Dementia Researcher Blogs

Dr Gaia Brezzo - Beyond the manuscript: disentangling academic authorship

Dr Gaia Brezzo narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In this blog Gaia shares what she has learned to help manage the complexities of academic authorship, highlighting its importance for both early career researchers and principal investigators. She outlines the roles of first, last, and co-authors, and advises on handling the often grey areas in contribution recognition.
Emphasising the need for open communication, Gaia provides tips for avoiding disputes and stresses the importance of trust and equitable recognition in academic collaborations.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-beyond-the-manuscript-disentangling-academic-authorship/
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Dr Gaia Brezzo is a Research Fellow based within 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. Raised in Italy, Gaia came to the UK to complete her undergraduate degree, and thankfully, stuck around. Gaia writes about her work and career challenges, when not biking her way up and down hills in Edinburgh. Follow Gaia on Twitter: @Gaia_Brezzo
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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.

Dr Connor Richardson - Population Studies, Examples of how they are helping

Dr Connor Richardson narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Connor is back with part two of his blogs discussing population research. In this post Connor highlights key findings from the UK-based Cognitive Function and Ageing Studies (CFAS). He reports a surprising decrease in dementia prevalence among individuals aged 65 and above, especially attributing the decline to better cardiovascular health in men. Connor also touches on the complexities of diagnosing Mild Cognitive Impairment and delves into the varied neuropathologies associated with dementia, underlining the value of population studies for a holistic understanding of the condition.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-population-studies-examples-of-how-they-are-helping/
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Dr Connor Richardson is a Neuro-epidemiology Research Associate (soon to be NIHR Research Fellow) in the Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute. Connor is the research statistician for the Cognitive Function and Ageing studies (CFAS) multi-centre population cohort. His research interest lies in using advanced statistical modelling and machine learning to measure dementia risk. Connor blogs about his research, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and sometimes his Pomapoo’s.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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.

Dr Vitor Zimmerer - Sharing Time and Brain Space

Dr Vitor Zimmerer, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In this blog Vitor reflects on how parenthood affects his career in UK academia. He shares his deep love for his two sons while acknowledging the challenges of balancing parenthood with the demanding nature of academic research. Vitor discusses the pressure to maximise work hours and adapt to structured time management. He also highlights the additional complexities of parenting a child with special needs and comments on the conflicting aspects of the UK as a place to raise a family. Despite these challenges, he remains hopeful for societal improvements and dedicates this blog to his children and friends, emphasising the love that motivates him to navigate this balance between family and academia.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-sharing-time-and-brain-space/
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Dr Vitor Zimmerer is a Lecturer  is the Department of Language and Cognition, University College London. Vitor studied linguistics at Heinrich-Heine-University in Düsseldorf, and has a PhD in Human Communication Sciences from the University of Sheffield. He is very interested in the effects of neurological damage and atypical development on language and study a range of populations including dementia and aphasia, also how language can be used as a marker of cognitive change.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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.

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali - Barriers to Innovation and what this means for dementia research

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Explore a realm of scientific innovation and the challenges it faces. In this blog Kamar delves into scientists' resistance to new methods in dementia research, dissecting funding biases and cultural inertia that hinder progress. Discover the push for an open-minded approach to revolutionise scientific exploration and advance dementia research.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-barriers-to-innovation-what-it-means-for-dementia-research/
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Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali is a Lecturer in Biomedical Science at Teesside University & Affiliate Researcher at Glasgow University. In addition to teaching, Kamar is exploring how neuroinflammation following traumatic brain injury contributes to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases that lead to dementia. Having first pursued a career as an NHS Psychologist, Kamar went back to University in Durham to look at rodent behavioural tasks to completed her PhD, and then worked as a regional Programme Manager for NC3Rs.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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.

