£2m for University of Exeter to revolutionise dementia care research

Alzheimer’s Society has announced (Tuesday 20 June) that it has committed almost £2million to the University of Exeter, as part of its biggest-ever single investment in dementia care research.

The research grant will be invested over five years and will enable expert researchers at the University of Exeter to create a ‘Centre of Excellence’. The Centre will focus on improving quality of life for people with dementia and boost the number of researchers working in the dementia care field.

Alzheimer’s Society Head of Research Development, Colin Capper, said: “Dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer and there is currently no cure. With 850,000 people currently living with dementia, and this number only expected to rise, the need to provide good care for people with dementia is urgent. However, current care practices are not always at the standard people with dementia deserve, with people experiencing issues such as a poor quality of life.

“Today we are laying the foundations for building networks of internationally recognised researchers in dementia care in the UK. We are making major investments that will contribute a great deal towards improving care and support for people affected by dementia.”

The University of Exeter’s research grant will fund a second phase of a large-scale national study entitled Improving the Experience of Dementia and Enhancing an Active Life (IDEAL). Running since 2014, it aims to understand how to help people to live well with dementia by taking into account the experiences of people with dementia and their carers over six years.

The study is a collaboration with the universities of Cardiff, Brunel, Bangor, Newcastle and Sussex, and with King’s College London, the London School of Economics, the RICE centre in Bath and Innovations in Dementia CIC.

It comprises 1,570 people with mild-to-moderate dementia and 1,300 carers. The participants were interviewed by specialised researchers at their homes initially between 2014 and 2016 and then again after 12 and 24 months.

Along with allowing the study to run for a further three years, this funding will allow the researchers to add the experiences of people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and people in the advanced stages of dementia. At the end of the study the researchers will use their findings to set out guidelines for how to help people affected by dementia to have the best possible quality of life.

Professor Linda Clare, of the University of Exeter, who leads the research programme, said: “This funding allows us to lead a national collaboration to improve quality of life for people with dementia. It is vitally important that people with dementia are able to live as well as possible. The Centre of Excellence will support that urgent priority, and our research will significantly improve our understanding of what factors influence people with dementia having a good quality of life as the condition progresses. This will help us to develop strategies and initiatives that will make a real improvement for people living dementia at different stages of their condition.”

71-year-old Jane Barnes from Sidmouth was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2015. She feels that it’s important to know what help is available for people to live well and remain active and independent following their diagnosis. She said: “Things haven’t really changed since I received my diagnosis. I think that’s a good thing. My friends and my husband are very supportive. That helps.

“I don’t beat myself up if I don’t know the date. I don’t feel as though I’ve lost something by not getting the day or the date right. For me, maintaining the friendships with people I’ve known for a long time is essential. That continuity is helpful. I think it’s also imperative to keep on the move, and to socialise, even just going for a little walk feels beneficial. For me that helps improve my quality of life. After all, it’s better than being stuck indoors all day feeling sorry for myself. That would be soul destroying.”

Keith Oliver, from Kent, was a successful headteacher when he received a shock diagnosis of early onset dementia at the age of 54. He has to give up work after several months, and has adopted a range of strategies such as meticulous diary keeping to support his busy schedule of work to raise awareness of dementia issues. Keith, who sits on the IDEAL advisory board, said: “Having this large-scale, long-term research is so important to the future of dementia care. I’m really confident that it will produce some excellent information that will feed into people’s care plans when they get a diagnosis of dementia. The more we know about dementia, the better we can support people to live well with dementia.”

Alzheimer’s Society’s unique investment will allow more researchers to address some of the most pressing issues in dementia care research and put the UK on track to be a world leader in providing the best care possible for people with dementia.

Colin Capper continued: “We are excited at the potential that the Centres of Excellence hold for improving care and hope to establish further Centres over the coming years. These Centres are an excellent example of how being united against dementia, and listening to those affected, can bring about real and lasting change through high-quality, world-leading research. It presents a unique opportunity for collaboration with health and social care providers and policy makers.”

To find out more about Alzheimer’s Society’s research programme visit: www.alzheimers.org.uk/research

Pictured: Jane Barnes from Sidmouth and Keith Oliver from Kent