Powerhouses in dementia research joined forces for first, collaborative conference

More than 100 visitors came to a University of Northampton (UON) event to hear from leading experts in dementia innovation and research.

The conference – held on Wednesday 23 August – covered the most impactful solutions to support independent living for people who have dementia. The aim was to showcase and celebrate over a decade of research in this field completed by the University of Northampton’s Dementia Research and Innovation Centre (NDRIC) which was founded and co-led by Professor Jacqueline Parkes and Associate Professor, Dr Alison Ward.

Dementia is a group of symptoms associated with ongoing decline of brain functioning. These symptoms include memory loss, difficulties with daily activities and problems with judgement and mood.

‘Dementia Pathways on Your Doorstep’ was jointly delivered by the Academy for Dementia Research and Education (ADRE) and NDRIC. It was their first, joint international conference and was held at ADRE’s base in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.

Aside from talks from experts-in-their-fields that outlined the perspectives about the Danish Norwegian and UK Lifelong Learning (Brain Gym) intervention, Dutch and UK Meeting Centres ,and Northamptonshire Memory Hubs, guests also had the chance to explore in deeper detail dementia community solutions with interactive workshops.

Associate Professor Dr Alison Ward holds an interactive workshop using playing cards during the NDRIC/ADRE Dementia Conference 2023.

Although it concluded only a week ago, the impact of the conference is already being felt:

• That there is space for all community interventions to support independent living for people who have dementia. No one approach is better than another; indeed, delegates came away with a greater appreciation of other independent living solutions and a sense that the power of each could be incorporated with, or evolve, others.
• Strengthening existing partnerships…and creating new opportunities, with presentation slides of best practice already shared with national health bodies.
• Extending the ‘Meeting Centres’ initiative across Europe.
• ‘Next step’ objectives include bringing in health commissioners and local political figures to understand and support enhancing community independent living solutions for those with dementia, their carers and loved ones.

It was a timely moment to hold the conference. According to Alzheimer’s UK, if current trends continue and no action is taken, the number of people living with dementia in the UK is forecast to increase to 1,000,000 by 2025 and 1,590,000 by 2040.

Professor Jacqueline Parkes is the lead person of University of Northampton’s Dementia Research and Innovation Centre and founder/Director of ADRE. She sums up the day and next steps: “You may ask yourself ‘why Lutterworth?’, a quiet market town in the middle of England, as the location for a conference about one of the most pressing health issues of our time. Some of our delegates may have thought this before they arrived, but on leaving, they were left in no doubt about why.

Professor Jackie Parkes gave one of the keynote speeches.

“The conference allowed us the chance to tell the evolving story of how we tackle dementia and its enormous impact on people and communities and isolate the key next steps in our journey. We were especially pleased to hear from those people and community leaders; the internationally renowned speakers were the icing on the cake.”

Jane Beaumont, Director of ADRE, adds: “We couldn’t be more delighted at how the conference was received. People who attended – from esteemed researchers and carers and people who have a diagnosis of dementia – told us they felt there was a tangible sense of community, a real family vibe to the event. Those who has attended similar conferences felt it was unlike those activities.

“The conference has shown how we can move away from the (gently) competitive aspect of independent living solutions and to be truly and beneficially collaborative. We are all in the same boat and the undoubted legacy of the conference is acknowledging this and move forward, together for the better of all.”

Find out more about the work of NDRIC and ADRE.