The Dementia Research Project

Eloy van Hal is the Co-Founder of The Hogeweyk,  Netherlands pioneering dementia village. With over 20 years of experience in elderly and dementia care, Eloy brings deep expertise in innovative, community-based care concepts from around the world.

In this episode, Eloy discusses the journey of transforming traditional dementia care into a more humanizing, community-based approach in the Netherlands. He shares insights on the village's successes, challenges, and the global impact of their model. Learn how their vision is reshaping dementia care worldwide.

Dr. Mai Nguyen is a trailblazer in neurotechnology, pioneering advancements in non-invasive light therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and dementia. As CEO and Co-founder of OptoCeutics, Dr. Nguyen leads the charge in bridging the gap between neuroscience and therapeutic innovation, offering new hope to millions affected by cognitive decline.

In this episode, Dr Mai discusses her pioneering work in non-invasive light therapy to combat Alzheimer's and dementia. Learn about her innovative device, EVY, that uses light and sound to improve cognitive function and the exciting potential for broader applications in mental health and preventative care.

Mike Banville is CEO of ALZpath; a company on a mission to change how we detect Alzheimer’s, earlier and more accessibly. With a career spent leading & growing companies across healthcare and technology, Mike now brings his leadership to a cause that affects millions of families around the world.

In this episode we learn how Mike and his team at ALZpath are making diagnostics more accessible and affordable, potentially transforming the way we approach this dementia. Mike shares insights on the current diagnostics landscape, future prospects, and the importance of democratizing healthcare.

Professor Chris Fox, a psychiatrist and internationally recognised expert in ageing, dementia care, and health services research. He is Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Exeter and co-leads the SPLENDID project—one of the UK’s largest studies exploring how social prescribing can support people living with dementia. With decades of experience translating research into real-world impact, Professor Fox’s work focuses on improving outcomes through inclusive, community-based care models.

Professor Fox discusses the groundbreaking SPLENDID Project, which is designed to improve social prescribing for dementia patients and their families. The project aims to create tailored, community-based care pathways that enhance engagement and outcomes for people with dementia. Learn about the feasibility trials, the project's focus on inclusivity, the involvement of link workers, and the potential for global adaptation. 

Sally Hopkins is the Executive Director of Eden Alternative Australia & New Zealand. She leads the organization’s efforts to transform aged and community care through a person-directed, relationship-focused approach that aims to eliminate loneliness, helplessness, and boredom among elders. With an MBA and extensive experience, Sally champions cultural change in care environments to create meaningful, empowering communities for older adults

In this podcast we explore the revolutionary Eden Alternative and its impact on aged care. Learn about the philosophy of person-directed care, the challenges of shifting from institutional models to a more humane approach, and the importance of eliminating loneliness, helplessness, and boredom. Hear about real-life examples, cultural differences, and the transformational training methods used by Eden Alternative. 

Dr Margaret Pozzebon is a speech pathologist with extensive experience in the clinical evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and practical management of adults with diagnosed with various rarer forms of dementia: such as primary progressive aphasia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s-plus conditions, and Alzheimer’s Disease. She works with clients and their families from early diagnosis through to the advanced phases of their illness. Margaret’s interest in understanding the specific needs of people living with complex and atypical forms of dementia led her to pursue a PhD in the lived experience of dementia, specifically primary progressive aphasia. She strives to enable people living with neurodegenerative conditions and other forms of brain conditions to live their best life despite the illness challenges.

You can visit her website here: https://www.drmargaretpozzebon.com.au/

Stay tuned for more dementia related explorations, breakdowns and interviews- please follow the Dementia Research Project wherever you listen to podcasts!

Here's some additional learning resources Dr Margaret has kindly shared;

Primary Progressive Aphasia explainer: 

Some people are diagnosed with a rare group of language-based dementia's known as Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). People with PPA and their families they require education to better understand PPA, support post diagnosis, and a more centralised point of care. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fPT34jGWNk

Helpful Website for Educational Resources about Dementia

Rare Dementia Support offers specialist social, emotional and practical support services for individuals living with, or affected by, a rare dementia diagnosis. Their vision is for all individuals with, at risk of or supporting someone with one of these forms of dementia to have access to information, tailored support and guidance, and contact with others affected by similar conditions. For more information about the rare dementia diagnoses we currently support, please click on the link below.

www.raredementiasupport.org

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a rare form of dementia, accounting for around 10% of dementia diagnoses. It often occurs between 45 and 65 years of age but can be seen in older and younger people. It can be difficult to diagnose, with accurate diagnosis often taking several years. This organisation provides helpful advice and resources to people living with these conditions. Clip on the website below for more details.

www.theaftd.org

‘Dementia Support Australia’ is the national peak body for people living with dementia, their families and carers. They provide a range of information, education and supportive services. They provide supportive services to help deal with carer stress from via the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 or via online portal at www.dementia.org.au.  

Associate Professor Tuan Nguyen is a Dementia Research Development Fellow focused on national dementia strategies and culturally tailored interventions for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). 

With a PhD from the University of New South Wales, he has led international research initiatives, published more than 100 works, and secured over $16 million in funding to address dementia challenges in the Asia Pacific region. Connect and learn more about Prof Tuan Nguyen's work at https://www.nari.net.au/tuan-nguyen

Stay tuned for more dementia related explorations, breakdowns and interviews- please follow the Dementia Research Project wherever you listen to podcasts!

Prudence Chan is a clinical director, occupational therapist, and dementia care specialist with extensive experience in her field. She contributes as a visiting dementia care consultant to initiatives focused on developing innovative care environments that incorporate AI technology, such as humanoid robots, robotic pets, and virtual reality (VR)

Follow the Dementia Research Project wherever you iisten to podcasts to learn about the people and partnerships making a difference in dementia care. 

Linda Sommerlade serves as the Head of Operations at GT Diagnostics, a collaboration between Genting Berhad, a Malaysian company, and TauRx Pharmaceuticals Ltd Group, with a mission to develop tools for the early diagnosis and monitoring of dementia progression. With approximately 20 years of experience in the Life Sciences industry, Dr. Sommerlade oversees the development of all products at GT Diagnostics. You can visit the GTD website and test out the HiPal cognitive test here; https://www.gtdiag.com/

If you want to check out some rough research notes of mine prior to this conversation check it out here; It basically is a laypersons guide to early detection for dementia and how its being done currently https://dementiaresearchproject.substack.com/p/dementia-detection-via-cognitive?r=tnn1h