Dementia Researcher Blogs

Felicity Slocombe and Chloe Waterman - Dementia and stigma through the lenses of neuro-culture and neoliberalism

Felicity Slocombe, narrates her blog co-authored with Chloe Waterman written for the Dementia Researcher website.
This blog has been written after myself and my colleague Chloe realised the similarity and overlap of two theories we use respectively in our PhD research. We hope to show how neuro-culture (Chloe) and neoliberalism (Felicity) are negatively impacting people with dementia. If we can understand and accept that we live within these cultures in society, we may better understand the continued stigmatisation of dementia? Listen and we will explain.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-dementia-and-stigma-through-the-lenses-of-neuro-culture-and-neoliberalism/
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Felicity Slocombe is a first year PhD Student from Loughborough University. Felicity's research focuses on identity and dementia and how identity can be managed interactionally – how we can help support identity of people living with dementia through our conversations. Driven by a family connection to dementia, and writing each month on a range of topics from her work, and that of her wider group ACTInG (Applied Cognition Technology and Interaction Group), and sharing news from her training and events.
Chloe Waterman is a PhD Student at University of Birmingham and Research Associate at Kings College London. Her research investigates how people with dementia are affected by mental capacity law in England and Wales. Chloe uses discourse and conversation analysis to conduct this socio-legal research, and work at King's, Chloe is involved with projects investigating how community led support programmes work, and how digital tech innovations can be used to improve social wellbeing for older community dwelling adults.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
 

Adam Smith - Dementia Champions - Inspiring or a false narrative?

Adam Smith narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Every now and again a little twitter storm blows-up, it probably isn’t big enough to be given a name yet, however its underlying cause is worth talking about… In this blog Adam walking out into the storm and discusses Dementia Champions, their work, living well with dementia and the overall narrative and how dementia is perceived as a result of their great work - do they present a true picture of life with dementia?
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-dementia-champions-inspiring-or-a-false-narrative/
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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
 
Note: The author of this blog uses the term 'Dementia Champion' to describe a person with lived experience of dementia, who shares their experience - in Scotland a 'Dementia Champion' is a health and social care professional that has completed an intensive eight-month programme, to see, hear and feel the experiences of people living with dementia through working closely with them, their carers and their families. It enables the professionals to take the practical knowledge they have learned and share it to make a real difference in their everyday work, whether that is in hospital wards or in community care settings. In Scotland the current term for people with dementia participating in research and education is active voices.

Masha Burelo - Cannabinoids and Anxiety

Masha Burelo narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Masha Burelo, PhD Student from University of Aberdeen is back with her second blog in the 'from the plant to the lab series'. Masha is now focussed on dementia research, but her pervious work on cannabinoids, is shared through this series and today she writes about their use in the treatment of anxiety. Cannabis has been used for many years as an alternative therapy for anxiety, but some research has provided evidence of its anxiogenic effect. Anxiogenesis means that it can cause anxiety as well. Therefore, are cannabinoids good for treating anxiety? This blog explores the research.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-cannabinoids-and-anxiety/
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Masha Burelo is a PhD Student at the University of Aberdeen. Her research explores Electrophysiology and behavioural evaluation in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. Masha started her studies in veterinary medicine in Mexico and first became interested in cannabinoids when her dog developed epilepsy, then with close family members struck by Alzheimer's Disease her interest in neuroscience, plants and the brain developed.
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Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Dr Yvonne Couch - Brain Imaging, Inside The Black Box

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.
Yvonne brings her usual fun to exploring different types of brain imaging and how they’re applied. Neuroimaging, or brain scanning, includes the use of various techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure, function, or pharmacology of the brain. Neuroimaging falls into two broad categories: structural imaging and functional imaging.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) is used to show brain activity under certain psychological states, such as alertness or drowsiness.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scans show brain processes by using the sugar glucose in the brain to illustrate where neurons are firing.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans use echo waves to discriminate among grey matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans are a series of MRIs measuring brain function via a computer’s combination of multiple images taken less than a second apart.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-brain-imaging-inside-the-black-box/
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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 Clarissa Giebel - Overseas Collaborations

Dr Clarissa Giebel narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Anyone who knows Clarissa know's that she is a big believer in collabroations, the pandemic may have changed how we work but its hasn't dampened her enthusiam. In this blog Clarissa explores how these come about, how they have changed and some of the challenges to working with researcher in other countries when travel is difficult.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-overseas-collaborations/
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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

Hannah Hussain - Women and Girls in Science: Agents of Change

Hannah Hussain narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! This day annually marks the resolution set by the United Nations in 2015 to celebrate women and girls in science and raises awareness of the gender gap in the field of Science and Technology. The gender gap in science still holds women back. According to UNESCO’s Science Report, only 1/3 of science-based researchers are female. While >70% of health and social care workers are women, they are paid ~11% less than their male counterparts. But the world needs science, and science needs women and girls! And what better way to honour this day than reflecting on some of the ground-breaking contributions made to the field by female scientists…
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-women-and-girls-in-science-agents-of-change/
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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.
http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

Beth Eyre - The Perils of ’what next...?’

Beth Eyre, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
The last year of your PhD can be difficult, lots of writing, experiments and research to finish, the viva... and then the big challenge... what comes next? A PhD is a door to your future, but what future will you choose? Stay in Research? Academia? A clinical career? Industry? In this blog Beth Eyre discusses this tricky topic and shares thoughts on her future, and her plans. 
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-the-perils-of-what-next/
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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Author
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.

Jodi Parslow - Research ’Flies’ When You’re Having Fun

Jodi Parslow, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
Fruit flies are often thought of as an annoying pest but in this blog Jodi explains why they are one of science’s most useful model organisms and give you an insight into the kind of research these little beasties contribute to.
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-research-flies-when-youre-having-fun/
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Jodi Parslow is a MRC-DTP Doctoral Researcher at King's College London researching Neuron-glia signalling and neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative disease. Jodi started her career as a Nursing Assistant, that led her to Neuroscience at University of Sussex, then on to a Masters and into industry working for a wearables technology company. Finally Jodi brought her skills and passion together to work in dementia research, first as a Research Technician and now as a PhD Student. Jodi loves talking about her work and science, and also has her own podcast 'The Academinist'.
If you would like to write for us, or join out team of regular contributors, drop us a line - dementiaresearcher@nihr.ac.uk

Dr Anna Volkmer - The Interview

Dr Anna Volkmer, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.
In September Dr Anna Volkmer described the trials and tribulations of going for gold, in other words open access publication. Well, she promised to update us, and in this blog she does (spoiler alert - the paper is now in the public domain).
Find the original text, and narration here on our website.
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/guest-blog-the-interview/
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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