Dementia Researcher Blogs

Martin Robertson - My Experience as a Co-Researcher

Martin Robertson narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Martin shares his personal journey as a Co-Researcher following his diagnosis with Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), a rare form of dementia. He reflects on how the shift to online work during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed him to stay active and engaged in research, which his neurologist believes has slowed the progression of his condition. Drawing on his past professional experiences in benefit fraud and personal care, Martin highlights the transferable skills that have helped him thrive in academic settings. Despite his cognitive challenges, he values the sense of empowerment and teamwork that co-research provides, allowing him to contribute meaningfully while managing his condition.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-my-experience-as-a-co-researcher/
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Martin Robertson is a lived experience researcher living in Scotland. He has been involved in a number of research projects and is passionate about co-production and public voice in research since his diagnosis with Posterior Cortical Atrophy, in 2016 aged 57
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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.
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Adam Smith - Making Friends When You're the Newcomer

Adam Smith narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Adam's blog, explores the challenges of forming new connections as an adult in unfamiliar environments, such as new workplaces or countries. He offers practical advice on how to start small by greeting others, showing up to social events, asking questions, and finding common interests. Adam emphasises patience, open-mindedness, and the importance of following up with people to maintain connections. The blog encourages readers to embrace the awkwardness and take proactive steps in building meaningful friendships.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-making-friends-when-youre-the-newcomer/
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Adam Smith was born in the north, a long time ago. He wanted to write books, but ended up working in the NHS, and at the Department of Health.  He is now Programme Director in the Office of the NIHR National Director for Dementia Research (which probably sounds more important than it is) at University College London. He has led a number of initiatives to improve dementia research (including this website, Join Dementia Research & ENRICH), as well as pursuing his own research interests. In his spare time, he grows vegetables, builds Lego & spends most of his time drinking too much coffee and squeezing technology into his house.
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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.
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Rebecca Williams - The Joys of Academia (Seriously)

Rebecca Williams, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Rebecca shares her reflections on the highs and lows of academic life. She acknowledges the challenges, such as long days, coding frustrations, and balancing work-life responsibilities, but emphasises her passion for research and problem-solving. Rebecca highlights the excitement of working in a field as unique as computational neuroscience, the supportive academic community, and the flexibility of her work. Her blog serves as a reminder of the rewarding aspects of academia, even amidst its struggles.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-joys-of-academia-seriously/--
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.
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Dr Jodi Watt - Inequity in dementia drug development

Dr Jodi Watt, narrating a new blog they wrote for the Dementia Researcher website.Discover the disparities in dementia drug development in Dr Jodi Watt's latest blog. As a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Glasgow, Jodi discusses the urgent need for more inclusive research that considers the diverse populations affected by dementia. Learn about the biases in clinical trials and the potential of drug repurposing, and why it's crucial to develop treatments that cater to all individuals, not just a select few. This blog is a must-read for anyone interested in equitable advancements in dementia care.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-inequity-in-dementia-drug-development/
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Dr Jodi Watt is a Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Glasgow. Jodi's academic interests are in both healthy ageing and neurodegenerative diseases of older age, and they are currently working on drug repurposing for dementia. Previously they worked on understanding structural, metabolic and physiological brain changes with age, as measured using magnetic resonance imaging. As a queer and neurodiverse person, Jodi is also incredibly interested in improving diversity and inclusion practices both within and outside of the academic context.
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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.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
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Dr Clíona Farrell - Communicating your science effectively: know your audience

Dr Clíona Farrell, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Clíona discusses the importance of understanding your audience in effective science communication. She emphasises that communicating scientific research requires tailoring the content and presentation style to different audiences, whether they are laypeople, students, or individuals with specific needs. Through various examples from her experiences, she highlights the importance of engaging the audience by relating scientific findings to broader, more relatable contexts and ensuring accessibility in both language and format. This blog underscores the significance of being well-prepared, respectful, and aware of current developments in the field to facilitate meaningful engagement and avoid alienating the audience.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-communicating-your-science-effectively-know-your-audience/
#DementiaResearch #DownSyndrome #ScienceCommunications
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Dr Clíona Farrell is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London. Her work focuses on understanding neuroinflammation in Down syndrome, both prior to, and in response to, Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Clíona completed her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience in Trinity College, and then worked as a research assistant in the Royal College of Surgeons studying ALS and Parkinson’s disease. She also knows the secret behind scopping the perfect 99 ice-cream cone. @ClionaFarrell_--
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.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
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Dr Lis Grey - Think BIG, Moving from the Individual to the Population

