Browse our blog for an insight into the vital work our researchers are doing to tackle dementia. We also explain more about the different types, symptoms and risk factors of dementia, busting the jargon and offering helpful tips and advice.
Exploring Great Minds
18 May 2023
In this enlightening blog post, we delve into the world of the Great Minds initiative, a valuable resource for dementia research. Dr. Ivan Koychev shares his insights about this project.
Art workshops find beautiful brains
20 April 2023
How art workshops have engaged African and Caribbean communities about how awesome the brain can be - even as we age.
Data curation in scientific research: how does data curation work at DPUK?
Discover how DPUK uses data curation to make information accessed via our Data Portal efficient for researchers studying dementia.
In conversation: Postdoctoral researcher Gaurav Bhalerao talks about the significance of neuroimaging studies
Gaurav Bhalerao is a postdoctoral researcher currently working in the Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) project. His research interests include neuroimaging in psychiatry, machine learning, and computational modelling of brain stimulation. In this one-on-one discussion, he takes time to go into greater depth on specific aspects of his research work in imaging studies.
Exercise alters brain chemistry and prevents dementia - here’s how
We’ve all heard that exercise is good for us, mainly how it strengthens our body and helps us prevent diseases. But many people don’t know about the other important benefits of exercise – that it can help in reducing ageing too.
What are biomarkers and why are they important in dementia research?
Recent advances in blood-based biomarkers have led to headlines about potential blood tests for diseases such as Alzheimer’s. In this blog post, we explore how researchers can use biomarkers to see dementia-related changes in the brain, track disease onset and progression, and test the effectiveness of promising drugs and potential treatments.
We did it! Team DPUK hikes 26 miles for dementia research
26 September 2022
On Saturday 24 September 2022, five members of team DPUK hiked 26 miles in the Peak District to raise money for Alzheimer's Research UK.
DPUK researcher picks ‘top 5’ highlights of AAIC dementia research conference
Last month, dementia researchers from around the world flocked to San Diego for the latest edition of the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) – the world’s biggest dementia research conference. Among the attendees was Dr Ludovica Griffanti, an Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellow at Oxford University who co-leads DPUK’s imaging pipelines project. On World Alzheimer’s Day 2022, Dr Griffanti picks out some of her highlights from the packed conference programme.
Early-career focus: Melek Karadag-Assem
Melek Karadag-Assem is a research assistant on the DPUK-funded New Therapeutics in Alzheimer’s Disease (NTAD) and Synaptic Health in Neurodegeneration (SHINE) studies, based at the University of Cambridge. On World Alzheimer’s Day 2022, we spoke to Melek about her background, her work on NTAD and SHINE, and her plans for the future.
A trip for brain health: can travel therapy offer an innovative treatment for dementia?
We’ve all heard of music and art therapies as an effective treatment method for mental health disorders. But what about travel therapy? A study suggests that this new remedy could have a positive impact on mental wellbeing – particularly for people with dementia.
What effect does sleep have on dementia?
Research shows that lack of sleep could raise your chances of developing dementia. Find out more about the links between sleep and dementia in our latest blog post.
Progressive supranuclear palsy: a condition causing movement issues and dementia
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a condition that causes symptoms relating to movement, especially eye movement, as well as dementia. Although people with PSP experience dementia, skills like decision-making, organisation and concentration are more impaired than memory. Read this blog post to find out more about this rare type of dementia.
Dementia and hearing aid use: investigating the barriers
29 June 2022
Bailey Filer is a summer research assistant at DPUK. Read about her project exploring how to reduce dementia risk by promoting the use of hearing aids to correct hearing loss.
Dementia decoded: brain scans
There are several different ways to generate detailed images of the brain in a living human, each of which requires a specialised type of brain scanner. As technology advances, machines are developed that can even combine multiple types of scan in one. Learn about the different brain scanners that exist and how they work in this blog post.
'Aspirin man': celebrating the career of Professor Peter Elwood
9 June 2022
Well-wishers from DPUK and beyond came together to celebrate the career of eminent epidemiologist Professor Peter Elwood.
Neuroinflammation: does the brain’s immune system hold the key to treating dementia?
When the body’s immune system is activated – by anything from bacteria to toxic chemicals – it releases certain cells that trigger inflammation. This is the cause of the swelling, redness and pain that appear when you damage your skin. A similar process called neuroinflammation occurs beneath the skin when something threatens to damage the brain. There is a growing collection of evidence that neuroinflammation may play an important role in the progression of dementia.
Dementia Action Week 2022: Diagnosis
The theme of this year's Dementia Action Week is diagnosis, highlighting the importance of diagnosing dementia. To contribute to the discussion, we shared the following content on our Twitter account throughout the week.