A major study into why high blood pressure and strokes can cause brain damage that can lead to dementia was recently introduced by Dr Olivia Skrobot from the University of Bristol at a research roadshow hosted by Alzheimer’s Society.

At present, there is only a limited understanding of vascular dementia despite the fact that this type of dementia affects over 300,000 people in the UK. The Bristol team is developing a standardised process for the diagnosis of the condition and researching potential new forms of treatment.

Dr Susanne Sorensen, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Society, says,

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia, and yet research into this area is hindered by a lack of consensus on how to describe and diagnose it.

This study aims to improve UK vascular dementia resources for both scientists and the publicand will hopefully galvanise further research into the condition.

The audience, which included carers and people with dementia, also got the opportunity to learn about how Alzheimer’s Society funds research, and how they can get involved in the charity’s research programme.

Dr Sorensen continues,

One of the aims of the event was to recruit new members to our research volunteer network, which plays a role in deciding what research we fund. We now need more people to get involved to ensure the Society’s research projects meet the needs and concerns of people with dementia and their carers. Please get in touch if you would like to help.

For more information, please visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/research or would like to get involved in the research group, please email Matt Murray matt.murray@alzheimers.org.uk or call him on 020 7423 3603