Thousands in South West back dementia research service but more needed, says local expert

The South West is playing its part in the recruitment of volunteers to dementia research studies.

Today marks the 6^th birthday of Join Dementia Research (JDR), a service launched by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society which allows people to register their interest in participating in dementia research and be matched to suitable studies.

Nationally 50,000 people have signed up to the initiative, with nearly 2,500 volunteers from across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.

Dr Joe Butchart, Local Research Specialty Lead for Dementia, NIHR Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula, said: “The JDR register has been a huge benefit to dementia researchers working in the South West. It has allowed us to recruit local research participants for trials that have helped us understand more and more about how dementia progresses, and how we might treat and prevent dementia in the future. I am enormously grateful to all the people in the South West that have signed up to JDR and volunteered for our studies – the time and help you give us for our research is invaluable. For our work to continue, we need more people to sign up for JDR, people with and without dementia, and so please do consider registering with JDR if you haven’t already signed up.”  

Taking part in a research study can take many forms.  There are lots of types of studies, such as those looking at prevention or new ways to diagnose the condition; drug studies trialling new treatments; or surveys aiming to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers.  To find out more about the initiative and to sign up visit https://www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk