Worried about your memory or thinking about how to protect your brain health?
Dementia Action Week is an opportunity to consider what taking action really means.
While there is an ever growing focus on how risk factors may contribute to the risk of developing dementia and how managing those could help (Lancet Commission 2024; The surprising habits linked to dementia), there are still many unanswered questions, including whether such actions may have more impact at certain ages or stages of memory problems.
Research offers a practical way for people to understand their brain health and contribute to the development of optimal future care.
At Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (OHFT), research into memory and cognition brings together clinical services and specialist teams working across the Trust and academic partners. This means people can access research opportunities at different points in their care.
For some, this starts with early assessment. The Oxford Brain Health Clinic, part of our BRC, focuses on identifying and understanding changes in memory and thinking as early as possible, by trialling new assessments with those referred to memory clinics. This helps researchers build a clearer picture of brain health and resilience in people with a variety of memory difficulties, whilst offering patients opportunities to take part in research alongside routine care.
Behind the scenes, the Memory and Cognition Research Delivery Team supports the day-to-day running of a wide portfolio of studies focused on memory. Based within OHFT, the team includes research nurses, therapists and practitioners working directly with patients and carers. They deliver a wide range of studies, from one-off questionnaires to home-based therapies and more in-depth cutting edge drug trials.
Taking part in research can look different depending on the study. It may involve attending appointments at a clinic or at home, completing cognitive assessments, or testing new approaches to care or treatment. Participants are supported throughout, and many studies involve a family member or friend who can contribute additional perspective.
For more complex or early-phase studies, the NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Oxford Health provides a dedicated environment where research can be delivered safely and consistently. This allows researchers to explore new treatments and interventions while ensuring participants receive appropriate monitoring and support.
Across OHFT, there are several ways to hear about and take part in research. People receiving care may be contacted about relevant studies through initiatives such as Count Me In, or they can speak to their clinician or contact the research team(s) directly. Participation is always voluntary, and choosing not to take part does not affect care.
Taking action around our brain health and dementia is not limited to awareness, it can mean getting involved. By taking part in research, patients and the public play an essential role in improving understanding of memory and cognition, and shaping future approaches to diagnosis, treatment and care.
Professor Vanessa Raymont, Consultant Psychiatrist and R&D Director, OHFT told us: “Taking action around brain health and memory disorders extends beyond raising awareness. It involves ensuring that people feel supported to seek advice when concerned, understand changes in their memory, and can access opportunities to take part in research.
Across Oxford Health, we are working to provide these opportunities at different points in the patient journey, from early assessment through to participation in clinical studies. This not only helps us improve our understanding of the underlying causes of dementia, but also how we can better support people and their families in a meaningful and timely way.
Participation in research is always a personal decision, but it remains one of the most important ways individuals can contribute to future progress. Every study and every participant contributes to the growing body of evidence that has given us some amazing new biomarkers and drugs over the last few years, with many more in the pipeline, so there has never been a more important time to get involved in order to influence changes in care.”
To find out more about current dementia studies across the Trust or how to get involved visit:
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Oxford Health – Get Involved
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust – Patient and Public Involvement
- NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Oxford Health – Get Involved
- email: oxfordhealth.CRF@nhs.net
