Researchers urge Kent, Surrey and Sussex residents to support dementia research

Researchers are urging people from across Kent, Surrey and Sussex to join a national register designed to give people access to potentially life-changing dementia research.

Join Dementia Research is a national register where anyone over the age of 18, with or without a dementia diagnosis can sign-up to take part in dementia research. Researchers across Kent, Surrey and Sussex are using Join Dementia Research to find people to take part in their studies.

One study being led by researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and taking place across the Kent, Surrey and Sussex region is DETERMIND (Determinants of quality of life, care and costs, and consequences of inequalities in people with dementia and their carers). The study is looking at the care people with dementia receive after their diagnosis to see how their quality of life is affected and then look at what can be improved. The study is being supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Dr Ben Hicks, Research Fellow and Programme Leader for DETERMIND said: “We are looking for people who have been diagnosed with dementia and their carers to take part in the study. One way people can show their interest in taking part is by signing up to Join Dementia Research.”

Professor Naji Tabet, Director of the Centre of Dementia Studies at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Dementia Co-Specialty Research Lead for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Kent, Surrey and Sussex and Honorary Consultant said: “More than 944,000 people in the UK are estimated to be affected by dementia. Only through research can we understand what causes dementia , develop effective treatments and improve the care of those living with the condition. For our research to make progress we need more people with and without a diagnosis of dementia to volunteer to take part in research.

“Join Dementia Research is a platform that can help people with dementia, their carers and members of the public to find out how to take part in the latest research across the country.”

Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline in brain function. There are many different causes of dementia, and many different types.

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, it is estimated that one in three people in the UK born this year will develop dementia in their lifetime. There is currently no cure for dementia.In fact, because dementia is caused by different diseases it is unlikely that there will be a single cure.

Professor Ramin Nilforooshan, Consultant Psychiatrist at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Dementia Co-Specialty Research Lead for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Kent, Surrey and Sussex is encouraging members of the public from across the south east to help researchers to develop new and effective treatments to improve the care of those living with dementia. He said: “Join Dementia Research is an important platform that can link patients and carers with dementia researchers. Taking part in research is an essential step to ensure advances in our understanding and knowledge of dementia.”

For more information visit the Join Dementia Research website.