This month’s Researcher in Focus is Dr. Unai Diaz-Orueta, who works as Assistant Professor in Neuropsychology at Maynooth University. Unai's research focuses on the improvement of cognitive screening and assessment tools for mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Read more about Unai's work, and who has inspired him along the way, in the attached.

The HRB are hosting a conference that will focus on getting research into policy and practice for the benefit of people's health and health care delivery. It will examine the existing implementation deficit that currently exists and must be addressed to realise the potential of research and evidence to transform our health services.

Research shows that cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) improves cognitive function, quality of life, and well-being of people with mild–moderate dementia. Despite consistent evidence and recommendations, CST is not routinely available in Ireland post-diagnosis. The aim of the current research was to develop and evaluate community-based CST for people with mild–moderate dementia, run by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland across four pilot sites in Ireland.

Methods

The overarching aim of the PPI Ignite awards is to support and promote capacity building for high quality PPI in health research.