Dementia Researcher Blogs

Nathan Stephens - Physical Activity & Dementia: increasing opportunities and reducing inequalities

Nathan Stephens narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In this blog, Nathan provides a brief introduction to the evidence base on physical activity and dementia, suggesting that action on increasing participation in physical activity is a political mandate. He also includes his experiences of developing and evaluating an intervention to increase opportunities for people affected by dementia to participate in physical activity.  
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-physical-activity-dementia/
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Nathan Stephens is a PhD Student and unpaid carer, working on his PhD at University of Worcester, studying the Worcestershire Meeting Centres Community Support Programme. Inspired by caring for both grandparents and personal experience of dementia, Nathan has gone from a BSc in Sports & Physical Education, an MSc in Public Health, and now working on his PhD.
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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 Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Beth Eyre - Why should you apply to be an ISTAART Ambassador?

Beth Eyre narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Beth has written a few blogs about opportunities outside of your research, and how they can benefit you. Having recently taken up the role of ISTAART Ambassador, and how this has been one of the best things she has undertaken outside her PhD. To make sure you're aware of the benefits, Beth has dedicated this blog to share the good news to try and ensure as many of you hear about it as possible, so that you can apply and hopefully have an amazing experience. 
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-why-should-you-apply-to-be-an-istaart-ambassador/
We're always on the look out for new contributors, if you would like to write and narrate your own blog - drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk
Don't forget to also listen to our fortnightly - published fortnightly, just look for Dementia Researcher in your podcast app.
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Beth Eyre is a PhD Student at The University of Sheffield, researching Neurovascular and cognitive function in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. Beth has a background in psychology, where she gained her degree from the University of Leeds. Inside and outside the lab, Beth loves sharing her science and we are delighted to have her contributing as a regular blogger with Dementia Researcher, sharing her work and discussing her career. 
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This podcast is brought to you from University College London in association with the National Institute for Health Research, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk  

Hannah Hussain - Medicines Management in Dementia

Hannah Hussain narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Hannah recently collaborated with Dementia UK to produce digital content for their website and practice development team. This provides ongoing learning and development for Admiral nurses nationally, a group of people who provide essential support on medicines managment.
What is medicines management?
A term defined by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as: “The clinical, cost-effective and safe use of medicines to ensure patients get the maximum benefit from the medicines they need, while at the same time minimising potential harm.” Also referred to as medicines optimisation, medicines management has been defined as a "system of processes and behaviours that determine how medicines are used by the NHS and patients" (National Prescribing Centre 2002).
The ultimate goal of safe and effective medicines management is to optimise the benefits that treatment offers and attain the best outcome for each patient - people with Alzheimer's disease may take medicines to treat the disease itself, mood or behavior changes, and other medical conditions, managing multiple medicications is important stuff! Hannah explores in this blog.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-medicines-management-in-dementia/
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Hannah Hussain is a PhD Student in Health Economics at The University of Sheffield. As a proud third generation  migrant and British-Asian, her career path has been linear and ever evolving, originally qualifying as a Pharmacist in Nottingham, then Health Economics in Birmingham. Her studies have opened a world into Psychology, Mental Health and other areas of health, and with that and personal influences she found her passion for dementia.
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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 Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.
Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk  

Dr Sam Moxon - The Importance of Public Trust in Science

Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Alzheimer’s research made the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. News broke pertaining to significant evidence that a high profile researcher may have falsified years of data surrounding the role of amyloid oligomers in AD. Alzheimer’s Research UK have provided a great digest on what this all means and the potential implications which you can read via this link. In this blog Sam explores the aftermath of the story, and how dangerous this kind of scientific misconduct can be.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-the-importance-of-public-trust-in-science
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Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials scientist at the University of Manchester. 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@nihr.ac.uk

Dr Clarissa Giebel - From remote to face-to-face international research understanding the mental health needs of older adults in Colombia

