Dementia Researcher Blogs

Rebecca Williams, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog Rebecca talks about the complexities of self-report scales in psychological research. She highlights the common tendency to adopt careless response strategies when completing lengthy questionnaires and discusses the trust placed in participants' meaningful engagement. Rebecca focuses on patients with fron...

Dr Sam Moxon , narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog Sam shares insights on successfully delivering a keynote presentation. He discusses the significance of milestones in academia, particularly receiving an authentic (authentic being an important word there) invitation to give a keynote talk. Sam offers six key tips for preparing a captivating and engaging keynote talk, e...

Dr Yvonne Couch , narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. Yvonne provides a comprehensive overview of Organ-On-Chip and Organoid Technologies. Focusing on her work with blood-brain barrier cells, she explains their growth in 3D using innovative devices. She delves into the history of these techniques, their relevance to dementia research, and the evolution of cell culture. S...

Dr Clarissa Giebel narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. Clarissa's July travels proved rewarding, from presenting dementia care inequalities at the IPA Congress to establishing collaborations in India. Exploring NIMHANS' dementia care in Bangalore gave her insights impossible to glean from articles. Engaging with clinicians highlighted challenges including stigma and financial barrie...

Beth Eyre  narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Beth recounts her recent accomplishment of successfully defending her PhD thesis and passing the viva, detailing the unique UK viva process. Amidst the exhilaration, Beth shares valuable insights on preparing for this pivotal assessment. Anchored in a positive mindset, I emphasise viewing the viva as a platform to engage w...

Dr Jodi Watt, narrating a new blog they wrote for the Dementia Researcher website. Jodi is a "dabbler" (their words) who explores various aspects of life and identity. In this blog Jodi discusses the toll of a PhD and academic expectations on life, mental health and personal growth. They reflect on the pervasive pressure to continuously grind, impacting not only the themselves but also others in a...

Dr Gaia Brezzo narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. Exploring the domain of collaborative science, this blog delves into the progression of research dynamics from individual efforts to team collaborations. It emphasises the vital role of interpersonal relationships within laboratories and the significance of harmonising with a supportive lab environment. Gaia provides practical insig...

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. Discover the path to groundbreaking dementia research in the latest blog from Kamar Ameen-Ali. Kam delves into the crucial role clinicians play in driving clinical research forward. Unveiling the challenges and opportunities of collaboration, Kam draws from firsthand experiences, showcasing how effective partnerships between cli...

Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In the realm of academia, teaching is often viewed as a hindrance to research, a time-consuming chore that distracts from crucial experimental work. However, Ajantha Abey passionately argues that teaching can be a source of wonder and enrichment for aspiring researchers, especially PhD students. By sharing his own experiences as a pos...

Dr Connor Richardson narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. Connor discusses the significance of population-based epidemiology in dementia research. While often overlooked, population studies play a crucial role in understanding the distribution of cognitive function, estimating dementia prevalence and incidence, and identifying risk factors. The blog highlights the benefits of populat...

Dr Sam Moxon , narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog Sam emphasises the cornerstone role of collaboration in dementia research and provides practical tips and strategies to foster effective partnerships. Dementia profoundly affects millions worldwide, demanding a holistic approach to explore its complexities. By collaborating across disciplines like neuroscience, psycholo...

Rebecca Williams, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog Rebecca shares her personal journey from a small town in the North of England to Oxford University, reflecting on the doubts and fears that almost prevented her from applying. With a strong belief in the power of science communication, she emphasises the importance of outreach, especially to underrepresen...

Dr Aida Suárez-Gonzalez narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog Aida discusses the process of senior academic promotions (grade 9 and 10) in UK higher education institutions, focusing on the underrepresentation of women in such positions. She shares tips and learnings from her own experience, advising readers to prepare in advance, organise their merits according to the fra...

Dr Clarissa Giebel narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. Clarissa discusses the process of co-designing a board game, the Dementia Inequalities Game, as an innovative way to share research findings on dementia care inequalities. Through co-production workshops involving people with dementia, carers, care professionals, and Third Sector representatives, the team developed the game's co...

Dr Yvonne Couch , narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website. In this blog Yvonne discusses the isolation experienced in academia and the importance of mentoring for mental health and academic success. She shares personal experiences of feeling alone and the fear it brings, emphasising the detrimental effects of isolation on career progression. Yvonne advocates for mandatory men...

Hannah Hussain narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, learn how to prepare for a conference to maximise your experience by reviewing the program, setting goals, utilising digital networking, dressing appropriately, taking care of logistics, and following up with connections made, ultimately making the most of the valuable opportunity to network, learn, and share in your f...

Dr Kamar Ameen-Ali narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Dr Kam discusses the process of pivoting research areas during postdoctoral positions and highlights the significance of leveraging existing skills whilst developing new ones to pursue specific research interests. She emphasises the challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning between research areas, a...

Beth Eyre  narrates her blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog, Beth reflects on her experience of writing up her PhD thesis and shares five key insights she wishes she had known beforehand. She emphasises the challenges of the writing process, including moments of self-doubt and the need to establish a suitable writing routine. Beth highlights the importance of setting realistic expec...

Dr Sam Moxon , narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. Sam shares the story of his grandfather, who experienced a rapid decline in his dementia during a hospital stay. Hospital delirium, triggered by the unfamiliar environment, disrupted routines, and increased sensory stimulation, worsened his condition. Infections further accelerated cognitive decline, and antibiotics had negative eff...

Adam Smith narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In this blog Adam emphasises the importance of sustainable travel to international conferences in light of climate change. While attending conferences in person is essential, Adam encourages listeners to consider concious decision making on travel choice, and particuarly carbon offsetting as a way to reduce the environmental impact of t...

Dr Jodi Watt, narrating a new blog they wrote for the Dementia Researcher website. As Pride month comes to an end, Jodi shares their experience as an LGBTQIA+ postgraduate and PhD student. They discuss the challenges and variability of being 'out' and queer in academia, highlighting both supportive and discriminatory experiences. Josi emphasises the importance of acknowledging the mental, emotiona...

Dr Mark Crook-Rumsey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a complex and challenging neurodegenerative disease, in this blog Mark discusses the UK DRI work on the development of digital biomarkers through remote monitoring technologies, showing they have the potential to revolutionise MND research, enabling real-time, non-invasive data collection, improvi...

Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. In "A Beginner's Guide to Preparing for a Big Conference," (with the AAIC around the corner) Ajantha advises on strategies to make the most of conferences. They stress the importance of planning, setting goals, and prioritizing sessions. The guide offers tips for effective networking, taking notes, and scheduling rest afterwards. Over...

Dr Chris Henstridge , narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. It's Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Week, and in this blog Chris discusses the significance of synapse loss in Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and Motor Neuron Disease (MND), highlighting the overlap in cognitive decline and similar brain changes observed in both diseases. He explores the link between synapse loss, cognitive d...

Dr Sam Moxon , narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher. The potential connection between sports, particularly contact sports with repetitive head trauma, and neurodegenerative diseases like Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) raises concerns. While the evidence remains inconclusive, studies have shown a higher risk of MND among retired rugby players, po...