Sheffield one of first in UK to boost access to dementia research

There will be a fleet of dedicated Alzheimer’s Society UKDTN research nurses across the country, focused on boosting the number and diversity of people taking part in vital dementia research studies.  

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the first UKDTN sites to recruit a dementia research nurse, with up to 20 sites across the UK expected to be set up over the next few years.  Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, and one in three people born today will develop the condition in their lifetime. Despite the urgent need to find new ways to diagnose and treat it, dementia research currently lags far behind other diseases and medical conditions. 

A tiny proportion of the nearly one million people living with dementia in the UK today have taken part in a dementia trial in the last five years, and those that have participated, even fewer are from diverse backgrounds with 95% of people being of White British/European origin.    

Boosting access to research

Low awareness of clinical trials among people living with dementia are compounding these issues. An Alzheimer’s Society and UKDTN survey shows that around 80% of people with dementia were not told about research opportunities by their clinician, yet over 90% think that clinical trials and research should be discussed as a standard part of dementia care. 

Jo Howe, Alzheimer’s Society UKDTN Research Nurse and Senior Dementia Research Sister at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, is Sheffield's first dementia research nurse. 

She said: “I am honoured to be part of the first UK-wide network of dementia research nurses. My main aim is to promote dementia research to both staff and the public and make it easier for people to get involved. I want to raise awareness of available research opportunities and support individuals in taking part. Through this, I hope to make dementia research more inclusive and accessible for everyone. Along the way, I also aim to build strong connections between healthcare teams, researchers, and people affected by dementia, ensuring that research is guided by lived experiences and leads to better support and care.” 

Laura Rooney, Lead Research Nurse at Alzheimer’s Society, explained:   

“Research will beat dementia, the UK’s biggest killer. We’re making real progress in finding effective dementia treatments and diagnostic tests - and clinical trials are the only way to know if they work. We know people living with dementia are keen to take part in research and find it incredibly rewarding, but so few are offered the opportunity. We urgently need to expand the number of clinical trials available, with our research nurses increasing visibility and access to opportunities so that more people living with dementia from all backgrounds can take part.” 

To find out more about Alzheimer’s Society UKDTN Research Nurses and taking part in dementia clinical trials, visit alzheimers.org.uk/research-nurses.