Dementia Researcher

Dementia Researcher

A biweekly podcast for early career researchers, bringing together fantastic guests to discuss their research, careers + much more. Dedicated to sharing the science, encouraging collaborations, attracting more people to the field, and supporting those already here to succeed. Brought to you by https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk at University College London, in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia - everything you need, all in one place. supporting early career researchers across the world Register today to recieve weekly bulletins, with news, funding opportunities, jobs, and events.

  1. Life As A Researcher With ADHD

    2D AGO

    Life As A Researcher With ADHD

    In this episode of the Dementia Research Podcast, host Dr Gemma Lace is joined by guests, Dr Eric Hill from Loughborough University, Kalliopi Mavromati from University of Glasgow, Natalie Wickett from Simon Fraser University and Dr Kate Harris from Newcastle University. Together they discuss the intersection of ADHD and research, exploring personal experiences, misconceptions, and coping strategies. The conversation highlights the unique challenges faced by researchers with ADHD, the importance of understanding and empathy in academic settings, and the various ways individuals navigate their symptoms. The discussion also touches on the role of medication and the need for tailored approaches to support neurodiverse individuals in academia. -- A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to ADHD in Research 02:56 Understanding ADHD: Definitions and Misconceptions 06:55 Personal Experiences of ADHD 10:37 Hyperfocus: The Double-Edged Sword 14:22 Gender Differences in ADHD Presentation 21:46 ADHD in Academia: Challenges and Realizations 25:35 The Positive Aspects of ADHD 29:11 Coping Mechanisms and Strategies 34:10 Medication: The Good, The Bad, and The Necessary 48:14 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

    56 min
  2. Detecting UTIs Early in Dementia

    FEB 7

    Detecting UTIs Early in Dementia

    In this episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast, host Adam Smith chats with with Professor Paul Freemont and researcher Tom Adam from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Imperial College London to discuss the critical issue of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in individuals living with dementia. The conversation highlights the complexities of diagnosing UTIs in people living with dementia, where communication barriers and atypical presentations often lead to misdiagnosis and unnecessary hospitalisations. The guests emphasise the urgent need for improved detection methods, as UTIs can exacerbate cognitive decline and lead to severe health complications. They talk about their work to develop and introduce an innovative novel point-of-care diagnostic device designed specifically for dementia patients, which aims to facilitate early detection of UTIs in a home and care home setting, thereby reducing the reliance on traditional symptom reporting and hospital visits. Key takeaways: 🔹UTIs are a major cause of hospital admission and sudden decline in people living with dementia. 🔹Diagnosing UTIs is harder in dementia because symptoms are often not recognised or communicated. 🔹Current testing methods can be slow and sometimes lead to overuse of antibiotics. 🔹New home based rapid testing technology aims to detect infections earlier and closer to where care happens. 🔹Earlier detection could reduce hospital stays and improve quality of life. 🔹Future monitoring of urine biomarkers could help predict infections before symptoms appear. -- A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher Chapters 00:00 Introduction to UTIs in Dementia 04:15 The Seriousness of UTIs in Dementia 18:31 Innovative Approaches to UTI Detection 22:00 Engineering a Diagnostic Device for Home Use 27:04 Innovative UTI Detection Technology 29:41 The Vision for Home Testing 31:40 Personal Motivations Behind the Research 34:40 Understanding the Urinary Microbiome 37:53 Designing the UTI Detection Device 44:20 Testing in Clinical Environments 50:57 Barriers to Market Entry 54:03 Community Awareness and Support 58:46 Outro

    59 min
  3. Three Researchers. One Disease. Lewy Body Dementia

    JAN 24

    Three Researchers. One Disease. Lewy Body Dementia

    In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, we focus on Lewy body dementia and why it remains one of the most misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed forms of dementia. Released ahead of Lewy Body Dementia Day on 28 January, the conversation explores what Lewy body dementia is, how it sits between existing diagnostic categories, and why it often takes years for people to receive the right diagnosis. -- Host Dr Sam Moxon is joined by three researchers working on Lewy body dementia from very different angles: 🔹Dr Ece Bayram, Assistant Research Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz, whose work explores differences in risk, progression and diagnosis across sex, gender, ethnicity and race 🔹Dr Joe Kane, Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Lecturer, who combines clinical care with research into diagnosis, service delivery and clinical trials 🔹Dr David Koss, Lecturer and Group Lead at the University of Dundee, studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying Lewy body dementia -- Together, they unpack why Lewy body dementia does not follow a neat clinical pathway, how overlapping symptoms can lead to confusion with Alzheimer disease or Parkinson disease, and why uncertainty in diagnosis affects everything from care planning to research outcomes. The discussion highlights the real world consequences of misdiagnosis, including inappropriate treatments, faster than expected progression, and the emotional toll on families and care partners. The guests also reflect on how limited awareness of Lewy body dementia continues to shape health services, research recruitment and public understanding. Across the episode, a clear theme emerges: Lewy body dementia cannot be understood from a single perspective. Clinical insight, biological research and population level studies all need to connect if progress is to be made. The conversation also explores promising areas of research, including improvements in clinical detection, the development of practical diagnostic tools, the importance of inclusive research populations, and emerging biological findings that may point towards future therapeutic targets. -- Key takeaways 🔹Lewy body dementia includes dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia 🔹Symptoms extend beyond memory and can include hallucinations, sleep disturbance, fluctuations and movement changes 🔹Diagnosis is frequently delayed due to overlapping features with other dementias 🔹Misdiagnosis can lead to harmful treatments and inappropriate care planning 🔹Care partners play a central role in both diagnosis and ongoing support 🔹Research cohorts often lack diversity, limiting understanding of the 🔹Cellular mechanisms such as alpha synuclein dysfunction remain an important area of study 🔹Early and accurate diagnosis improves care, planning and research quality 🔹Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to understanding the disease 🔹Public awareness is key to improving detection, funding and outcomes -- A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

