BSMS > About BSMS > Contact us > Staff > Dr Claire Lancaster

Dr Claire Lancaster

Lecturer
E: C.Lancaster@bsms.ac.uk
Location: Trafford Centre

Areas of expertise: Alzheimer’s Disease; Neuropsychology; Digital methods.

Research areas: APOE; Early dementia diagnosis; Cognition in preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease; Mid-life risk factors – e.g., menopause; Digital biomarkers.

Other relevant positions: Alzheimer’s Research UK – Co-ordinator of South Coast Network

Preferred gender pronouns: She/her

Twitter handle: @DrLancasterC

Biography

Dr Claire Lancaster is a lecturer in the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Brighton & Sussex Medical School. She has a background in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, previously studying at the University of Bristol (BSc), University College London (MSc), and the University of Sussex (PhD).

She recently completed an independent Alzheimer’s Society fellowship, exploring new avenues to mitigate risk in individuals genetically predisposed to dementia. Previously she worked at the University of Oxford Big Data Institute, designing and validating digital biomarkers of early dementia.

Research

Claire’s research investigates the impact of carrying a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease - the APOE e4 gene variant, on cognition, brain function and structure across the lifespan, and whether we can mitigate the detrimental effects of this gene pharmacologically. In addition, Claire is interested in how our genes interact with wider health-related (e.g., menopause) and lifestyle factors to influence trajectories of brain ageing. She uses methods including digital and in-person cognitive assessments, neuroimaging and drug interventions in her work.

Claire has experience completing research with clinical and healthy populations, and collaborates regularly with NHS healthcare providers, charity organisations and industry (pharmaceutical, technology providers).

Teaching

Claire primarily teaches on the topics of Ageing and Dementia, including the biology of neurodegenerative disease, the cognitive and behavioural symptoms. She currently supervises PhD projects on how speech-based assessments can aid early dementia diagnosis and prognosis, plus the relationship between menopause, APOE and cognition.

If you’re interested in working with Claire on a project relating to Ageing and Dementia, please get in touch.

Selected publications

Lancaster, C., Tabet, N., & Rusted, J. (2017). The elusive nature of APOE ε4 in mid-adulthood: Understanding the cognitive profile. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 23(3), 239-253.

Lancaster, C., Koychev, I., Blane, J., Chinner, A., Chatham, C., Taylor, K., & Hinds, C. (2020). Gallery Game: Smartphone-based assessment of long-term memory in adults at risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology, 42(4), 329-343.

Lancaster, C., Tabet, N., & Rusted, J. (2016). The APOE paradox: do attentional control differences in mid-adulthood reflect risk of late-life cognitive decline. Neurobiology of aging, 48, 114-121.

Lancaster, C., McDaniel, M. A., Tabet, N., & Rusted, J. (2020). Prospective Memory: Age related change is influenced by APOE genotype. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 27(5), 710-728.

Lancaster, C., Forster, S., Tabet, N., & Rusted, J. (2017). Putting attention in the spotlight: The influence of APOE genotype on visual search in mid adulthood. Behavioural Brain Research, 334, 97-104.

Lyall, D. M., Kormilitzin, A., Lancaster, C., Sousa, J., Petermann‐Rocha, F., Buckley, C., ... & Ranson, J. M. (2023). Artificial intelligence for dementia—Applied models and digital health. Alzheimer's & Dementia.

Lancaster, C., Koychev, I., Blane, J., Chinner, A., Wolters, L., & Hinds, C. (2020). Evaluating the feasibility of frequent cognitive assessment using the Mezurio smartphone app: observational and interview study in adults with elevated dementia risk. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(4), e16142.

Muurling, M., de Boer, C., Kozak, R., Religa, D., Koychev, I., Verheij, H., ... & Visser, P. J. (2021). Remote monitoring technologies in Alzheimer’s disease: design of the RADAR-AD study. Alzheimer's research & therapy, 13(1), 89.

Foley, J. A., Lancaster, C., Poznyak, E., Borejko, O., Niven, E., Foltynie, T., ... & Cipolotti, L. (2019). Impairment in theory of mind in Parkinson’s disease is explained by deficits in inhibition. Parkinson’s Disease, 2019.

Chinner, A., Blane, J., Lancaster, C., Hinds, C., & Koychev, I. (2018). Digital technologies for the assessment of cognition: a clinical review. BMJ Ment Health, 21(2), 67-71.