Recipient organisationNIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre
NIHR supportRecorded as supported by this research centre
PeriodFeb 2025 — Feb 2028
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
A third of people with dementia also experience psychosis, yet doctors have no reliable way to predict which older adults with hallucinations or delusions will go on to develop memory and thinking problems. This training partnership tackles two blind spots in dementia care. The first project mines anonymised NHS records and data from people who have had psychosis, searching for patterns that could flag who is at highest risk of dementia. The second project focuses on Lewy body dementia, a common but poorly understood form of the disease. Researchers will measure brain electrical signals using EEG and other biomarkers in people with early-stage Lewy body dementia, aiming to identify which patients will respond to existing treatments and to track how well those treatments work. If successful, the first project could give clinicians a practical way to diagnose dementia earlier in people with psychosis, and suggest targets to slow cognitive decline. The second project could lead to a simple, clinic-based test that matches each patient to the treatment most likely to help them, rather than the current trial-and-error approach. Together, these projects train the next generation of dementia researchers while addressing two specific, neglected clinical problems.
View original technical description
This Clinical Training Partnership seeks to recruit and develop our next generation of research leaders through two exciting projects that aim to improve the assessment and treatment of people with dementia. Project 1: Psychosis and dementia Older people who develop psychosis (e.g. hearing things that are not present) are at higher risk of developing dementia, but little is known about how to predict who will develop dementia. This project will use data from anonymised NHS records databases and a group of people who have experienced psychosis. We aim to improve the diagnosis of dementia in people with psychosis and identify treatment targets to prevent progression of their problems with thinking and memory. Project 2: Personalised medicine in Lewy body dementia This project will undertake a range of measures called ‘biomarkers’ including EEG (measuring electrical signals from the brain on the scalp) in people with early stage Lewy body dementia. It seeks to identify biomarkers that can predict who will respond to current treatments, and measure their response to treatment. In the future, these biomarkers could be used in clinic to ensure that each person with dementia gets the treatment that is most appropriate for them. Educational Environment The fellows will be supported by a group of enthusiastic and supportive researchers, including experienced PhD supervisors. They will receive training, career development and peer support to help them become our research leaders of the future, to deliver the Alzheimer’s Society’s goal of improving the diagnosis and care of people with dementia
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