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Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Our Current studies

Our current studies

We are currently involved in three studies at the Centre for Dementia Studies. Read more about these studies below.

Please see below for a lay summary of the results of both the Time for Dementia covid study and the DETERMIND Covid study.

Read more here >

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DETERMIND-C19: Exploring the experiences and impact of Covid-19 for people with dementia and their family carers

This is a UKRI funded mixed method study examining the experiences and impact of Covid-19 for newly diagnosed people with dementia and their family carers who are participating in the ESRC/NIHR funded DETERMIND programme of research. The study explores the impact of the pandemic and the public health restrictions on the DETERMIND cohort using a range of measures including Quality of Life, psychological wellbeing, physical, mental and social health, and service use. This is supplemented with 50 in-depth telephone interviews with participants to elicit greater insights into their experiences during these unprecedented times.

The project is led by Professor Sube Banerjee from University of Plymouth alongside other universities including the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, University of York, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, Kings College London, Newcastle University. Other partners include the Alzheimer's Society, Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust, South London and Maudsley and Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The funding application that was submitted outlining the whole study is avaiable to read below.

Download the funding application PDF >

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Time for Dementia Covid-19 Study

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on health and social care systems worldwide as they respond to the virus. This has led to reduced availability of services and support for people with dementia and their family carers, alongside a reduction in informal support. In this study, a mixed-methods study design sought to understand the impact of restrictions on the quality of life (QoL) of people with dementia and their family carers. 

Quantitative sub-study

Family carers already involved in the student educational programme, Time for Dementia were invited to take part in the study. Participants had previously completed measures of quality of life, proxy reports of social functioning and disease severity at baseline, pre-COVID 19. 248 family carers completed measures during the first national lockdown and the second national lockdown T3. 

Qualitative sub-study

Additionally, qualitative interviews were undertaken with 16 participants during the first and second lockdown. The sample included a range of caring situations, and data has been analysed using thematic analysis. 
Findings from this study will be available shortly.

Involved

Dr Stephanie Daley, Dr Nicolas Farina, Georgia Towson, Joanna Pooley, Yvonne Feeney, Dr Naji Tabet, Dr Laura Hughes, Nazire Akarsu, Dr Sam Robertson, Ms Lauren Wonnacott, Professor Sube Banerjee 

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Aspect (Avanir Pharmaceuticals)

Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of which agitation is widely recognised as a common clinical feature. Agitation in patients with dementia is associated with increased functional disability, worse quality of life and increased caregiver burden. There are no approved treatments to specifically manage agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Current treatments include off-label use medications for other conditions however these only provide modest effectiveness therefore there is an unmet medical need for safe and effective treatment for patients with agitation in Alzheimer’s disease.

This study is looking at a drug called AVP-786, it is anticipated that AVP-786 will have a positive effect on agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia. The study drug has been tested in 15 completed neuropsychiatric studies and has been safe and generally well tolerated so far. This study will assess the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of two doses of AVP-786 compared to placebo. The study will include approximately 750 participants aged between 50-90 years old. Duration of participation is approximately 20 weeks including a 4 week screening period, 12 week treatment period and one month safety follow up period. Treatment will be blinded, meaning no-one will know which treatment participants receive. Participants will undergo procedures such as blood samples, questionnaires and ECGs. Each participant must have an appointed caregiver who has direct and regular contact with them (at least 2 hours a day for 4 days a week), to provide reliable answers to questions related to the participant and also themselves.

Find out more here > 

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The Remote Memory Assessment Toolkit

The Remote Memory Assessment Toolkit (RMAS) is intended to support best practice in delivering remote services for patients with dementia.

The toolkit is aimed at clinicians who assess and diagnose dementia. It has been developed by researchers at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

Read more and view the toolkit here >