Want to take part in dementia research? Volunteers, both with and without dementia, who take part in studies or clinical trials play an essential role in dementia research.
Find out how you can help scientists and doctors understand more about dementia, and to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat the diseases that cause it.
Join Dementia Research
The best way to find out about how you can take part in dementia research studies is through a nationwide register called Join Dementia Research. When you register, you provide details about your health, age and contact preferences. This information is used to match you to studies that you are suitable to take part in, both online and face to face, helping researchers find volunteers for their studies.
Anyone over the age of 18, with or without a dementia diagnosis can sign-up to take part. Join Dementia Research is not a research study itself but a place to find out what studies you can take part in and enrol to take part. Signing up to the register is not a commitment to take part in any particular study, it just allows research studies to find willing volunteers.
Find out more and register to Join Dementia Research here.
There are a range of studies that recruit volunteers through Join Dementia Research. You may be asked to take part in questionnaires and surveys, have blood tests or brain scans and potentially test new treatments for dementia. Taking part in an online study means you can get involved when it best suits you. For a face to face study, the researcher or coordinating team running the study will get in touch to explain more about what is involved and ask further questions to make sure you are suitable and happy to take part.
Find out more about the different stages of dementia research and how volunteers play a role.
If you have questions about a specific research study that you would like to take part in, or about what might be involved in taking part please contact the Dementia Research Infoline on 0300 111 5111 or infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org
Join Dementia Research is run by the National Institute for Health and Research in partnership with Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland.
Volunteer experience
As a volunteer without dementia you can read Jude’s blog about her experience of taking part in research. If you are living with dementia and would like to take part in face-to-face research, you usually need someone who knows you well to accompany you to research studies. A person who knows you well can also register on your behalf as your representative, this lets researchers know you have someone to support you to take part in research. You can choose if you’d prefer your representative to receive the communication from Join Dementia Research on your behalf too.
Have you taken part in a research study through Join Dementia Research?
If you have taken part in dementia research and would like to share your story to inspire others, contact the Dementia Research Infoline on 0300 111 5 111 or email infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org
Getting involved in research
Find more about the different types of research and what might be involved for a volunteer in dementia research in our booklet.
This information was updated in August 2021 and is due for review in August 2023. It does not replace any advice that doctors, pharmacists, or nurses may give you. Please contact us if you would like a version with references.
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