Épisodes

  • Dr Yvonne Couch - Storytelling in Academia
    Feb 4 2026

    Dr Yvonne Couch, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.

    This blog explores how storytelling strengthens science communication across papers, presentations, and public engagement. Yvonne reflects on lessons from podcasts, conferences, and outreach work to show how understanding your audience can transform how research is shared. Drawing on personal experiences and examples from academia, the blog highlights how strong narrative flow helps researchers connect ideas, engage listeners, and improve interdisciplinary collaboration.

    Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

    https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-storytelling-in-academia/

    --

    Dr Yvonne Couch is a Research Fellow and Associate Professor at the University of Oxford. Yvonne studies the role of extracellular vesicles and their role in changing the function of the vasculature after stroke, aiming to discover why the prevalence of dementia after stroke is three times higher than the average. It is her passion for problem solving and love of science that drives her, in advancing our knowledge of disease. Yvonne writes about her work, academic life, and careers as she takes a new road into independent research.

    --

    Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

    This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

    --

    Follow us on Social Media:

    • https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
    • https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
    • https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
    • https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
    • https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

    Join our community:

    https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

    Voir plus Voir moins
    10 min
  • Dr Emma Law - How We Ensure Safety in Dementia Drug Trials
    Feb 4 2026

    Dr Emma Law, narrating her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.

    Clinical trials in dementia rely on carefully designed safeguards to protect participants and ensure treatments are tested responsibly. Emma Law explains how safety is built into every stage of a trial, from ethical recruitment and consent to screening processes, monitoring, and staff training. In this blog Emma highlights how lessons from past trial failures shaped current best practice and emphasises the shared responsibility between researchers, participants, carers, and sponsors to ensure studies run safely while advancing new treatments.

    Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

    https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-how-we-ensure-safety-in-dementia-drug-trials/

    #DementiaResearch #ClinicalTrials #Research #TrialDelivery

    --

    Dr Emma Law is Strategic Manager for the The Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network in Scotland. Emma has 13 years experience as a Clinical Trails Network Manager and over 35 years experience as a Nurse, many of which were spent in the delivery of Clinical Research Trials. Emma completed her PhD and is passionate about giving people living with dementia and their carers access to participate in research.

    --

    Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

    This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

    --

    Follow us on Social Media:

    • https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
    • https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
    • https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
    • https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
    • https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

    Join our community:

    https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

    Voir plus Voir moins
    8 min
  • ​Rahul Sidhu - My journey to a PhD in neuroscience: the highs & lows
    Feb 2 2026

    Rahul Sidhu, narrating a new blog he wrote for the Dementia Researcher website.

    We're pleased to welcome Rahul as a new regular contributor to the Dementia Researcher blog. In this post Rahul reflects on his route into neuroscience, from early uncertainty and academic setbacks to finding purpose through dementia research. He shares how personal experience, persistence, and discovery in the lab shaped his path to a PhD, alongside honest reflections on confidence, balance, and what comes next.

    Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

    https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-my-journey-to-a-phd-in-neuroscience-the-highs-lows/

    --

    ​Rahul Sidhu is a PhD student at The University of Sheffield, focusing on the effects of heart disease on dementia in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease. His research aims to uncover how cardiovascular health influences neurodegenerative conditions, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies.​ Find Rahul on LinkedIn

    --

    Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

    This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

    --

    Follow us on Social Media:

    • https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
    • https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
    • https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
    • https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
    • https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

    Join our community:

    https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

    Voir plus Voir moins
    7 min
  • Dr Sam Moxon - Never Truly Known, The Reality of Lewy Body Dementia
    Jan 29 2026

    Dr Sam Moxon, narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.

    In this blog, Sam reflects on the reality of Lewy body dementia through both his research background and his experience caring for his grandfather. He explores why LBD is so difficult to diagnose, how symptoms fluctuate, and how families are often left without clarity or closure. The piece speaks to the emotional weight of uncertainty and the importance of continuing to talk about LBD, not to find neat answers, but to help future families feel less alone.

    Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

    https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-never-truly-known-the-reality-of-lewy-body-dementia/

    --

    Dr Sam Moxon is a biomaterials Research Fellow at University of Birmingham. His expertise falls on the interface between biology and engineering. His PhD focussed on regenerative medicine and he now works on trying to develop 3D bioprinting techniques with human stem cells, so that we better understand and treat degenerative diseases. Outside of the lab he hikes through the Lake District and is an expert on all things Disney.

    --

    Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk

    This podcast is brought to you in association with the NIHR, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

    --

    Follow us on Social Media:

    • https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
    • https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
    • https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
    • https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
    • https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

    Join our community:

    https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

    Voir plus Voir moins
    5 min
  • Adam Smith - Living alongside Hallucinations
    Jan 28 2026

    Adam Smith narrates his post from the Dementia Researcher Community.