Dr Lis Grey, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
In this blog Lis discusses the limitations of individual-level interventions in preventing chronic diseases, including dementias. While recent advances in identifying biomarkers and understanding the genetic basis of dementias are promising, the Lis argues that focusing solely on individual interventions, such as health checks and behavioural support, has limited success in reducing health risks and can exacerbate stigma. Instead she advocates for a broader, population-level approach that addresses social determinants of health, such as poverty and pollution, to achieve more substantial and equitable health outcomes. They call for a shift in research and policy focus towards these upstream changes to effectively prevent dementia and other chronic diseases.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-think-big-moving-from-the-individual-to-the-population/#DementiaResearch
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Dr Lis Grey is an NIHR / Alzheimer's Society Dem Comm Research Fellow at University of Bristol and NIHR ARC West. Her interest lie in understanding how people with neurodegenerative disorders experience health and care services, and developing ways to improve services and support people to live well with these conditions. Lis is also passionate about working to improve research culture, and away from her work, a passionate gardner overly-ambitious baker. Connect with Lis on LinkedIn.
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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.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
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Emily Spencer - Pain, Perception, and Childbirth: Can a Woman be Believed?

Emily Spencer, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
In her blog, Emily explores the often-dismissive attitudes towards women's pain during childbirth, highlighting her own experience of being repeatedly told she wasn’t in labour despite severe contractions. Emily draws a powerful parallel between this dismissal and the experiences of people with dementia, who are often not believed or understood due to communication barriers and assumptions about their cognitive state. Through her story, she sheds light on the broader issue of medical misogyny and the importance of listening to and validating all patients' experiences.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-pain-perception-and-childbirth-can-a-woman-be-believed/
#DementiaResearch #AcademicMother #Academia #MaternityLeave #Research
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Emily Spencer is a PhD Student at University College London looking at improving how GPs communicate with people with dementia and their family carers about their future care. Emily previous had a 5 year career break to pursue a career as a musician, and has previously undertaken research on improving the care people with dementia receive from their GP practice, as well as end-of-life and palliative care provision in the community. Emily is also a new mum and will be writing about her experiences navigating motherhood and a research career.
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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.
--
Follow us on Social Media:
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Dr Martyna Matuszyk - Alzheimer’s Society invests £9m in Doctoral Training Centres

Dr Martyna Matuszyk, narrates her article written for Dementia Researcher.Martyna shares news that the Alzheimer’s Society is investing over £9 million in three Doctoral Training Centres to support early career researchers in dementia research. This funding aims to nurture a new generation of scientists by providing world-class training and resources, encouraging innovative ideas, and building sustainable research capacity. The centres will focus on specific areas, such as vascular and immune contributors to dementia, Lewy body dementia, and integrated dementia care, to advance understanding and treatment of dementia, ultimately leading to life-changing breakthroughs for those affected by the condition.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/alzheimers-society-invests-9m-in-doctoral-training-centres/
#DementiaResearch 
Note: The DTC's will start to advertised funded studentship opportunities from September 2024, keep an eye on Dementia Researcher job listings.
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Dr Martyna Matuszyk is a former postdoc from The University of Sheffield where she worked on Alzheimer’s disease and ALS. Martyna is now Research Communications Officer at Alzheimer’s Society. Her main role involves communicating dementia research to the wider public through various outlets. She is also a research spokesperson for the charity, so you might hear her voice on local radios when big dementia stories hit the news!
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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 the NIHR, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
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Dr Ayokunmi Ojebode - Poetic Tales from Dementia Wards

Dr Ayokunmi Ojebode, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In his guest blog Ayokunmi, examines the intersection of poetry and dementia care. Drawing from his extensive experience as a creative writer, scholar, and dementia care worker, Ayokunmi shares some of his own work and discusses how poetry serves as a powerful medium for expressing the complex emotions and experiences of individuals living with dementia. He highlights the therapeutic value of poetry in supporting the well-being of both patients, people living with dementia and caregivers, while also advocating for greater recognition of the personhood and dignity of those affected by dementia.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-poetic-tales-from-dementia-wards/
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Dr Ayokunmi Ojebode is a creative writer, lecturer and researcher with eight years of experience as a university faculty. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of English, University of Nottingham and a Member of the Institute of Mental Health Nottingham. He is also a Bank Mental Health Support Worker with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and has worked across different care homes and hospitals in the East Midlands. He is a Volunteer Call Companion for the Alzheimer’s Society, a Focus Group participant for the Alzheimer’s Society’s Companionship Project and a Lead Social Media and Community Strategist for Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), providing care and expert counsel for people with dementia and their carers through telephone service, community and digital engagements. Dr Ojebode is a dynamic researcher with a track record in the field of Dementia, Arts and Poetry.
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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 the NIHR, 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/
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