Dementia is one of the main causes of death in the UK. It regularly makes the headlines when high profile people choose to share their diagnosis.
Recent headlines have also focused on research findings for trials of possible treatments.
Around 944,000 people are currently living with dementia in the UK. This is estimated to increase to more than 1 million by 2030 and to 1.4 million by 2040. Although age is a risk factor, dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing.
It is only through research that we can understand what causes the disease, develop effective treatments, improve care and hopefully one day find a cure.
In this podcast, we speak to Professor John O’Brien, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge. He speaks about:
- why dementia rates are increasing
- what research has found so far
- current research to improve diagnosis, treatment and care
This podcast was hosted by Turi King, Professor of Public Engagement and Genetics at the University of Leicester.
Listen to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Podcasts below.
Read a full transcript of this episode.
Could you take part in dementia research?
Join Dementia Research is run by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society. The service enables people to register their interest in participating in dementia research and be matched to suitable studies.
Through Join Dementia Research, you can see what dementia research is taking place, both in your local area and across the UK.
The service connects researchers with people who want to participate in studies. You will receive a notification and can choose whether or not to proceed. There is no obligation to take part in any of the studies you are matched to.
Visit the Join Dementia Research website to sign up today.
