This year, Alzheimer’s Society (UK) is celebrating 20 years of its Research Network. Volunteers, who all have personal experience of dementia, help the Society to decide which research it funds and partner with researchers across the UK. These passionate and dedicated volunteers ensure the research the Society funds tackles the issues that could transform lives. As well as working closely with the Society, these volunteers have driven change across the UK’s research community. Alzheimer’s Society shares just a couple of their success stories:
Making big changes
In the early 2000s, 25% of people with dementia were prescribed antipsychotics. But research showed that these drugs were not effective and in fact could have harmful side effects. Alzheimer’s Society’s Research Network volunteers worked with researchers from King’s College London to make a real change. Together, they brought this major health issue to the forefront of the political agenda. They worked with the UK Department of Health to create a best-practice guide, now widely used nationally and internationally. Since then, there has been a 60% reduction in the prescribing of antipsychotic drugs for people with dementia.
John’s story
In research, collaboration is key. John Lanyon is a Research Network volunteer who cared for his mother. He partnered with Katrina Moore, an Alzheimer’s Society-funded PhD student. John is the co-founder of KareInn, a company that develops technology to improve care in elderly care homes. Katrina has developed an innovative smartphone app to diagnose frontotemporal dementia at the very earliest stages, and John was able to support her brilliant research. Sharing personal experience of dementia and other skills and knowledge is invaluable to researchers, like Katrina, driving dementia research forward. Alzheimer’s Society said:
“We’ve come a long way in 20 years, but there’s still a long way to go. We need to find a cure and make sure people with dementia get the care they need. Our Research Network will continue to support researchers across the UK and maximise the impact their research could have. United we will transform the lives of everyone affected by dementia through research.”
Find out more about Alzheimer’s Society’s Research Network:
www.alzheimers.org.uk/research/get-involved/our-research-network-volunteers
