Dementia Researcher Blogs

Rahul Sidhu narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.Rahul explores the relationship between sleep and dementia, asking whether a few poor nights should really worry us. Drawing on research into the glymphatic system, amyloid beta, tau and long term studies of sleep duration, the blog explains why sleep is increasingly seen as an important part of brain health. It also offers reassurance. Occasional restless nights are unlikely to have a meaningful impact on dementia risk, but persistent sleep disruption over months or years, including conditions such as sleep apnea, deserves attention.The blog ends with a gentle nudge to tired researchers that rest is not wasted time.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-sleep-and-dementia-should-we-worry/--​Rahul Sidhu is a PhD student at The University of Sheffield, focusing on the effects of heart disease on dementia in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease. His research aims to uncover how cardiovascular health influences neurodegenerative conditions, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies.​ Find Rahul on LinkedIn--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Yvonne Couch narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.In this blog, Yvonne reflects on why academia can become so tightly bound to identity, especially in careers where work has no clear end point and success is shaped by papers, grants, recognition, luck and timing. Prompted by a friend’s emotional decision to leave academia, the piece explores how academic life can blur boundaries between job and self, making rejection feel personal rather than professional. Drawing on ideas around enmeshment and identity construction, Yvonne argues that researchers need more than one way to understand their value. A broader sense of self, built through teaching, hobbies, writing, coaching, friendships and experiences beyond research, can help academics see themselves as more than their latest paper, grant, or career outcome.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-academia-and-the-sense-of-self/--Dr Yvonne Couch is a Research Fellow and Associate Professor 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 writes about her work, academic life, and careers as she takes a new road into independent research.--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Professor Louise Serpell narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.Amyloid is one of the most used words in Alzheimer's research, and Louise thinks we have got into the habit of using it too loosely.Amyloid is not a single thing. It is a structure, a way that many different proteins fold and assemble into fibrils, and the officially recognised list of amyloid precursor proteins now runs to 42 and keeps growing. Tau forms amyloid. Insulin can. So can the antibodies that deposit in the heart and skin. Bacteria even build functional amyloid to stick themselves to surfaces. So when researchers say "amyloid" but mean the amyloid-beta protein and the plaques found in Alzheimer's brains, Louise argues we are blurring something that ought to stay sharp. In this blog she makes the case for precision, drawing on the amyloid nomenclature committee's own definitions and a memorable bit of advice she picked up as a PhD student.Her plea is simple: say amyloid-beta when that is what you mean, because the alternative risks confusing the public, funders, drug developers, and eventually ourselves.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-whats-in-a-name-amyloid-amyloid-beta-beta-amyloid-amy-lloyd/--Professor Louise Serpell is an Emerita Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Sussex. Her research focuses on how proteins misfold and form amyloid structures linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, using approaches from structural biology and molecular biophysics. Louise completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford and later established her own research group in the UK. Alongside her research career, she has been active in mentoring, public engagement, and supporting early career researchers. Find Louise on LinkedIn--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you from University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Bernie McInally narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.In this blog, Bernie reflects on his work supporting the Scottish Dementia Brain Tissue Bank, using a telephone cognitive assessment to explore a bigger question about identity, diagnosis and individuality. A single sharp comment from a woman with mild Alzheimer’s disease prompts him to ask whether researchers, healthcare staff and policymakers sometimes overstate the idea of a single “dementia community”. The blog argues that people do not lose their life history, humour, opinions or preferences because of a diagnosis. Instead, dementia becomes one part of a person’s life, not the whole of who they are.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-not-a-good-advert-for-dementia/--Bernie McInally is a Clinical Studies Officer at NHS Lothian and the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network. Bernie's background is in Nursing, working in Mental Health and with Older People. He retired from full time NHS clinical work, and is now back working in Clinical Research supporting delivery of the Enabling Research in Care Homes (ENRICH) Scotland. He is passionate about research delivery, and opening access to people in all communities.--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Emily Spencer narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.In this blog, Emily reflects on being around four months from her planned PhD submission date, and the amount of work still sitting beneath the surface. She writes about the pressure of finishing complex analysis, using a Gantt chart to keep thesis writing on track, the boost of a writing retreat, and the sudden disruption of conference season. The blog also explores the tension between preparing presentations, writing journal papers, applying for fellowships, and protecting enough time to finish the thesis. An unsuccessful fellowship application becomes, unexpectedly, a relief, allowing her to focus on completing the current project and reaching the viva with less added pressure.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-hidden-work-of-finishing-a-phd/--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.--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Connor Richardson narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.What is it actually like to start over somewhere new? After nearly a decade at Newcastle, where he did his undergraduate degree right through to his postdoc, Connor moved to the University of Edinburgh in December 2025.This blog looks at the other side of leaving. He writes about the energy of meeting people with fresh eyes, the strange comfort of mundane admin in those first few days, and the imposter syndrome that arrives when the evidence base you relied on for belonging is suddenly somewhere else. His advice when confidence takes a knock is to communicate early, and above all to slow down rather than try to match anyone else's pace.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-learning-to-belong-somewhere-new/----Dr Connor Richardson is a Neuro-epidemiology Research Associatea at The University of Edinburgh. His research interest lie in using advanced statistical modelling and machine learning to measure dementia risk. Connor blogs about his research, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and sometimes his Pomapoo’s.--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Maria Drummond narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.There is a stage most researchers never write about: the stretch between a positive funding decision and actually getting started. This blog is about exactly that. It follows the news of a first major NIHR award arriving on a Friday afternoon at a farm park, the relief and disbelief of the moment, and then the confusion when the award turns out to be conditional. Over the following five months come rounds of committee feedback, clarifications and revisions, along with a quiet fear that asking too many questions will look like weakness. The turning point is a passing comment from another Principal Investigator about the long wait after their own positive outcome, which leads to the reassurance that conditional awards and iterative feedback are entirely normal. It ends by asking why funding success is so often presented as a clean, decisive win when the reality is iterative, negotiated and full of near misses. You can read it or listen to the audio narration.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-what-my-first-major-nihr-award-taught-me/--Dr Maria Drummond is Team Leader at ENRICH Scotland, based at the University of Glasgow. A registered nurse and district nurse by background, Maria spent ten years working in the Glasgow City District Nursing service before moving into research in 2021. She also has five years of experience working in older adult care homes, including with people living with dementia. Her research focuses on care homes and is motivated by the priorities of staff, residents and people with lived experience. Funded through the NIHR Research Programme for Social Care, Maria is passionate about improving access to research involvement, evidence based practice and better outcomes for people living and working in care home settings.Find Maria on LinkedInLeave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

This episode works through Listening to Early Career Researchers, the 2022 survey report from UCL and ISTAART PEERs. It captured the views of early career researchers across the world.Work is currently underways to run this same survey again, so we thought this was a good time to recap on the original findings.The discussion follows the data rather than the headlines: why people come into dementia research, what keeps them awake at night, and why so many told us they were considering leaving the field. It ends on a more hopeful note about what it would take to bring people back.A note on how this was made. The audio is an AI generated discussion, produced using Google's NotebookLM from the text of the report. The two voices are synthetic, and the framing, emphasis and phrasing are the model's rather than ours. We have checked it against the source for accuracy, but it is best treated as a way into the report rather than a replacement for reading it. This is a pilot, and we are trying it out to see whether it is worth doing more of. We would genuinely like to know what you think: whether it worked for you, what fell flat, and whether you would like more episodes like this. Do let us know.Reference: Smith, AM., Shaaban, C.E., Bartels, S.L., Welikovitch, L., Brum, W., Folarin, R. (2022). Listening to Early Career Researchers. University College London, ISTAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers.Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Tatiana A. Giovannucc narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.Tatiana's blog is not what you might expect. It is a speculative fiction, set in a near future where AI-driven energy demands and climate collapse have forced governments to ration heating and power, and academics have been classified as non-essential. The only escape from enforced hibernation, which the world calls "the long sleep", is to prove your research is exceptional enough to warrant the electricity. Tatiana's narrator is hours from her exemption panel interview, performing a protein assay to calm her nerves, and asking herself whether she is "there yet".The neuroscience is real: the history of torpor research, the compounds that could induce it, the brain regions involved.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-if-i-fall-behind-ill-fall-into-torpor/--Dr Tatiana A. Giovannucci is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UCL's Institute of Neurology, Dementia Research Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute, studying the turnover of proteins relevant to neurodegeneration. She holds an Alzheimer's Association Research Fellowship and is part of a Race Against Dementia team, having completed her PhD at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm before joining UCL in 2022. Originally from Medellín, Colombia, she can usually be found upside down doing acroyoga when not in the lab.Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Beccy Owen narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.Electrophysiology has taken up roughly 80% of Beccy's thoughts this past year, so she has written about it. Beccy is a PhD student at the University of Warwick studying how tau drives ion channel dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, and she uses whole-cell patch-clamp and extracellular field recordings to do it. In this blog she walks through what these techniques actually involve.She writes about crying the first time she got a stable recording, dreaming about pipette tips, and the friend who genuinely wondered if she would have to change projects. The science is serious. The journey to being any good at it is, by Beccy's own account, fairly chaotic.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-trials-and-tribulations-of-electrophysiology/--Beccy Owen is a PhD Researcher at the University of Warwick, exploring how tau pathology disrupts neuronal ion channels and brain network activity in Alzheimer’s disease. As part of the Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Programme, her work uses electrophysiology to better understand the molecular drivers of neurodegeneration. Originally from the Welsh countryside, Beccy’s passion for dementia research was shaped during her postgraduate studies and through personal experience with a family member living with the condition. She will be sharing her journey, insights, and lessons learned throughout her PhD here on the blog.Find Becky on LinkedIn--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Sam Moxon narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.We tend to picture dementia as a slow decline measured in months and years, tracked through cognitive scores and longitudinal data. Sam has watched several relatives live with the condition, and from a family seat it looks nothing like a line on a graph. In this blog he writes about his grandfather, who some days could hold a full conversation and other days had no idea who Sam was. Time stopped behaving normally. It folded back on itself when a question got asked again five minutes later, stretched out as his grandfather paused to think, then collapsed entirely after long spells of apparent stability.In this blog Sam asks a question that should matter to every dementia researcher: when we say a therapy slows progression, do we mean more real time with the people we love, or just a graph that looks better? Behind every data point is an experience, and it might look nothing like the trend in our papers.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-unexpected-things-dementia-teaches-us-about-time/--Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials Research Fellow at University of Birmingham. 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. He is also the Founder and CEO of Aegis FibreTech. Outside of the lab he hikes through the Lake District and is an expert on all things Disney.--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Rahul Sidhu narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.Rahul used to dread public speaking more than data analysis or academic scrutiny. A few years on, he gives talks to full rooms, chairs sessions at international conferences in Toronto and Washington DC, and speaks as a Global Ambassador for the Alzheimer's Association. In this blog he shares the seven things that got him there, from accepting that nobody starts good at this, to building slides that help rather than hinder, to speaking with energy instead of just slowing down. His point throughout is that strong speaking is a trainable skill, not a talent you either have or you don't. The nerves never fully went away. He just learnt to work with them, and so can you.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-overcoming-the-fear-of-public-speaking/--​Rahul Sidhu is a PhD student at The University of Sheffield, focusing on the effects of heart disease on dementia in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease. His research aims to uncover how cardiovascular health influences neurodegenerative conditions, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies.​ Find Rahul on LinkedIn--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Clíona Farrell narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.Clíona writes from this year's Hot Brain conference, an annual meeting hosted by UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The Lancet Neurology that asks what the climate crisis is doing to our brains. She walks through what's already known (air pollution is now a recognised modifiable risk factor for dementia), what's emerging (people with dementia were among the leading causes of excess deaths during the 2022 UK heatwave), and the questions still wide open. She also covers thermoregulation research, the case for saunas and hot-water immersion as protective strategies, and a quietly important methodological point for every lab: stop writing "room temperature" in your methods section. A blog for anyone who has been quietly despairing about the climate and wondering what it has to do with dementia research.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-its-getting-too-hot-in-here-the-climate-crisis-brain-health/----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.--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Yvonne Couch narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.Yvonne reflects on the contradiction at the heart of being a junior PI: you are expected to mentor, lead and invest in the people who join your lab, but you also need them to produce so you can publish, win the next grant and stay employed. Yvonne writes about losing an RA she could not afford to keep, the structural way junior labs train people up only to lose them to bigger, better-resourced ones, and her struggle to define what her job actually is when the criteria keep shifting. She lands on her friend Lorraine's eulogy exercise as a way through it.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-contradictions-challenges-of-the-junior-pi/----Dr Yvonne Couch is a Research Fellow and Associate Professor 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 writes about her work, academic life, and careers as she takes a new road into independent research.--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Toby Williamson narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.In this blog, Toby explores how values shape dementia research, even when we tell ourselves research is neutral. He looks at the tension between biomedical and social models of disability, the limits of evidence-based practice when the evidence base is thin or contested, and the case for values-based practice as a complement to EBP. Drawing on his PhD at the Geller Institute for Ageing and Memory (completed at 62), he reflects on what counts as evidence, what gets funded, and what gets overlooked. He closes with an invitation: as the new editor of the Journal of Dementia Care, he wants to hear from early-career researchers who want to publish their work in front of practitioners.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-finding-values-in-research-and-dementia/--Dr Toby Williamson is Editor of the Journal of Dementia Care and an independent health and social care consultant. He has over 30 years’ experience in adult and older people’s mental health, dementia and mental capacity, with a particular interest in values, rights, lived experience and inclusion. He is a published author and co authored The Dementia Manifesto.Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Becky Carlyle narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.In this blog, Becky writes up what she took from a panel of disabled researchers hosted by her department's Disability Working Group, and turns it into practical guidance for managers and PIs. She covers flexible working, communication that respects privacy, the often-exhausting process of securing accommodations, and the case for designing labs so accessibility is built in from the start rather than bolted on later. Becky shares figures that should give the sector pause, including the gap between the proportion of working-age people with a disability and the share of the STEMM workforce, and argues that accessibility is not a niche concern but a core part of building better science.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-building-accessible-inclusive-research-environments/--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Emily Spencer narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.With less than five months of PhD funding left, Emily found herself doing the opposite of what felt sensible. Instead of locking in on her analysis, she spent two months preparing a postdoctoral fellowship application. In this blog she writes about the strange shift from career fog to a clearer sense of direction, the reality of using conversation analysis on video recordings of GP consultations involving people with dementia, and why letting go of her data at the end of her PhD started to feel impossible. A useful listen for anyone navigating the awkward gap between thesis submission and whatever comes next.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-life-after-the-phd-my-fellowship-application/----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.--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis podcast is brought to you by University College London in association with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Professor Louise Serpell, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.In this blog, Louise reflects on why Alzheimer’s disease has proved so difficult to understand, despite more than a century of research. She traces the role of amyloid beta, tau, inflammation, synaptic loss, genetics, ageing, the microbiome and other factors, while also asking what research models can and cannot capture. The blog argues that Alzheimer’s is shaped across a lifetime, by biology, environment, experience and individual variation, making collaboration across research fields essential for better prevention, diagnosis and treatment.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-alzheimers-disease-takes-a-lifetime/--Professor Louise Serpell is an Emerita Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Sussex. Her research focuses on how proteins misfold and form amyloid structures linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, using approaches from structural biology and molecular biophysics. Louise completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford and later established her own research group in the UK. Alongside her research career, she has been active in mentoring, public engagement, and supporting early career researchers. Find Louise on LinkedIn--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis 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.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Connor Richardson narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.Connor reflects on leaving Newcastle University after nearly ten years, tracing the shift from student to researcher and the difficulty of stepping away. He explores the practical challenges of finishing work, managing data and staying motivated, alongside the emotional weight of leaving a place that shaped both his career and identity.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-leaving-your-university-after-10-years/--Dr Connor Richardson is a Neuro-epidemiology Research Associatea at The University of Edinburgh. His research interest lie in using advanced statistical modelling and machine learning to measure dementia risk. Connor blogs about his research, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and sometimes his Pomapoo’s.--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis 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.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Adam Smith narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.Adam reflects on Terry Pratchett Day by considering TP’s public response to posterior cortical atrophy, his ability to explain dementia with clarity, and his willingness to speak about choice at the end of life. The blog connects Pratchett’s advocacy with dementia research, where technical language can make lived experience feel distant.https://communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/research-chat/terry-pratchett-day-fb9c96f9-06fe-4a12-afe4-b21656a632a3--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.--Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.ukThis 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.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Kirsty Hynes narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.In this second instalment, Ajantha shifts focus from preparing for PhD applications to one of the most critical decisions in the process: choosing the right lab and supervisor. He walks through how to search effectively, what to look for when assessing potential environments, and how to approach academics with well-structured, thoughtful emails. The blog balances practical advice with honest reflection on supervision styles, lab culture, and long-term career impact, offering a clear framework for making a well-informed choice.Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-no-care-homes-left-out-in-dementia-research/--Kirsty Hynes is a Clinical Studies Officer with ENRICH, part of the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network, supporting care homes to take part in research. She trained as a mental health nurse at Robert Gordon University and spent nine years working in a secure unit before moving into research. Her work focuses on neurodegeneration and improving access to meaningful research opportunities for care home residents and staff. Kirsty is passionate about making research inclusive and practical, and enjoys running and home projects in her spare time.--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 [email protected] 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.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher01eUeOZul1BXv4HTXwqc

Dr Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.In this second instalment, Ajantha shifts focus from preparing for PhD applications to one of the most critical decisions in the process: choosing the right lab and supervisor. He walks through how to search effectively, what to look for when assessing potential environments, and how to approach academics with well-structured, thoughtful emails. The blog balances practical advice with honest reflection on supervision styles, lab culture, and long-term career impact, offering a clear framework for making a well-informed choice.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-phd-application-advice-assessing-approaching-a-new-lab/--Dr Ajantha Abey is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Kavli Institute at University of Oxford. He is interested in the cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases of the ageing brain. Previously, having previoulsy explored neuropathology in dogs with dementia and potential stem cell replacement therapies. He now uses induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons to try and model selective neuronal vulnerability: the phenomenon where some cells die but others remain resilient to neurodegenerative diseases.--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 [email protected] 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.Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Beccy Owen, narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.In her first blog, Beccy introduces herself and reflects on the path that led her into dementia research. It is a journey shaped by uncertainty, changing direction, and moments of self doubt, alongside real achievements and growing confidence. From lockdown study and finding a love for neuroscience, to setbacks in PhD applications and finally securing her place at Warwick, Beccy shares an open account of how careers rarely follow a straight line. She also touches on the realities of lab work, learning electrophysiology, and the importance of maintaining balance outside research.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-the-long-way-round-to-a-phd/--Beccy Owen is a PhD Researcher at the University of Warwick, exploring how tau pathology disrupts neuronal ion channels and brain network activity in Alzheimer’s disease. As part of the Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Programme, her work uses electrophysiology to better understand the molecular drivers of neurodegeneration. Originally from the Welsh countryside, Beccy’s passion for dementia research was shaped during her postgraduate studies and through personal experience with a family member living with the condition. She will be sharing her journey, insights, and lessons learned throughout her PhD here on the blog.Find Becky on LinkedInEnjoy 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 [email protected] 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.Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.Applying for your first research fellowship can feel like a leap into the unknown. In this blog, Sam reflects on his own early experience and sets out five simple checks to help researchers judge their readiness. From having a question that genuinely drives you, to demonstrating independence, securing the right environment, and confirming eligibility, the piece strips away the mystery and reframes readiness as progress rather than perfection.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-am-i-ready-knowing-when-to-apply-for-your-first-research-fellowship/--Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials Research Fellow at University of Birmingham. 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 [email protected] 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.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Andrew M. Kiselica, narrating a new blog he wrote for the Dementia Researcher website.Why are preclinical Alzheimer’s trials struggling to show results? Andrew and colleagues argue the issue may not just be biology or timing, but how we define “normal.” By grouping cognitively unimpaired individuals together, trials overlook meaningful differences in subtle symptoms. This blog explores how recognising objective subtle cognitive decline, supported by digital tools and refined measures, could improve participant selection and increase the chances of detecting real treatment effects.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-why-normal-cognition-is-hindering-preclinical-alzheimers-trials/--Dr Andrew M. Kiselica is an Associate Professor at the University of Georgia whose work focuses on early detection of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. He contributes to the Working Group on Objective Subtle Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease.Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Rahul Sidhu, narrating a new blog he wrote for the Dementia Researcher website.In this blog, Rahul shares his experience at the Alzheimer’s Research UK conference, highlighting the breadth of dementia research and the sense of progress across the field. From clinical trials and molecular biology to AI, nutrition and the gut brain axis, the blog captures how diverse approaches are shaping our understanding of dementia. Alongside scientific advances, Rahul reflects on the importance of collaboration, early career researcher engagement, and the growing momentum driving the field forward.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.​Rahul Sidhu is a PhD student at The University of Sheffield, focusing on the effects of heart disease on dementia in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease. His research aims to uncover how cardiovascular health influences neurodegenerative conditions, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies.​ Find Rahul on LinkedInLeave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Jacqui Kerr narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher.Site Initiation Visits mark the transition from clinical trial / study setup to delivery, ensuring research sites are fully prepared before recruitment begins. In this blog, Jacqui explains how SIVs bring together protocol training, regulatory checks, role delegation, and data processes to create a clear, shared understanding across the research team. Far from a routine step, the SIV lays the groundwork for safe, compliant, and consistent trial delivery, helping protect participants and support reliable results.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-how-site-initiation-visits-work-and-why-they-matter/Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Clíona Farrell, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.Three months into a new postdoc, Clíona explores the messy reality of starting fresh in research. From failed experiments to adapting protocols, she reflects on how experience shifts your approach, bringing more planning, patience, and reflection. The blog highlights the importance of controls, collaboration, and industry support, while reminding us that perseverance and small wins are what carry researchers through the early stages of a project.Find the original text, and narration here on our website.https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-optimise-troubleshoot-repeat-beginning-a-new-project/--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.--Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Becky Carlyle, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.In this blog, Becky reflects on the lived reality behind the motherhood penalty in academia, blending personal experience with emerging research evidence. She explores how childcare responsibilities, mental load, and structural expectations shape career progression for women, often in ways that are invisible but deeply felt. The piece moves from the day to day realities of balancing work and family life to wider systemic issues, including publication gaps, career progression barriers, and unequal distribution of care. It also offers practical reflections on collaboration, workplace culture, and the importance of supporting fathers as part of the solution.-Dr Becky Carlyle is an Alzheimer's Research UK Senior Research Fellow at University of Oxford, and has previously worked in the USA. Becky writes about her experiences of starting up a research lab and progressing into a more senior research role. Becky's research uses mass-spectrometry to quantify thousands of proteins in the brains and biofluids of people with dementia. Her lab is working on various projects, including work to compare brain tissue from people with dementia from Alzheimer’s Disease, to tissue from people who have similar levels of Alzheimer’s Disease pathology but no memory problems. Becky is also a mum, she runs, drinks herbal tea's and reads lots of books.Leave us a Tiphttps://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/supportFollow us on social media:https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.socialDownload and Register with our Community App:https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Emily Spencer, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog, Emily shares her experience of balancing a PhD with early motherhood, reflecting on both the encouragement she has felt and the assumptions she made along the way. What begins as a story of managing both roles becomes a sharper look at structural gaps in funding and maternity support for PhD students. She highlights inconsistencies across institutions and funders (in the UK), the lack of transparency around parental leave, and the uncomfortable reality that many researchers must navigate these decisions without clear information. The blog ends not with resolution, but with a call for funders and institutions to take responsibility and better support those combining research careers with parenthood. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-motherhood-phds-and-the-funding-gap/ #DementiaResearch #AcademicMother #Academia -- 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. -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://x.com/demrescommunity https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Professor Louise Serpell, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this reflective blog, Louise looks back on more than three decades in academia researching neurodegenerative diseases and supporting students through their scientific journeys. She shares how mentoring young researchers became the most rewarding part of her career, but also describes the pressures that eventually led to burnout and a difficult decision to step away from university life. Now beginning a new chapter building a consultancy, Louise considers what comes next and how academia might better support creativity, wellbeing, and the people who make research possible. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-from-academia-and-beyond/ --   Professor Louise Serpell is an Emerita Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Sussex. Her research focuses on how proteins misfold and form amyloid structures linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, using approaches from structural biology and molecular biophysics. Louise completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford and later established her own research group in the UK. Alongside her research career, she has been active in mentoring, public engagement, and supporting early career researchers. Find Louise on LinkedIn --   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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Emma Law, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog, Emma discusses the delicate balance between encouraging participation in dementia research and being realistic about what studies can offer. She explains why people who register interest in research often expect immediate opportunities and how researchers must communicate clearly about eligibility, trial design, and uncertainty. The blog also highlights alternative ways people living with dementia and their carers can contribute to research beyond clinical trials, from public involvement groups to questionnaires and long term studies. At its core, the piece reflects on trust, transparency, and the responsibility researchers have when inviting people into the research process.   Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-managing-patient-expectations-without-overpromising/ #DementiaResearch #ClinicalTrials #Research #TrialDelivery -- Dr Emma Law is Strategic Manager for the The Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network in Scotland. Emma has 13 years experience as a Clinical Trails Network Manager and over 35 years experience as a Nurse, many of which were spent in the delivery of Clinical Research Trials. Emma completed her PhD and is passionate about giving people living with dementia and their carers access to participate in research.  --   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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Bernie McInally narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Bernie describes a striking scene in a Bangkok park where older adults gather every morning to exercise, sing karaoke, and socialise together. Watching this daily routine unfold sparks a research question. Could environments that combine physical activity, social contact, music and routine help support cognitive health in later life. Rather than focusing only on new interventions, Bernie suggests researchers may learn a great deal by studying what communities already do naturally to support active ageing. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-if-only-i-were-an-ecr-lessons-from-a-bangkok-park/   -- Bernie McInally is a Clinical Studies Officer at NHS Lothian and the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network. Bernie's background is in Nursing, working in Mental Health and with Older People. He retired from full time NHS clinical work, and is now back working in Clinical Research supporting delivery of the Enabling Research in Care Homes (ENRICH) Scotland. He is passionate about research delivery, and opening access to people in all communities. -- 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 [email protected] 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/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT are rapidly becoming part of academic life. In this reflective blog, Yvonne considers how these tools are actually being used by researchers, from editing grant applications and shortening abstracts to drafting sections of proposals. She wrestles with the ethical tension between efficiency and learning, particularly for early career researchers who still need to develop strong writing skills. The blog also examines wider consequences, including increased grant submissions, potential growth in fraudulent papers, and the risk that productivity pressures may intensify rather than ease. At the same time, AI writing tools may help researchers who write in a second language feel more confident and successful. Rather than reaching a simple verdict, Couch concludes that the impact of ChatGPT depends on how responsibly academics choose to use it. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-chatgpt-in-academia/ -- Dr Yvonne Couch is a Research Fellow and Associate Professor 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 writes about her work, academic life, and careers as she takes a new road into independent research. -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Sam reflects on emerging research suggesting that diet and lifestyle interventions may influence the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Inspired by work from Dean Ornish and discussions on the Dementia Researcher Food for Thought podcast, the article explores how a whole food plant based diet combined with exercise, meditation, and support groups produced measurable improvements in cognition and function among patients with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer’s. The results raise important questions about how lifestyle choices shape brain health and whether simple changes in how we live could slow disease progression. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-real-food-for-thought-in-the-fight-against-dementia/   -- Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials Research Fellow at University of Birmingham. 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 [email protected] 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/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Rahul Sidhu, narrating a new blog he wrote for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog, Rahul reflects on his experience of imposter syndrome throughout his research career, from early lab work to PhD study. He describes the anxiety of feeling less capable than those around you, the pressure of comparisons within research groups, and the fear of asking questions or making mistakes. Rahul explains that these feelings are common in scientific careers and shares strategies that have helped him manage them, including focusing on growth rather than perfection, comparing progress only with your past self, asking for support from colleagues, taking action even when confidence is low, and practising self compassion. The blog offers reassurance that doubt does not mean you do not belong in science. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-imposter-syndrome/ -- ​Rahul Sidhu is a PhD student at The University of Sheffield, focusing on the effects of heart disease on dementia in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease. His research aims to uncover how cardiovascular health influences neurodegenerative conditions, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies.​ Find Rahul on LinkedIn -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Ajantha shares how they went from being deeply uncomfortable speaking in front of others to actively enjoying giving talks about their research. Starting with childhood stage fright and a stutter, the story traces a gradual shift through unexpected leadership in university sport, repeated practice presenting research, and years of teaching neuroscience. Along the way, Ajantha explains how confidence grew not only from technical speaking skills but from developing expertise, finding supportive communities, and learning to communicate science clearly. The post offers encouragement for researchers who feel uneasy about public speaking, showing that improvement comes through practice, reflection, and experience over time. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-how-i-came-to-enjoy-public-speaking-as-an-introvert/ --   Dr Ajantha Abey is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Kavli Institute at University of Oxford. He is interested in the cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases of the ageing brain. Previously, having previoulsy explored neuropathology in dogs with dementia and potential stem cell replacement therapies. He now uses induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons to try and model selective neuronal vulnerability: the phenomenon where some cells die but others remain resilient to neurodegenerative diseases. -- 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 [email protected] 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Peter Connelly narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Peter compares academically led and commercially sponsored clinical trials, outlining how they differ in goals, recruitment expectations, intensity, monitoring and funding. Drawing on personal experience, he highlights unrealistic recruitment projections, contrasts study cultures, and reflects on the professional rewards and pressures associated with each model. The blog offers practical insight for clinicians considering participation in dementia research. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-two-worlds-of-clinical-trials/ -- Dr Peter Connelly is a retired Old Age Psychiatrist who spent much of his career in Tayside, helping to establish clinical trials for dementia and neuroprogressive disorders in Scotland. Now working with the Scottish Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network, he combines professional insight with personal experience as a former carer. In retirement, he enjoys music, golf, and time with his grandchildren. -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Kam revisits a theme she first explored three years ago: the difference between supervision and mentorship in academia. Drawing on her journey to becoming a primary PhD supervisor, she explores structural barriers facing early career researchers, the funding realities that delay independence, and the risk of blurring mentoring with supervision. She argues that these are distinct roles requiring different skills and boundaries, and that separating them can better protect students and support openness, development, and academic progression. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-supervision-vs-mentorship/   -- 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. -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://x.com/demrescommunity https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Clíona Farrell, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. After finishing her PhD and a short postdoc extension, Clíona took a five month career break to travel across Asia before starting a new postdoctoral role at UCL. In this blog, she reflects on the emotional and practical challenges of stepping away from academia, the privilege and uncertainty of taking time out, and what it feels like to return refreshed to a new lab, new techniques, and a genuine fresh start. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-returning-to-work-after-a-travel-filled-career-break/ -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Emily Spencer, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Emily reflects on a lifelong struggle with perfectionism and how it shapes her learning, work, and wellbeing. Through personal stories spanning school, sport, previous employment, and her PhD, she explores the tension between striving for high standards and recognising when doing less may actually be the wiser and healthier choice. As she approaches the final months of her doctorate, Emily considers how redefining success might allow her to protect her wellbeing while still producing meaningful, high quality research. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-learning-to-let-good-be-enough/ #DementiaResearch #AcademicMother #Academia -- 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. -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://x.com/demrescommunity https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Gemma Lace, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog, Gemma explores the reality of attending academic conferences as an introvert or neurodivergent researcher. She reflects on her own experiences with imposter syndrome, conference anxiety and social overwhelm, while offering practical strategies to help researchers build confidence and gain meaningful professional development from conference attendance. From setting personal goals to using simple networking conversation starters and prioritising wellbeing, the blog encourages readers to approach conferences in ways that feel manageable, authentic and rewarding. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-an-introverts-survival-guide-to-conferences/ -- Dr Gemma Lace is Associate Dean Academic for Student Experience and leads the Molecular Biology Dementia Group at the University of Salford, where she investigates abnormal protein accumulation and small extracellular vesicles in neurodegenerative disease. Funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Alzheimer’s Society, she combines research with supporting future scientists, drawing on a career that spans a Neuroscience degree, a PhD in Genomic Medicine and work across major neurodegenerative conditions. Motivated by family experience, she is dedicated to improving understanding of dementia, and outside work she is a life coach, martial artist and mother of three. -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Professor Louise Serpell, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this opening post, Louise Serpell traces her journey through Alzheimer’s research, beginning as a shy PhD student and moving through decades of scientific discovery, mentorship, and persistence. She reflects on finding her scientific home in protein misfolding and amyloid structure, the beauty of X ray fibre diffraction, and the realities of building a research career shaped as much by people and failures as by results. The piece sets the tone for a new blog series that will explore amyloid biology, success in academia, and what comes next for Alzheimer’s research. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-a-career-in-alzheimers-research/ --   Professor Louise Serpell is an Emerita Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Sussex. Her research focuses on how proteins misfold and form amyloid structures linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, using approaches from structural biology and molecular biophysics. Louise completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford and later established her own research group in the UK. Alongside her research career, she has been active in mentoring, public engagement, and supporting early career researchers. Find Louise on LinkedIn --   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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Becky Carlyle, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this candid blog, Becky reflects on the reality of feeling overwhelmed during a demanding stage of an academic career. She describes the competing pressures of grant writing, teaching, leadership roles, family life and supporting research teams, while still finding joy in discovery and mentoring. Becky shares practical approaches that help her stay organised and protect wellbeing, including structured prioritisation, making space for personal life and recognising that difficult periods should have an end point. The blog offers reassurance that overwhelm is common, temporary and manageable with the right support and strategies. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-academic-overwhelm-youre-not-the-only-one/ --   Dr Becky Carlyle is an Alzheimer's Research UK Senior Research Fellow at University of Oxford, and has previously worked in the USA. Becky writes about her experiences of starting up a research lab and progressing into a more senior research role. Becky's research uses mass-spectrometry to quantify thousands of proteins in the brains and biofluids of people with dementia. Her lab is working on various projects, including work to compare brain tissue from people with dementia from Alzheimer’s Disease, to tissue from people who have similar levels of Alzheimer’s Disease pathology but no memory problems. Becky is also a mum, she runs, drinks herbal tea's and reads lots of books. Find Becky on LinkedIn -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. This blog explores how storytelling strengthens science communication across papers, presentations, and public engagement. Yvonne reflects on lessons from podcasts, conferences, and outreach work to show how understanding your audience can transform how research is shared. Drawing on personal experiences and examples from academia, the blog highlights how strong narrative flow helps researchers connect ideas, engage listeners, and improve interdisciplinary collaboration. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-storytelling-in-academia/ -- Dr Yvonne Couch is a Research Fellow and Associate Professor 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 writes about her work, academic life, and careers as she takes a new road into independent research. -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Emma Law, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Clinical trials in dementia rely on carefully designed safeguards to protect participants and ensure treatments are tested responsibly. Emma Law explains how safety is built into every stage of a trial, from ethical recruitment and consent to screening processes, monitoring, and staff training. In this blog Emma highlights how lessons from past trial failures shaped current best practice and emphasises the shared responsibility between researchers, participants, carers, and sponsors to ensure studies run safely while advancing new treatments.   Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-how-we-ensure-safety-in-dementia-drug-trials/ #DementiaResearch #ClinicalTrials #Research #TrialDelivery -- Dr Emma Law is Strategic Manager for the The Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network in Scotland. Emma has 13 years experience as a Clinical Trails Network Manager and over 35 years experience as a Nurse, many of which were spent in the delivery of Clinical Research Trials. Emma completed her PhD and is passionate about giving people living with dementia and their carers access to participate in research.  --   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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Rahul Sidhu, narrating a new blog he wrote for the Dementia Researcher website. We're pleased to welcome Rahul as a new regular contributor to the Dementia Researcher blog. In this post Rahul reflects on his route into neuroscience, from early uncertainty and academic setbacks to finding purpose through dementia research. He shares how personal experience, persistence, and discovery in the lab shaped his path to a PhD, alongside honest reflections on confidence, balance, and what comes next. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-my-journey-to-a-phd-in-neuroscience-the-highs-lows/ -- ​Rahul Sidhu is a PhD student at The University of Sheffield, focusing on the effects of heart disease on dementia in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease. His research aims to uncover how cardiovascular health influences neurodegenerative conditions, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies.​ Find Rahul on LinkedIn -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Sam reflects on the reality of Lewy body dementia through both his research background and his experience caring for his grandfather. He explores why LBD is so difficult to diagnose, how symptoms fluctuate, and how families are often left without clarity or closure. The piece speaks to the emotional weight of uncertainty and the importance of continuing to talk about LBD, not to find neat answers, but to help future families feel less alone. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-never-truly-known-the-reality-of-lewy-body-dementia/   -- Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials Research Fellow at University of Birmingham. 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 [email protected] 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/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Adam Smith narrates his post from the Dementia Researcher Community. In this post Adam reflects on conversations with carers who support people experiencing hallucinations, particularly in Lewy body dementia. Drawing on real encounters, he explores the uncertainty, emotional labour, and isolation that often sit beneath everyday care, and why awareness and shared understanding matter. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/research-chat/living-alongside-hallucinations-8379e5a8-9929-4b34-b5d5-033969892649 -- 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. -- 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog Ajantha reflects on why Lewy body disease deserves far greater attention within dementia research. Drawing on their journey from Alzheimer’s focused tau research into synuclein pathology, the blog explores co occurring disease, diagnostic challenges, biomarker advances, and why understanding overlap across conditions is essential for better science and better care. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-alzheimers-to-lewy-body-disease-expanding-our-research-horizons/ --   Dr Ajantha Abey is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Kavli Institute at University of Oxford. He is interested in the cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases of the ageing brain. Previously, having previoulsy explored neuropathology in dogs with dementia and potential stem cell replacement therapies. He now uses induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons to try and model selective neuronal vulnerability: the phenomenon where some cells die but others remain resilient to neurodegenerative diseases. -- 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 [email protected] 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: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social Join our community: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher