Early, non-invasive, inexpensive biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) are much needed. Those with Down syndrome (DS) are the largest patient group at increased risk of AD. Evidence suggests that imaging the eye could be a non-invasive biomarker to screen for AD. However, there is limited information regarding ocular changes in DS. Our group was the first to image the lens in DS, revealing the presence of small ‘dot’ opacities in the lens in 54% of individuals with DS.

To investigate the psychosocial effects of the introduction of an adaptive Irish Céilí dance group activity with people living with dementia and their carers.

The aim of this study is to inform the design of a virtual reality (VR) social connecting space for older adults living with dementia.

To develop accessible best practice guidelines for post-diagnostic dementia supports for people with an intellectual disability in Ireland. The project aims to:

(1) examine the current landscape of post-diagnostic care at a national level;

(2) consider barriers to access;

(3) incorporate existing best practices; and

(4) give due consideration of the experiences and recommendations of people with an intellectual disability living with dementia and of their families/carers.

This research project focuses on how person-centred, non-pharmacological approaches to care are valued in dementia and a contingent valuation approach will be used to examine preferences and values from citizens with respect to alternative types of care. The research also involves creating a taxonomy of psychosocial supports in dementia care in Ireland, including the evaluation of a number of psychosocial interventions including Alzheimer Cafés.

This research programme focuses on the economic, social, health and emotional costs of caring for people with dementia. The research will provide longitudinal estimates of the relationships between informal care costs and cognitive function, comorbidities and behavioural changes in people with dementia, including an exploration of the potential of psychosocial interventions and technology-based interventions for care-givers to ameliorate the potential burden of care.

This project examined personhood in dementia within formal care provision and relationships in Ireland. The concept of personhood within the context of formal care was examined through three different lenses: formal care policy, formal care settings and formal care relationships. Each lens provides different insights and perspectives into personhood in dementia and at both the macro and micro level of formal care provision. The central research question was: How is personhood in dementia conceptualised, expressed, facilitated and actualised in formal care in Ireland?