of dementia currently lags behind that of other major conditions, such as cancer or heart disease. We have to close this gap.
How to get Involved with Research
Through Join Dementia Research, people can see what dementia research is taking place, both in their local area and across the UK.
The service connects researchers with people who want to participate in studies. You will receive a notification and can choose whether or not to proceed. There is no obligation to take part in any of the studies you are matched to.
Taking part in a research study can take many forms. Examples include studies looking at prevention or new ways to diagnose the condition; drug studies trialling new treatments; and surveys aiming to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and/or their carers.
The different types of studies that recruit through Join Dementia Research include:
- Brain scans
- Drug/medication trials
- Focus groups
- Lifestyle programmes
- Online and offline questionnaires
- Physical tests/assessment
- Talking Therapies
- Thinking and memory tests
To learn more or to sign up, please visit: https://www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk
