Dementia Research Update Cornwall Research Showcase Thursday 22 nd October 2015 Dr Stephen Pearson Consultant in Older Adult Psychiatry Devon Partnership NHS Trust Dementia Speciality Lead, NIHR Clinical Research Network: South West Peninsula
NHS Constitution 08/03/12 Page 3: and through its commitment to innovation and to the promotion, conduct and use of research to improve the current and future health and care of the population.
q The Clinical Research Network: delivering research to make patients, and the NHS, better We provide the infrastructure that allows high-quality clinical research to take place in the NHS, so that patients can benefit from new and better treatments. We help researchers to set up clinical studies quickly and effectively; support the life-sciences industry to deliver their research programmes; provide health professionals with research training; and work with patients to ensure their needs are at the very centre of all research activity
14th August % rise in people taking part in dementia research During the past 12 months almost 22,000 people have taken part in research studies to tackle dementia – a 60 per cent rise according to figures published today by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
Government Minister for Life Sciences, George Freeman “Dementia is a devastating condition that can have a significant impact on the lives of those affected and their families. Volunteers are essential to our battle against the disease and I’m delighted that so many people – with and without dementia – are coming forward to participate in ground-breaking new trials. There is still a long way to go but with their help we hope to find a cure or disease modifying therapy by The race is on.”
Dementia is not A little bit of forgetfulness Normal ageing Dementia is ‘The most feared illness in those older than 50 years’
Research Is Hope in Dementia
UK population: by gender and age, mid million
Prevalence of Dementia in 2013 by CCG 0.74% in Cornwall
Prevalence of Dementia in GP Practices in the South West Peninsula Region
What is to be done?
Individual-Brain Health Modifiable risk factors - vascular Exercise Weight On your bike Mediterranean type diet Mental exercise Chess/Sudoku/Bridge APOE status?
Disease Modifying Drugs Any treatment delaying the onset of AD by 5 years could half its prevalence
CURRENT DRUGS Donepezil Galanthamine Rivastigmine (Memantine) Not disease modifying - can help with symptoms ( does not improve memory) ‘May buy a little time’ Side effects nausea and abdo upset C/I Asthma, Peptic ulcer, Heart Disease
Research trials Observational Therapy intervention – physiotherapy, occupational therapy, cognitive stimulation therapy Drug Intervention Disease modifying and symptomatic trials Phase II and Phase III drug intervention trials
Dr Stephen Pearson, FRCPsych Consultant in Older Adult Psychiatry C/O Devon Partnership NHS Trust The Quay Plymouth Road TAVISTOCK PL19 8AB