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1,000 volunteers research milestone within reach for Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network
4th February 2025
A vital register giving all patients living with neuroprogressive conditions or dementia in Scotland an opportunity to be contacted about taking part in research projects is close to hitting the 1,000 volunteers mark
The NHS Research Scotland Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network (NRS NDN) Network is delighted that its Permission to Contact database is sitting at over 950 sign-ups, helping to further crucial research into conditions including dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
It is now urging more potential volunteers — people who have been diagnosed with a neuroprogressive condition or have a problem with their memory — to get in touch, help them hit the milestone, and experience the benefits of participation.
These can range from being directly involved in the process of finding new treatments and making valuable breakthroughs, to better understanding your condition and how to manage it.
For the Network, more volunteers means that a diverse range of people across the country can be assessed for their eligibility to take part in different research projects conducted within the NHS, Scottish universities, and in care homes.
Once identified, registrants can be directly contacted by research teams who will provide information on the research study and ask if they are interested in taking part.
Jacqui Kerr, Network Manager of NRS NDN, said: “Dementia is one of the foremost public health challenges worldwide. There are an estimated 90,000 people living with it in Scotland alone and around 3,000 of those people are under the age of 65.
“As a consequence of improved healthcare and better standards of living, more people are living longer. This means that the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and other types of dementia is expected to double over the next 30 years.
“However, research offers hope. It is only through vital studies that we can advance understanding of the disease, develop effective treatments, improve care, and hopefully one day find a cure. For research to progress, volunteering to take part in studies is vital.
“That is why we are so pleased to now have more than 950 people registered on our database and able to be contacted. It is one of many ways people can express their interest in taking part in research, but we’d love to see more sign ups to our dedicated register so that essential research can happen more quickly.
“Giving permission to be contacted allows people living with neuroprogressive conditions in Scotland to be matched to and contacted about taking part in important studies.
“Ultimately, this means that NHS Scotland can continue to improve care and speed up progress towards new treatments, so please do get involved.”
The Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network is funded by the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) to promote a culture of clinical research in dementia across Scotland and improve recruitment to high-quality studies from both urban and rural areas.
The Network has grown from four centres in Grampian, Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lothian and Tayside to now cover the whole of mainland Scotland.
It supports researchers from across a range of disciplines and deliver this research across Scotland in a wide range of healthcare settings, including primary and community care, mental health services and acute hospitals.
Close working with colleagues from Mental Health and Age and Ageing also ensures high levels of collaboration across Scotland.