Ajantha Abey - How Dogs Are Helping Us Understand And Solve Dementia

Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Immerse yourself in the world of canine companions and their essential role in decoding the enigmas of dementia through the enlightening blog. In this blog Ajantha sheds light on the compelling connections between dogs and humans in the realm of dementia research. Learn how dogs, naturally encountering a dementia-like condition, provide an authentic and insightful perspective into the intricate complexities of the disease, serving as a vital bridge between scientific exploration and therapeutic advancements. From groundbreaking stem cell therapies to expansive projects delving into aging and dementia, this blog showcases the exceptional potential of our four-legged allies in advancing our understanding of dementia. Join us in acknowledging their unique contributions and envisage a future where dogs guide us in conquering one of humanity's most formidable challenges.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-how-dogs-are-helping-us-understand-and-solve/
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Ajantha Abey is a PhD student in the Kavli Institute at University of Oxford. He is interested in the cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases of the ageing brain. Previously, having previoulsy explored neuropathology in dogs with dementia and potential stem cell replacement therapies. He now uses induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons to try and model selective neuronal vulnerability: the phenomenon where some cells die but others remain resilient to neurodegenerative diseases.
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Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk
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.

Introducing Dementia Researcher: The Blogs Podcast

Welcome to the Dementia Research Blogs Podcast – the feed that helps you keep on top of our blogs when you’re on the move, or would just rather listen than read.
Read the blogs and meet the writers on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk and don't forget to subscribe to our main Dementia Researcher Podcast at https://podfollow.com/dementia-researcher.

Rebecca Williams - Self-Report: It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it

Rebecca Williams, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
In this blog Rebecca talks about the complexities of self-report scales in psychological research. She highlights the common tendency to adopt careless response strategies when completing lengthy questionnaires and discusses the trust placed in participants' meaningful engagement. Rebecca focuses on patients with frontotemporal degeneration-related syndromes, where behavioural symptoms and clinical motivation impact responses. Her study examines unique response strategies, revealing that patients often exhibit invariant, patterned, and internally inconsistent responses. These strategies even predict cognitive factors beyond the scale's intent. Rebecca calls for cautious interpretation of self-report measures, advocating for thorough assumption checks and tailored approaches for specific groups. 
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-self-report-its-not-what-you-say-its-how-you-say-it/
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Rebecca Williams is PhD student at the University of Cambridge. Though originally from ‘up North’ in a small town called Leigh, she did her undergraduate and masters at the University of Oxford before defecting to Cambridge for her doctorate researching Frontotemporal dementia and Apathy. She now spends her days collecting data from wonderful volunteers, and coding. Outside work, she plays board games, and is very crafty. @beccasue99
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
 
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.

Dr Sam Moxon - How to Prepare a Keynote Talk

Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In this blog Sam shares insights on successfully delivering a keynote presentation. He discusses the significance of milestones in academia, particularly receiving an authentic (authentic being an important word there) invitation to give a keynote talk. Sam offers six key tips for preparing a captivating and engaging keynote talk, emphasising the importance of audience engagement, storytelling, strong openings, audience understanding, visual appeal, and impactful conclusions. Remember... a well-crafted keynote talk can leave a lasting impression on the audience and become a highlight of a conference.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-how-to-prepare-a-keynote-talk/
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Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials Research Fellow at University of Birmingham. His expertise falls on the interface between biology and engineering. His PhD focussed on regenerative medicine and he now works on trying to develop 3D bioprinting techniques with human stem cells, so that we better understand and treat degenerative diseases. Outside of the lab he hikes through the Lake District and is an expert on all things Disney.
Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk
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.

Dr Yvonne Couch - Organ-On-Chip and Organoid Technologies

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Yvonne provides a comprehensive overview of Organ-On-Chip and Organoid Technologies. Focusing on her work with blood-brain barrier cells, she explains their growth in 3D using innovative devices. She delves into the history of these techniques, their relevance to dementia research, and the evolution of cell culture. She highlights microfluidics' impact, introducing the concept of "organ-on-chip," and touches on recent breakthroughs in organoid research. Her blog encourages researchers to consider cellular interactions and leverage these tools for transformative insights.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-organ-on-chip-and-organoid-technologies/
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Dr Yvonne Couch is an Alzheimer's Research UK Fellow and Associate Professor at the University of Oxford. Yvonne studies the role of extracellular vesicles and their role in changing the function of the vasculature after stroke, aiming to discover why the prevalence of dementia after stroke is three times higher than the average. It is her passion for problem solving and love of science that drives her, in advancing our knowledge of disease. Yvonne writes about her work, academic life, and careers as she takes a new road into independent research @dr_yvonne_couch
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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.