Research
Dementia information
Alzheimer’s Research UK has funded more than £4 million of pioneering research to help advance our understanding of dementia with Lewy bodies.
In this section:
Research is the only way we'll find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat dementia and scientists need your help. Without people volunteering to take part in research, finding a cure would be impossible.
People with dementia, their carers, and people without dementia are all needed to take part.
Anyone over the age of 18 can register to Join Dementia Research, which is run by the NHS.
This will match you to research studies you are suitable for. Then you get to choose which ones to take part in.
People have many different reasons for wanting to volunteer for dementia research, and it's their support that will drive forward our progress and change the lives of everyone affected by dementia.
You can register to find out which research studies you may be suitable to take part in via Join Dementia Research.
You can also register your interest and find out more about what might be involved in a research study by clicking the button below.
We have to take a positive and dynamic attitude. The hope is that we will see improvement in the outcomes of research because dementia is not going to cure itself. It's got to be taken seriously. It's got to be a high priority. “We give a high priority to other serious conditions, but we need to put dementia with Lewy bodies in the same bracket. We need a cure.
- Des, who was diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies
Read about volunteer experiences of taking part in research
Find out more about taking part in research
Alzheimer's Research UK's research into dementia with Lewy bodies
As the UK's leading dementia charity, we are working to revolutionise the way we treat, diagnose and prevent dementia. And then, we will find a way to cure it.
Alzheimer’s Research UK has funded more £10.5 million of pioneering research into dementia with Lewy bodies.
Find out more about the projects we're funding below.
With your support, we will fund many more studies into dementia with Lewy bodies. We promise we will not stop until dementia can no longer destroy lives.
We are Alzheimer’s Research UK.
We exist for a cure.
Research projects
Using data from brain donations to investigate the impact of multiple underlying causes of dementia
Use information from the Brains for Dementia Research Programme to find out which disease combinations lead to a more rapid decline of memory and thinking skills.
Using brain scans to investigate changes in the brain over time
Prof Nick Fox and Prof Jon Schott are studying brain scans to investigate changes in the brain over time in a longitudinal amyloid-PET/MRI study of the 1946 birth cohort.
Understanding the link between sport and dementia risk
This project will review the current evidence around the benefits and risks of sport and, through collaboration with stakeholders in research, clinicians, and sporting bodies, define future research priorities in this space.
Understanding brain circuits underpinning hallucinations in dementia with Lewy bodies
Researchers at the University College London aim to understand the mechanisms underpinning visual hallucinations in both dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s disease
Treating hearing loss in people at a high risk of dementia
Researchers at the University College London are developing a pilot trial to ensure people with hearing loss and mild cognitive dementia start and continue to use hearing aids. They will follow-up to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing the risk of dementia.
Downloads
Dementia information
Read more about treatments for dementia, including information on treating depression, anxiety and agitation and for information on antipsychotics.
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PDF, 577 kB, 13 pages
Find out more
You can find out more about current diagnosis and treatments for each type of dementia on the following pages:
Order health information
Alzheimer's Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.
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This information was updated in December 2025 and is due to be reviewed in December 2027. It was written by Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you’d like a version with references or in a different format.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
