Developing a sustainable platform to understand the primary care, public health and social care needs for dementia, with a focus on underserved populations

Introduction

Most of dementia research is conducted in clinical or social care settings and not in the community. Studies based in communities (population-based studies) provide essential insights for policy and practice at a local level, and can be scaled up to a national level.

Objectives

This study aims to build on thirty years of research that has helped policy makers work out how many people nationally might have dementia, and how many might develop it.

Methods

The study will:

1. Develop up-to-date profiles for specific communities, determining key information about prevalence and distribution of risk factors for dementia using routine data to inform primary, secondary and tertiary prevention
2. Calculate risk of developing dementia in different under-researched communities, such as those with many people from particular ethnic groups
3. Undertake community engagement with local champions through local participatory groups to explore and develop further the approach to community recruitment
4. Identify related research funded by the NIHR Three Schools to see if these might be strengthened by incorporating findings from the study
5. Submit a further funding proposal for the second phase of the project to adapt to additional under-researched communities and establish a sustainable longer-term programme.