People across Bristol with a diagnosis of dementia and interest in taking part in research will have the opportunity to sign up to the Join Dementia Research service this month, thanks to a collaboration with the Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service (BDWS).

BDWS has approximately 700 service users who have consented to be contacted about research but may not be aware of Join Dementia Research or the service it provides. They will each be posted a Join Dementia Research registration leaflet this month.

The West of England currently has the greatest number of people signing up to the Join Dementia Research service; however, people signing up with an active diagnosis of dementia are under-represented, both here and nationwide.

The only way to develop a cure for dementia and to find ways of preventing dementia from occurring is through research. Taking part in dementia research helps scientists and healthcare professionals to understand more about the disease, which will improve care and create more effective treatments – helping people to live well with dementia.

The Dementia Wellbeing Service is delivered by the Bristol Dementia Partnership which brings together Alzheimer’s Society and Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Since 1 April 2015, it has been responsible for delivering dementia services in the city. They work with various partners from across Bristol, bringing them together to create personalised wellbeing plans for those who use the service. They support GPs and other health professionals and carers to support people affected by dementia.

Shaun Popel of BDWS said: “We want to give our service users the greatest amount of opportunity to be involved in research and Join Dementia Research helps give people information about a large number and variety of studies of which they may have previously been unaware, taking place both locally and nationwide.”

To sign up to Join Dementia Research call 0300 2221122 or visit www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk

Find out more about Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service here: www.bristoldementiawellbeing.org