Lewy body dementias (LBD, including Parkinson's dementia and Lewy body dementia) accounts for >20% of the nearly 65,000 people with dementia in Ireland. LBD is ‘the most common form of dementia no-one has heard about’. Fewer than 5% of those affected receive a formal diagnosis. LBD is characterised by cognitive-behavioural and physical changes which significantly impact quality of life and care burden. Knowledge, awareness and support in Ireland for LBD is minimal. Compared to Alzheimer's, care is more complex, prognosis worse and healthcare costs significantly higher.

Guided by PPI contributors and KUs, EMERALD-Lewy will:

(1) address gaps in ‘diagnosing well’ in Ireland by improving the rate and quality of diagnosis and management of LBD.

(2) support ‘living well’ with LBD by better understanding quality of life, daily lived experiences and peer support.

(3) shape policy and practice, and co-design with PPI to improve quality of life by ‘participating and translating knowledge well’.