Alzheimer Scotland Student Research Programme: updates

 

 As of June 2025, the Alzheimer Scotland Student Research Programme has awarded funding to three studentships.

See below project updates from Kelly Kelly, Sarah-Jayne Hamilton and Katie Robertson.  

A Trauma-Informed Pathway in Young Onset Dementia – An investigation of the potential for a trauma-informed pathway through dementia diagnosis for people under 65 years old – Kelly Kelly

Kelly Kelly from the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice at the University of the West of Scotland was the first recipient of Alzheimer Scotland Student Research Programme funding. Before starting this project, Kelly already had extensive experience working with people with dementia. She is a registered mental health nurse specialising in dementia care and has a BA (Hons) in Psychology.

Kelly is undertaking vital research into the diagnostic experience of individuals with young-onset dementia (YOD). Her project specifically investigates whether trauma-informed approaches are evident during the diagnosis process for this group. This is particularly important because people with YOD often face a longer and more challenging journey to diagnosis compared to those with late-onset dementia, which can lead to significant psychological distress and potential trauma.

Kelly’s research aims to fill a crucial knowledge gap, as there’s not enough understanding about how trauma-informed care is, or isn’t, applied in dementia diagnosis. Her methodology involves exploring the experiences of not only individuals with young-onset dementia but also their families and the healthcare professionals involved in their diagnostic journey. By gathering these diverse perspectives, she hopes to identify both the existing challenges and opportunities for improving the diagnostic pathway.

The preliminary findings from her work are expected to highlight areas where the diagnostic process might inadvertently cause distress or trauma, as well as instances where supportive, trauma-informed practices are already in place. The implications of this research are significant: by providing a trauma-informed interpretation of the diagnostic process from the patient and family perspective, Kelly’s project can directly inform improvements to how young-onset dementia is diagnosed in Scotland.

A Systems Approach to Implementing Digital Tools for Earlier Alzheimer Detection in Scottish Primary Care Services – Sarah-Jayne Hamilton

Sarah-Jayne Hamilton, whose Masters studentship is hosted by the University of Strathclyde, is exploring how digital tools can support early detection of Alzheimer’s disease in Scottish primary care. Current cognitive tests often miss early signs, leading to prolonged uncertainty and delayed access to support for patients and their families.

Her research focuses on the integration of the Four Mountains Test (4MT), a validated, app-based spatial memory task sensitive to early Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain. This test assesses allocentric spatial memory, a hippocampal function typically affected early in the disease. Its digital format allows for brief administration in clinics or at home, with automatic scoring to reduce clinician workload. The project involves mapping the journeys of patients and carers, studying GP workflows, and gathering feedback on the 4MT from clinicians and the public. Sarah-Jayne has worked with a wide range of stakeholders, including clinicians, developers, policymakers, and people with lived experience of dementia and their carers.

Interviews with patients and carers so far have revealed a common theme of confusion, lack of support, and emotional distress during a slow and unclear diagnostic process, where initial concerns are often dismissed. Clinicians appreciated the 4MT’s simplicity and clear scoring but stressed the importance of clinical guidance and auditability. They also suggested adapting the tool to include less text for greater accessibility.

Next steps for the project include continued GP engagement and piloting the 4MT in a primary care clinic. This research aims to inform the development of practical, people-centred tools that support earlier, fairer diagnoses and align with the realities of clinical practice.

Potential neurostructural underpinnings of traumatic brain injury (TBI) dementia association – Katie Robertson

Katie Robertson at the University of Edinburgh’s MRes project is titled “Potential neurostructural underpinnings of traumatic brain injury (TBI) dementia association”. TBI is a known dementia risk factor, linked to altered white matter and cognitive impairment. However, current imaging markers are unreliable, partly due to small study sizes.

Katie’s project utilizes the large UK Biobank data (around 40,000 participants with brain MRI data) to identify subtle brain hallmarks of TBI that may relate to cognition. She uses three definitions of TBI history: self-reported, narrowband hospital records for head trauma, and a broader list of head-related injuries. By analyzing brain scans By analysing data from already-conducted brain scans, Katie is comparing people who have a history of head injury to those who do not. The research question focuses on how head injuries, even seemingly mild ones, increase a person’s risk of developing dementia later in life. Her research specifically looks at what happens inside the brain after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Katie is using data from advanced brain scanning techniques, specifically a method called Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), to look at the health of white matter pathways. DTI can tell us about the tiny structures within these pathways, like how tightly packed the nerve fibres are or if there’s any damage.

Ultimately, Katie’s project seeks to understand the specific brain changes that occur after a TBI that might lead to dementia. This knowledge is crucial because if these changes can be identified early on, methods can then be developed to protect the brain and reduce the risk of dementia for people who have experienced head injuries, offering better protection for brain health in the long run

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