    47 min
  4. UKDRI Connectome Conference Highlights

    JAN 11

    UKDRI Connectome Conference Highlights

    This episode shares highlights from the UK Dementia Research Institute Connectome Conference. Host Dr Anna Mallach is joined by Dr Dayne Beccano Kelly, Dr Beth Eyre, and Tom Adam to reflect on talks, posters, and discussions that stood out. The conversation covers lived experience sessions, keynote talks, early career presentations, and how informal conversations and parallel sessions shaped ideas and potential collaborations. The episode offers a snapshot of the breadth of work presented across the institute and the importance of connecting people as well as science. Topics covered: • Conference scale and structure • Lived experience contributions • Keynote and plenary talks • Flash talks and posters • Early career researcher sessions • Collaboration and translation • Informal discussion and networking Find out more about the UKDRI: https://www.ukdri.ac.uk/ Watch our YouTube Shorts Series, with conference attendees presenting their posters in under 3 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeUI1GHB4EvRFJl8tRC-wq5RxkDKF9twU -- A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the UK Dementia Research Institute Conference 05:01 Research Highlights and Personal Experiences 09:54 Lived Experience and Its Impact on Research 11:20 Quality of Research and Early Career Insights 13:23 Plenary Speakers and Their Contributions 17:07 Innovative Approaches in Research 20:02 The Role of Collaboration in Research 24:10 Engagement and Networking Opportunities 28:11 Parallel Sessions and Emerging Ideas 33:26 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

    43 min
  5. Twelve Research Fails of Christmas 💥🧪

    12/19/2025

    Twelve Research Fails of Christmas 💥🧪

    This festive special flips the script on polished papers and perfect protocols. Dr Fiona McLean is joined by Dr Ian Harrison, Dr Soraya Meftah, and Dr Kate Harris to share the research moments that did not go to plan but taught them far more than success ever could. From ELISAs gone rogue and antibodies that refuse to behave, to admin systems that quietly derail months of planning, this episode is a reminder that real research is messy, unpredictable, and occasionally hilarious. The conversation moves easily between lab disasters, student supervision realities, near misses with fire, and the emotional rollercoaster of academic life. It is light hearted, reassuring, and (hopefully) relatable. A permission slip to laugh, reflect, and remember that being wrong is often part of doing good science. Merry Christmas from all of us! -- Top takeaways - Most experiments do not fail, they redirect - Unexpected results often open better research questions - Rushing protocols almost always backfires - Admin failures can be as stressful as lab failures - Talking openly about what went wrong saves time and money - Students learn more from troubleshooting than from perfect results - Publishing negative findings can help an entire field - Being wrong is built into the scientific method - Giving yourself time and mental space matters - If no one was hurt, it is probably recoverable A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Research Fails 02:07 Learning from Mistakes in Research 04:53 Unexpected Outcomes and Their Value 05:53 The Importance of Data in Research 08:38 Navigating Challenges in Experiments 11:33 The Role of Collaboration in Research 14:40 Discovering New Avenues from Failures 15:40 The Importance of Literature in Research 16:41 Experiences of Discovery and Optimization in Research 17:51 Near-Death Experiences in the Lab 19:34 Lessons from Lab Mishaps 20:57 Administrative Chaos in Research 26:52 The Culture of Silence Around Research Failures 33:16 Navigating Criticism and Feedback in Academia 36:51 Navigating Experimental Challenges 38:43 The Temptation of Over-Experimenting 40:03 Learning from ELISA Mishaps

    1h 1m
  6. 🎅 Should Santa be Running a Research Lab? Festive Charity Debate

    12/17/2025

    🎅 Should Santa be Running a Research Lab? Festive Charity Debate

    This festive charity debate asks a question nobody saw coming but everyone had an opinion on. Would Santa Claus make a good principal investigator? Recorded live in the Dementia Researcher Community, this Christmas special brings humour, sharp thinking, and real reflections on leadership, research culture, ethics, and academia. -- The debate is hosted by Adam Smith and Dr Anna Volkmer. Speaking for the motion is Rebecca Williams, PhD researcher exploring FTD and apathy. Speaking against the motion is Dr Connor Richardson, Research Fellow working in data science, epidemiology, and machine learning in dementia research. Through opening statements, rebuttals, and audience questions, the discussion ranges from logistics and mentorship to ethics, transparency, wellbeing, and what good leadership really looks like in research. While lighthearted on the surface, the debate reveals some very familiar academic tensions beneath the tinsel. Vote now: 🎅 https://8k3qel8nuxc.typeform.com/to/tXVIkWRe -- This episode was recorded as a charity event in support of Dementia UK and their Admiral Nurses, who provide vital support to people living with dementia and their families, especially during the Christmas period. If you enjoyed the debate and would like to support their work, you can donate here: 👉 https://buy.stripe.com/28EfZj1G37zIcrF2wA77O00 Thank you for listening, watching, and supporting dementia research and care. -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast represent those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Santa Clause, The North Pole or Dementia Research.

    1h 3m
  7. Beyond the Pill: Methodology in Dementia Clinical Trials

    12/06/2025

    Beyond the Pill: Methodology in Dementia Clinical Trials

    In this episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast we look at how dementia clinical trials reach far beyond medicines. Host Dr Annalise Rahman Filipiak speaks with Dr Elizabeth Rhodus, Dr Inga Antonsdottir, and Dr Elisa França Resende about entering the field, working with behavioural and community based interventions, and learning the skills needed to deliver rigorous, reproducible studies that still respect the individual needs of participants. The guests discuss their routes into trials, what surprised them, what they wish they had known earlier, and how mentorship and collaboration shaped their progress. They touch on trial design, regulatory processes, cultural considerations, and the value of early career networks that support researchers across different countries. -- Topics covered 🔹What early career researchers find challenging about trial methods 🔹Working in homes and communities 🔹Designing sensory and environmental interventions 🔹Literacy based trials in Brazil and issues of inclusion 🔹Mentorship, networks and training programmes 🔹Trial rigour, manuals, assessments and reproducibility 🔹Regulatory hurdles and timeframes 🔹Practical advice for researchers wanting to deliver a trial as part of their research -- Find more information on our guests, and a full transcript of this podcast on our website at: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast -- Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dementia Research and Clinical Trials 05:01 Early Career Researchers in Clinical Trials 11:31 The Role of Mentorship in Research 18:46 Innovative Interventions Beyond Pharmacology 25:41 Community Engagement and Methodological Considerations 33:32 Overcoming Barriers in Clinical Trials 38:22 Advice for Aspiring Clinical Trialists 41:00 Whimsical Research Questions and Closing Thoughts #dementiaresearch #methodology #dementia #ClinicalTrials @alzassociation #ISTAART

    47 min
  8. XXplored - The Midlife Transition: Menopause and the Brain

    11/21/2025

    XXplored - The Midlife Transition: Menopause and the Brain

    In this episode of the Dementia Researcher - Xxplored Women’s Brain Health podcast, host Dr Laura Stankeviciute speaks with Professor Claudia Barth from Charite University and Dr Gillian Coughlan from Harvard Medical School to examine the midlife transition, menopause and its significance for women’s brain health. Together they outline what the menopause truly involves across the early, late, and post stages, and explain how hormonal change affects brain structure, energy use, mood, and cognition. They also explore why this period may coincide with greater vulnerability to later Alzheimer’s disease and discuss the role of early or surgical menopause, symptom severity, and gaps in existing research cohorts. The episode highlights the need for richer reproductive data, real time biomarker studies, and closer collaboration with digital health tools to better capture women’s lived experiences. It reflects a growing wave of research and public interest aimed at improving understanding, support, and evidence based care during this important life stage. -- Takeaways ● Menopause is a long transition shaped by fluctuating hormones. ● Cognitive and mood symptoms reflect changes in brain networks. ● Earlier menopause is linked with increased later Alzheimer’s risk. ● Major research cohorts lack detailed reproductive data. ● New real time studies are beginning to track symptoms and biomarkers. ● Digital tools will be key for future research. ● Better global representation is needed across studies. ● Momentum is building to close long standing gaps in women’s health. -- Find bios on all our speakers, a full transcript of the show and more on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk - Follow us on social media: https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/ https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/ https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social -- Download and Register with our Community App: https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher -- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Menopause and Research Focus 07:25 Understanding Menopause: Definitions and Stages 16:27 Menopause and Alzheimer's Disease: A Critical Connection 22:43 Understanding Menopause and Brain Health 25:21 Historical Blind Spots in Alzheimer's Research 26:38 The Importance of Reproductive Variables 31:46 Biomarkers and Methodologies in Women's Health Research 35:28 Industry Collaboration in Research 39:00 Personal Reflections on Women's Brain Health

    43 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A biweekly podcast for early career researchers, bringing together fantastic guests to discuss their research, careers + much more. Dedicated to sharing the science, encouraging collaborations, attracting more people to the field, and supporting those already here to succeed. Brought to you by https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk at University College London, in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia - everything you need, all in one place. supporting early career researchers across the world Register today to recieve weekly bulletins, with news, funding opportunities, jobs, and events.

Information

  • Creator
    Dementia Researcher
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    330
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Dementia Researcher