Tracing dementia's roots: new study on early detection and prevention
Partnerships and philanthropy
Alzheimer’s Research UK has launched The Insight Club, a giving club where incredible supporters can collectively fund projects to overcome dementia’s biggest challenges.
By joining, you can help advance a powerful study on dementia detection and prevention.
Where does dementia begin?
Despite recent advances, there are some critical unsolved questions that urgently need to be addressed to bring about a cure.
To stop dementia, we need to understand how it begins, pinpointing the earliest changes that happen in the brain, often years before symptoms appear.
How can scientists learn about dementia risk throughout our lives?
In 1946, an extraordinary study began. The National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) followed the lives of 5,362 babies born in the same week.
From birth, these volunteers attended regular health check-ins, giving researchers a rare opportunity to understand how health and wellbeing evolve across the life course.
Building on this remarkable resource, Alzheimer’s Research UK funded a pioneering sub-study of this called Insight46, which explored how our life – from childhood to midlife and beyond – shapes our brain health in later years.
The study unlocked powerful discoveries on dementia risk and prevention:
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We learned that managing high blood pressure and staying physically active throughout life could support healthier brain structure and cognition in later life.
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This bolstered evidence that looking after our heart health could help lower our risk of dementia.
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Importantly, the study has found that some lifelong risk factors, like high blood pressure, are linked to brain changes independent of protein clumps in the brain.
This highlighted that dementia risk is shaped by multiple pathways, not just the protein clumps.
Robert's story
Robert Douglas is one of the volunteers helping advance dementia research through this study.
“To know that the research study will help other people feels fantastic. It’s been a privilege to be part of it.
I was married to my darling wife Sandy for over forty years. When she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I felt bereft. She went downhill so quickly. I don’t wish that on anybody.
I want to do anything I can to support dementia research. My feeling is that it’s only a matter of time until we reach a cure for dementia.”
How can we unlock further discoveries?
Now, we are ready to go further, expanding our research to study two more cohorts – those born in 1958 and 1970.
By studying people in their 50s and 60s, we will learn more about the different factors that determine dementia risk. And we will explore how to detect the earliest signs of dementia during midlife.
This could help scientists to spot dementia far earlier, giving people answers sooner, and unlocking ways to reduce risk before symptoms appear.
And it lays the foundation for new treatments, which would offer families more time, certainty and hope.
Stand with us to unlock dementia research insights
This landmark study stands to transform what we know about lifetime risk for dementia – a crucial step in our search for a cure.
Delivering this will take £1.1 million of philanthropic investment.
That is why we are inviting a group of visionary supporters to come together and jointly fund this research through The Insight Club.
With a minimum pledge of £30,000 over three years, you would enjoy exclusive benefits, including:
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Invitation to a private annual event, in person or online, where you can connect with leading researchers and your fellow funders.
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Behind-the-scenes lab tour to hear about the pioneering work you are enabling.
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Annual impact report, reflecting the progress and breakthroughs driven by your investment.
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Personalised updates from leading dementia research experts.
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Acknowledgement in our Annual Review, should you wish.
Crucially, you get to be part of a group united around a shared purpose and joint commitment to a cure.
Thank you for your interest. We would love to welcome you to the group, as we work together to transform the future for people with dementia.
If you have any questions, please do contact us at: philanthropy@alzheimersresearchuk.org.