Dementias Platform UK

12/12/2025

Thanks Alex McCreadie and 499 others...He's the 500th participant in our -OUT study. The study's evaluating the accuracy of tests diagnosing dementia to use in the NHS, for the Blood Biomarker Challenge run by Alzheimer's Research UK & Alzheimer's Society. Recruited byReMind UK in Bath, one of 21 sites already operating. In 2026 there will be 10 more locations across the UK.

“Recruiting our 500th participant in our first year is terrific” says Prof Vanessa Raymont. “Our clinical sites in the NHS have done a great job in finding people willing to take part. It is an important study and we will ultimately have over 3,000 recruits drawn from diverse communities.”

Everyone taking part gives a blood sample and provides other information about their cognition. An additional study, run in parallel, will look at digital tests. The study aims to evaluate the accuracy of blood-based ‘biomarker’ tests for diagnosing dementia, as well as their effectiveness in diverse populations and their cost-effectiveness for the NHS.

The Blood Biomarker Challenge, a multi-million pound initiative led by Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and Gates Ventures, with £5m raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

09/12/2025

What next for GLP-1 receptor agonists and dementia?
Novo Nordisk's EVOKE trial didn't meet its primary endpoint - semaglutide didn't slow cognitive decline in people with early Alzheimer's. But the results revealed something intriguing: reductions in biomarkers of neurodegeneration, inflammation, and tau protein. The drug does something to Alzheimer's biology - the question is when to use it.

Dr Ivan Koychev of DPUK, Associate Professor in Neuropsychiatry at Imperial College London, highlights the real opportunity: "The most encouraging evidence for GLP-1 therapies comes from epidemiology, showing reduced dementia incidence in people using these drugs. That suggests a preventive signal rather than an effect in treating established disease."

In other words, EVOKE asked: can we slow decline once symptoms appear? Answer: no. But the more important question might be: can we prevent dementia before symptoms start? That remains wide open.
As Ivan notes: "Science moves forward when we learn from every result, positive or negative, and keeps our focus on what matters most: better, evidence-based options for patients and families."

This is why rigorous trials - even those that don't meet their endpoints - are essential. They refine our hypotheses, clarify where to focus next, and remind us that timing of intervention may be as crucial as the intervention itself.

Worth a read 👇 https://zurl.co/ZFZpM

Novo Nordisk A/S left open the door for additional work on its pill version of Ozempic for Alzheimer’s disease after a pair of failed trials, saying that patients showed a biological response in a handful of areas despite getting no cognitive improvement.

21/11/2025

💙 Poor heart health in middle age linked to dementia in old age – new study

A groundbreaking 25-year study of nearly 6,000 adults has revealed an important connection between heart health in midlife and dementia risk decades later.

Key findings from the Whitehall study:

🔬 People with elevated cardiac troponin I levels in middle age were 38% more likely to develop dementia later in life

📊 For every doubling of troponin, dementia risk rose by 10%

🧠 Higher midlife troponin levels were associated with smaller grey-matter volume and hippocampal shrinkage – equivalent to approximately three extra years of brain ageing

The encouraging news? The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia estimates that 17% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by improving cardiovascular health through managing blood pressure, cholesterol, physical activity and lifestyle factors.

This important research reinforces what we've long suspected: what's good for the heart is good for the brain. It also highlights the value of cardiovascular health monitoring in midlife as a potential early indicator for future cognitive wellbeing.

Read more: https://zurl.co/Lxtfo

A 25-year study reveals that silent heart damage in your 50s can predict dementia risk decades later.

05/11/2025

It is great to see our READ-OUT study and the leading the news programme Points West in the west of England. https://zurl.co/PcgLA
The Brain Centre at North Bristol NHS Trust and ReMind UK in Bath are participating in the study. It could revolutionise and make it easier, quicker and better to get a diagnosis.

The latest news, sport, weather and features from the West of England.

03/11/2025

How Childhood Shapes the Brain Decades Later: New Research from DPUK

We're pleased to share that Dr Delia Gheorghe's research has been published in Scientific Reports, revealing how early-life experiences can leave lasting imprints on brain structure.

Using DPUK's research infrastructure, Dr Gheorghe and colleagues analysed MRI data from 452 cognitively healthy older adults. The findings show that perceived excessive maternal control in childhood was linked to smaller volumes in reward-processing brain regions—measured more than 50 years later.

"This paper is one example of what we can do with the breadth of data available in DPUK. It's quite remarkable that we found associations between early-life aspects and brain structure measured more than 50 years later." — Dr Delia Gheorghe

The research has reached audiences beyond academia: Dr Gheorghe and Prof Sarah Bauermeister recently discussed the findings on Pro TV News in Romania (interview in Romanian), bringing dementia research insights to international communities.

This work is part of the Blossom Early Adversity & Brain Health Programme, led by Prof Bauermeister in collaboration with Morgane Künzi and Dr Nico Filippini. It demonstrates how DPUK resources support researchers in exploring complex questions about brain health across the lifespan.

👉 Read the full study: https://zurl.co/FLgmQ
👉 Romanian TV interview: https://zurl.co/QHi9d
👉 Learn more about DPUK resources: https://zurl.co/tTDlG

16/10/2025

Dr Ivan Koychev is now presenting on artificial intelligence for dementia at our Great Minds live event! 🧠
A brilliant afternoon of cutting-edge research alongside Prof John Gallacher, Prof Vanessa Raymont, and Prof James Rowe.

16/10/2025

We're live at The Saïd Business School, Oxford!

Our Great Minds event "Decoding Dementia: Biomarkers, Big Data, and the Future of Diagnosis" is underway with a fantastic turnout of Great Mind members, researchers, clinicians, and READ-OUT study participants.

Prof John Gallacher is currently presenting on what big data has revealed about dementia over the past 5 years – fascinating insights from the room!

More to come from Prof James Rowe, Prof Vanessa Raymont, and Dr Ivan Koychev this afternoon.

14/10/2025

📍 Final Reminder: Join Us This Week – It's Not Too Late!

Our Great Minds Live event is happening this Wednesday, 16 October 2025 at The Saïd Business School, Oxford.

"Decoding Dementia: Biomarkers, Big Data, and the Future of Diagnosis"

There's still time to register! Everyone involved with the READ-OUT study is warmly invited to join us, along with anyone interested in the latest dementia research. You can attend in person or join us online.

Hear from leading experts including Prof Vanessa Raymont (READ-OUT co-lead), Prof John Gallacher (DPUK Director), Dr Ivan Koychev (Great Minds lead & READ-OUT co-lead), and Prof James Rowe as they discuss advances in biomarkers, AI applications, and new developments in diagnosis.

Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm (Registration from 1:30pm)

Don't miss this opportunity – book your place today, whether attending in person or online. https://zurl.co/Z7Ghe

10/10/2025

Dementia is a global challenge. On World Mental Health Day, wants to thank every single scientist who is working day in, day out to better understand the disease.

And a huge thank you too, to our volunteers who are so vital to human-based research into , declining , and . -OUT

Share to show your appreciation.

06/10/2025

Are you part of our READ-OUT study? If you are, we'd like to invite you to join attend - in person or online a special 'GREAT MINDS LIVE' event on Thursday 16th October, 2-5pm.

You'll be joining people who have registered to be on our Great Minds register, but you can also invite friends or family to come too. Everyone is welcome.

We expect there will be staff from some of our 31 clinical research sites across the country joining the event too.

For everyone, it is a chance to hear from some of our research investigators about developments in biomarkers, the use of AI in research and to learn how about new developments in diagnosis.

Speakers include Prof Vanessa Raymont, who co-leads READ-OUT; Prof John Gallacher (PhD AFBPsS CPsychol FFPH), Director of DPUK; and Ivan Koychev, who heads up Great Minds and is also a co-lead of the READ-OUT study.

You can attend 'in person' at the Said Business School in Oxford: https://zurl.co/4RcKS
Or join ONLINE: https://zurl.co/bi07v

Note: You will need to book however you choose to attend.

01/10/2025

Don't miss it! Book your place at our latest GREAT MINDS LIVE event - in Oxford (and online). Decoding Dementia: Biomarkers, Big Data and the Future of Diagnosis. FREE, but places are limited.

Attend in person: https://zurl.co/3aacq
Online: https://zurl.co/vUa6g

15/09/2025

🩸 Could a Simple Blood Test Revolutionise NHS Dementia Diagnosis?

Prof Vanessa Raymont explores this game-changing possibility at Great Minds Live (16 Oct).

Why it matters:
• More accessible diagnosis across the NHS
• Earlier detection before symptoms
• Less invasive than current methods
• Better clinical trial efficiency

Plus: Dr Ivan Koychev reveals how AI is transforming dementia research, and Prof John Gallacher shares 5 years of breakthrough developments.

📅 16 October, 2-5pm | FREE
Said Business School
This isn't just research updates - it's the future of dementia care.

Register: In-person https://zurl.co/rSKdB | Online https://zurl.co/J6F7l



What excites you most about these developments?

The future of biomarkers and the importance of registers in dementia research