Alzheimer Scotland Student Research Programme: update from 2024 recipients

 

 In 2024, Sarah-Jayne Hamilton and Katie Robertson began their Masters projects as part of the Alzheimer Scotland Student Research Programme. They began their projects in October 2024 and have kindly shared their progress on the  research so far.

Sarah-Jayne Hamilton, University of Strathclyde

Sarah-Jayne’s studentship is titled: A Systems Approach to Implementing Digital Tools for Earlier Alzheimer Detection in Scottish Primary Care Services. The aim of the project is to investigate how to safely and effectively introduce new diagnostic test capable of earlier dementia disease detection into Scottish GP services. The test that will be the focus of the project is known as the Four Mountains Test.

Here are a number of the share a number of key activities and achievements to date that Sarah-Jayne has shared:

We are delighted to share that our NHS ethics application has been approved as of December 2024, so we are now ready to begin securing a GP practice. This is a huge and crucial milestone for the project as it means we can officially commence data collection and move forward with the next stages of our research. We have already initiated ongoing conversations with various NHS localities and dementia strategy leads in relation to implementing a digital tool for earlier Alzheimer detection formally known as ‘The Four Mountains Test’ – which is a test of spatial memory tapping into the early cognitive decline shown in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, we had the opportunity to present at the 8th Health Systems Design Research Symposium at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands to share our project with our peers working in similar fields. This was of great benefit to have valuable discussions, offering insights into broader systemic challenges and potential strategies for implementing digital tools in primary care. These conversations have emphasized the importance of understanding the system.

Next steps: 

  • Conduct systems mapping with general practitioners who reach out to us with interest in implementing Digital Tools for Earlier Alzheimer Detection in Scottish Primary Care Services. 
  • Evaluate the usability and integration potential of the digital tool within real-world clinical settings.
  • Continue engaging with stakeholders to ensure the approach is informed by those directly involved in delivering and benefitting from these tools.  

 Katie Robertson, University of Edinburgh

Katie’s award, also known as the Ella MacGregor Award is titled: Neurostructural underpinnings of traumatic brain injury (TBI) dementia association. The project relates to how and why traumatic brain injuries contribute to an increased risk of dementia. The project aims to analyse the brain scans (using data from UK Biobank) of people who have a history of head injury compared to those who haven’t, identifying any differences in specific brain areas and neural connections.

Katie has provided a video update which you can view below: 

The Alzheimer Student Research Programme support the next generation of dementia and brain health research by funding studentships at institutions across Scotland. Find out more here

Read more SDRC Blogs

COVID Impact on ECRs: Tuuli Hietamies

The SDRC are continuting our series of blogs featuring Early Career Researchers who are sharing how COVID has impacted their research and career prospects. Today's blog is from Tuuli Hietamies, thank you Tuuli for your contribution! Read the rest of the blog...

Founding SDRC Executive Committee Member Debbie Tolson Retires

After a remarkable career dedicated to advancing dementia research and practice, Professor Debbie Tolson is stepping down from her role as an Executive Committee Member of the Scottish Dementia Research Consortium. A founding member of the SDRC since its inception in...

Celebrating 10 years of the SDRC

Ten years ago today, on the 28 August 2013, the Scottish Dementia Research Consortium was established at the Surgeon's Hall, Edinburgh. The SDRC was created to enable greater co-ordination by pooling the resources, experience and expertise of the wide-ranging and...

Guest Blog: Young Dementia Network

Guest Blog: Young Dementia Network   The Young Dementia Network is an online influencing community working collaboratively to improve lives of people living with young onset dementia and their families now and create positive change for the future. Launched in...

Guest blog: Childhood Dementia Initiative

This guest blog is from the Childhood Dementia Initiative, who are working to increase awareness of dementia in children and to accelerate research in this area.  Read on to find out about the activity of the Childhood Dementia Initiative and please get in touch with...

Do you have insights to share with other researchers? Write a blog for the SDRC!

We are always looking for SDRC members to feature on our website and write a guest blog for the SDRC. You may already be familiar with our blog series, where we welcome contributions from people with an experience of brain health or dementia research. Blogs are an...

Guest Blog: NHS Neuroprogressive and Dementia Research Network

The NHS Research Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network work closely with the SDRC to ensure everyone with a neuroprogressive condition or dementia has the opportunity of taking part in research.  We share the same aim of collaboration and we know that...

COVID Impact on ECRs: Katie Gambier-Ross

If you have been following on the SDRC website, you will have seen our blog series featuring some wonderful Early Career Researchers and student, sharing insights on how COVID has been impacting their research and career prospects, as well as some helpful tips for all...

Early Career Researchers: Clarisse de Vries

Throughout the next two weeks, the SDRC are celebrating our next generation of researchers by publishing a series of blogs from PhD Students/ Early Career Researchers that were featured in the SDRC Annual Report 2019/20. First, we have Clarisse de Vries, whose...

Early Career Researchers: Laura McWhirter

The SDRC are committed to promoting and supporting researchers in the early stages of their career. This is why, we have put together a blog series featuring PhD students and ECRs from all disciplines. Read the series so far here Read Laura McWhirter's blog on...