Dr Clarissa Giebel narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
After nearly two years of remote working with Colombian collaborators in Medellin, Clarissa was finally able to set foot into the country and understand the local complexities that affect older adults. In this blog Clarissa talks about her visit and touches on what she discovered, and why remote working sometimes just can't provide the insights you get from being there in person, face-to-face.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-from-remote-to-face-to-face-international-research-in-colombia/
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Dr Clarissa Giebel is a Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool and NIHR ARC North West Coast. Clarissa has been working in dementia care research for over 10 years focusing her research on helping people with dementia to live at home independently and well for longer, addressing inequalities that people with dementia and carers can face. Outside of her day work, Clarissa has also organised a local dementia network - the Liverpool Dementia & Ageing Research Forum, and has recently started her own podcast called the Ageing Scientist.
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If you would like to write your own blog drop us a line, we're always on the look out for new contributors to write about their research, careers + more dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk

Dr Yvonne Couch - The Great Academic Resignation

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Search ‘Academic quit lit’ and you’ll find tales of disillusionment, pages of personal accounts posted on blogs, social media, or websites. Stories of precarious careers, bureaucracy, barriers, and pain of departing. In this blog Yvonne, talks about the great academic resignation which seems to be occurring. Trying to figure out why and where it’s happening and think about things that might be important to change going forward.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-the-great-academic-resignation/
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Dr Yvonne Couch is an Alzheimer's Research UK Fellow 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 has joined the team of staff bloggers at Dementia Researcher, and will be writing about her work and life as she takes a new road into independent research.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez - How to prepare a search strategy for your systematic review

Dr Aida Suárez-Gonzalez narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Systematic reviews are powerful ways to assess the state of knowledge on a particular research topic. They appraise and collate all relevant empirical evidence and their impact can be enormous: from informing clinical decision-making to global policy. That is why it is critical that we conduct them with rigour.
In this blog Aida provides a brief starter guide with 5 steps and practical tips to ease the way for those of you embarking on your first systematic review - essential reading for PhD and Masters Students.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-how-to-prepare-a-search-strategy-for-your-systematic-review/
We're always on the look out for new contributors, if you would like to write and narrate your own blog - drop us a line to dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk
Don't forget to also listen to our fortnightly - published fortnightly, just look for Dementia Researcher in your podcast app.
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Dr Aida Suarez-Gonzalez is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Senior Research Fellow at the Dementia Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology at Queen Square. With many years clinical experience working in Spain, Aida now investigating non-pharmacological interventions, services and assistive technologies to support people living well with dementia.
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This podcast is brought to you from University College London in association with the National Institute for Health Research, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support. Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk  

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali - How academic misconduct affects ECRs

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Dementia research has been in the news again. Sadly, there is no promising new drug on the horizon, and no new breakthrough in our understanding of the brain diseases, like Alzheimer’s, which lead to dementia. Instead, we find ourselves shocked by an investigation into what has become a high-profile case of potential academic misconduct in our field. This case has been widely reported in the press, but what hasn't been discussed is how early career researchers (ECRs) are affected by academic misconduct. In this blog, Kamar discusses how the structure of academia makes ECRs particularly vulnerable to the effects of academic misconduct.
 
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-how-academic-misconduct-affects-ecrs/
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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 Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

Dr Anna Volkmer - Study Pre-registration: Say it, do it, share it

Dr Anna Volkmer, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Have you ever pre-registered your study? When you preregister your research, you're simply specifying your research plan in advance of your study and submitting it to a registry. 
Preregistration separates hypothesis-generating  (exploratory) from hypothesis-testing (confirmatory) research. Both are important. But the same data cannot be used to generate and test a hypothesis, which can happen unintentionally and reduce the credibility of your results. Addressing this problem through planning improves the quality and transparency of your research. This helps you clearly report your study and helps others who may wish to build on it. In this blog Anna discusses the process and benefits of pre-registering your study.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-pre-registration-say-it-do-it-share-it/
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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 and was once voted scariest speech and language therapist (even her children agree).
If you would like to write for us, or join out team of regular contributors, drop us a line - dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk