Published on: 18th March 2015
A new nationwide online and telephone service that helps people to take part in dementia research studies has been launched across Lincolnshire. Join Dementia Research will accelerate the pace of dementia research by allowing people with and without dementia to register their interest in studies.
Dementia affects over 850,000 people in the UK, with 25 million of the UK population having a close friend or family member affected. A YouGov poll* has shown that almost two thirds of the general public (62%) would be willing to take part in dementia research, but more than four out of five people (81%) do not know how to volunteer.
Join Dementia Research is designed to give everyone the opportunity to play a role in changing the outlook for people with dementia. It will boost research participation by connecting people interested in research to suitable dementia studies across the East Midlands. Our Trust is participating in Join Dementia Research and is currently recruiting for a number of dementia research studies.
Our research coordinator responsible for this study, Tracy McCranor, said: “We are very aware of the valuable contribution research plays in ensuring we deliver high quality services for individuals with dementia and their carers. We see the Join Dementia Research initiative as an excellent opportunity for individuals to volunteer and contribute to vital research and are delighted to support it. By signing up to Join Dementia Research, people give permission for researchers to contact them with details of studies in their area that match their profile. People can then decide if they would like to participate in those studies on a case-by-case basis. By registering, people do not have to take part in any studies and can opt-out at any time.”
Mick Moody, a Join Dementia Research champion, cared for his wife when she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease at 52. Mick said: “This is a very exciting initiative, and one we really need people to get behind. There are lots of different types of studies to take part in. But because studies have very specific criteria, we need lots of people signing up in order to find the right people for the right study at the right time.”
Current research studies within the East Midlands range from clinical trials to new treatments to surveys identifying what works in improving the quality of life of people with dementia.