    In this post Adam reflects on conversations with carers who support people experiencing hallucinations, particularly in Lewy body dementia. Drawing on real encounters, he explores the uncertainty, emotional labour, and isolation that often sit beneath everyday care, and why awareness and shared understanding matter.

    Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

    https://communities.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/c/research-chat/living-alongside-hallucinations-8379e5a8-9929-4b34-b5d5-033969892649

    --

    Adam Smith was born in the north, a long time ago. He wanted to write books, but ended up working in the NHS, and at the Department of Health. He is now Programme Director in the Office of the NIHR National Director for Dementia Research (which probably sounds more important than it is) at University College London. He has led a number of initiatives to improve dementia research (including this website, Join Dementia Research & ENRICH), as well as pursuing his own research interests. In his spare time, he grows vegetables, builds Lego & spends most of his time drinking too much coffee and squeezing technology into his house.

    --

    Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

    This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

    --

    Follow us on Social Media:

    • https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
    • https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
    • https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
    • https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
    • https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

    Join our community:

    https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

    Voir plus Voir moins
    4 min
  • Ajantha Abey - From Alzheimer’s to Lewy Body Disease - Expanding our Research Horizons
    Jan 27 2026

    Ajantha Abey narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.

    In this blog Ajantha reflects on why Lewy body disease deserves far greater attention within dementia research. Drawing on their journey from Alzheimer’s focused tau research into synuclein pathology, the blog explores co occurring disease, diagnostic challenges, biomarker advances, and why understanding overlap across conditions is essential for better science and better care.

    Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

    https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-alzheimers-to-lewy-body-disease-expanding-our-research-horizons/

    --

    Dr Ajantha Abey is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Kavli Institute at University of Oxford. He is interested in the cellular mechanisms of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases of the ageing brain. Previously, having previoulsy explored neuropathology in dogs with dementia and potential stem cell replacement therapies. He now uses induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons to try and model selective neuronal vulnerability: the phenomenon where some cells die but others remain resilient to neurodegenerative diseases.

    --

    Enjoy listening and reading our blogs? We're always on the look out for new contributors, drop us a line and share your own research and careers advice dementiaresearcher@ucl.ac.uk

    This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

    --

    Follow us on Social Media:

    • https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
    • https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
    • https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
    • https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
    • https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

    Join our community:

    https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

    Voir plus Voir moins
    10 min
  • Dr Peter Connelly - Recognising Dementia with Lewy Bodies in Clinical Practice
    Jan 26 2026

    Dr Peter Connelly narrates his blog written for Dementia Researcher.

    In this blog Peter explores how dementia with Lewy bodies can present very differently from other dementias, particularly in its early stages. Drawing on clinical experience, he outlines key features including sleep disturbance, hallucinations, movement changes, and fluctuating attention, and explains how careful observation during assessment can support earlier recognition. The piece also reflects on current treatment limitations and highlights opportunities for environmental and non drug interventions to inform future research and care practice.

    Find the original text, and narration here on our website.

    https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-recognising-dementia-with-lewy-bodies-in-clinical-practice/

    --

    Dr Peter Connelly is a retired Old Age Psychiatrist who spent much of his career in Tayside, helping to establish clinical trials for dementia and neuroprogressive disorders in Scotland. Now working with the Scottish Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network, he combines professional insight with personal experience as a former carer. In retirement, he enjoys music, golf, and time with his grandchildren.

    --

    Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

    This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

    --

    Follow us on Social Media:

    • https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
    • https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
    • https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
    • https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
    • https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

    Join our community:

    https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

    Voir plus Voir moins
    8 min
  • Rebecca Williams - Why you should Start Writing Blogs
    Jan 22 2026

    Rebecca Williams, narrates her blog written for the Dementia Researcher website.

    In this blog, Rebecca reflects on nearly three years of blogging during her PhD and how writing regularly changed her confidence, communication skills, and sense of voice as a researcher. She shares early doubts about not being a good writer, the gradual development of her writing process, and the unexpected impact her blogs had on others. As she steps into her postdoctoral career, Rebecca looks back on blogging as one of the most meaningful parts of her PhD and encourages early career researchers to start writing, even when they do not feel ready. Find the original text, and narration here on our website. https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/blog-why-you-should-start-writing-blogs/ --

    Rebecca Williams is PhD student at the University of Cambridge. Though originally from ‘up North’ in a small town called Leigh, she did her undergraduate and masters at the University of Oxford before defecting to Cambridge for her doctorate researching Frontotemporal dementia and Apathy. She now spends her days collecting data from wonderful volunteers, and coding. Outside work, she plays board games, and is very crafty. @beccasue99

    --

    Enjoy listening? We're always looking for new bloggers, drop us a line. http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

    This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.

    --

    Follow us on Social Media:

    • https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
    • https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
    • https://twitter.com/demrescommunity
    • https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
    • https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

    Join our community:

    https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher

    Voir plus Voir moins
    4 min