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Date:
2/20/2012

Cambridge scientists use Down’s syndrome stem cells to model Alzheimer’s

 

Scientists at the University of Cambridge, funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Wellcome Trust, have developed a stem cell technique which allows researchers to track Alzheimer's over a matter of weeks and  could provide a valuable tool for scientists to unravel the complexity of the disease and test potential new treatments.
Date:
2/17/2012

Sight Loss and the power of gadgets

 

In a press release dated 16 February 2012, the Thomas Pocklington Trust have announced the launch of a new initiative where a team of Assistive Technology Champions will promote AT to older people with sight loss.  At the same time a new Good Practice Guide gives practical advice to staff and relatives so that they too can explain AT to the people who need it most.
Date:
2/13/2012

'A Better Life' new programme launch from Joseph Rownree Foundation

 

With the launch of their new website betterlife.jrf.org.uk, JRF is challenging all of us - including themselves - to think very differently about growing old by posing the question:  ‘how often do we stop and reflect on what it means? What will be important to you when you are old – and will anyone be listening?’

This project has been inspired by, and complements, the research evidence JRF are building up through their programme 'A Better Life'. However, with this website they have chosen an artistic approach to reach people through their emotions and appeal to their capacity for empathy.

Some of the vignettes of people’s lives link to five papers which JRF commissioned from diverse groups of older people, many with high support needs. Their personal stories have inspired a poem by Sir Andrew Motion – and the website also showcases a project by Magnum photographer Chris Steele-Perkins, providing a glimpse into what it's like to be a centenarian.

Date:
2/10/2012

Age UK's Internet Champions of the Year (2012)

 

 Age UK  has named Brenda O'Mulloy and Keith Paterson as the joint Internet Champions for 2012.  The award was presented by June Whitfield, at a ceremony in London.
Date:
2/10/2012

Arthritis research UK announces new national centres for research into musculoskeletal ageing

 

The Medical Research Council (MRC) and Arthritis Research UK, have announced a £5m investment in research to reduce the pain and disability caused by ageing.  The Centre for Integrated Research into Musculoskeletal Ageing and the Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing will investigate why musculoskeletal tissue function and structure declines with age, exploring both risk factors and the biological processes involved.
Date:
1/31/2012

Active at 60

 

"Active at 60" - recently published research from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) identifies the scope for utilising smart technology to deliver services more effectively to older people, and to leverage increased levels of activity among older people.

 

Date:
1/31/2012

Attitudes to age in Britain 2010/11

 

"Attitudes to age in Britain 2010/11" - this in-house research from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) specifically re-examines the evidence on attitudes to ageing in Britain in 2010/11 and looks at which socio-demographic variables are associated with attitudes to ageing.
Date:
1/31/2012

Recent news from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

 

"Genetic study offers clues to how intelligence changes through life":- scientists funded by BBSRC have estimated for the first time the extent to which genes determine changes in intelligence across the human life course.

"Vitamin D could combat the effects of ageing in eyes":- researchers funded by BBSRC have found that vitamin D reduces the effects of ageing in mouse eyes and improves the vision of older mice significantly. The researchers hope that this might mean that vitamin D supplements could provide a simple and effective way to combat age-related eye diseases, such as macular degeneration (AMD), in people.

"How poor maternal diet can increase risk of diabetes – new mechanism discovered":- researchers funded by BBSRC have shown one way in which poor nutrition in the womb can put a person at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other age-related diseases in later life. This finding could lead to new ways of identifying people who are at a higher risk of developing these diseases and might open up targets for treatment.

Date:
1/31/2012

Equity Release and Older Home-owners (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

 

"Equity Release and Older Home-owners" is a new report by Rachel Terry and Richard Gibson for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which assesses three pilot equity release schemes for older home-owners receiving Pension Credit  The pilots underline the challenges and importance of achieving relevant financial advice for older homeowners, and altering the perception of drawing on the value of their home.

If you would like to find out more about this specific project, please contact: Charlotte.Morris@jrf.org.uk (Press enquiries) or Emma.Stone@jrf.org.uk (Policy and Research).

Date:
1/20/2012

Joseph Rowntree Foundation- call for proposals to review the evidence on the subject of ‘Risk, trust and relationships in an ageing society’

 

'Risk, trust and relationships in an ageing society: a review of the evidence' is the subject of a new call for proposals from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.  The deadline for this call for proposals is Wednesday 1 February 2012 23:59
Date:
12/23/2011

2012 Jean Corsan Prize

 

The Jean Corsan prize is a £1,000 prize awarded each year for the best scientific paper in neurodegeneration published by a PhD student.  Supported by the Jean Corsan Foundation, and judged by a distinguished panel, this prestigious award is now in its fifth year.  The £1,000 prize will be awarded to the PhD or MD/PhD student who has published the best peer reviewed, original scientific paper during 2011. The paper must be based on medical research into Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and/or similar conditions. The student must be registered at a UK university.  The Jean Corsan Prize will be awarded at the Alzheimer’s Research UK Conference 2012 in Birmingham. 
Date:
12/12/2011

New tool will help housing schemes provide for people with sight loss

 

EVOLVE-for Vision is new tool which will help housing schemes provide for people with sight loss by evaluating the design of housing.  Launched by the Thomas Pocklington Trust, the tool will test how well housing performs for older people with sight loss and highlight which areas can be improved.
Date:
12/5/2011

Ageing related evidence briefings from the Economic and Social Research Council

 

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has issued two new ageing related evidence briefings:

Date:
12/1/2011

BBSRC funding for research that aims to shed light on how ageing affects immunity

 

Efforts to understand the effect of ageing on the immune system received a boost today as the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) announced investment in a new £3.6M research project.   
Date:
10/26/2011

Funding for research on older people and ageing from the Department of Health

 

There are two main sources of funding for research on older people and ageing from the Department of Health.

  • The Policy Research Programme is a national research-funding programme within the Department of Health’s (DH) Research and Development Division.  It commissions high quality, research-based evidence relevant to the full policy remit of the DH.  The Policy Research Programme website is currently under development.
  • The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) commissions research for practice at the front line (the NHS, public health and social care).

Date:
10/26/2011

MRC news - Lifelong Health and Wellbeing (LLHW) programme

 

From investigating the effects of the menopause on wellbeing to art therapy for the elderly, 17 diverse research projects were recently funded with £11.5 million by the cross-council Lifelong Health and Wellbeing (LLHW) programme. The funding forms the third phase of the LLHW initiative, which is led by the MRC on behalf of the BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC and AHRC, with funding from the UK health departments.
The LLHW programme is currently looking at ways to implement the Strategy for Collaborative Ageing Research in the UK, published in September 2010.
Date:
10/26/2011

65th Birthday of the MRC National Survey for Health and Development

 

Britain’s longest-running baby-boomer research study, funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), recently celebrated its 65th birthday. The life-long study, which has followed 5,000 men and women since their birth in the same week of March 1946, has revolutionised health and education policy and practice for over half a century.
A new illustrated brochure about the survey has been published to highlight the importance of the National Survey, its history and the impact it has had over the last 65 years.
Date:
10/26/2011

EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND)

 

The MRC, in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR), is leading the priority setting phase of an EU Joint Programming Initiative that seeks to tackle the societal threat posed by neurodegenerative disease. 
A Strategic Research Agenda, based around recommendations identified through a series of workshops and meetings with stakeholders and academic and industry experts, is in the final stages of development.  Please click here for further information on the process so far, including reports from the various workshops. 
Date:
10/26/2011

Centres of Excellence in Neurodegeneration (COEN)

 

In August 2011 the MRC announced funding totalling £3.7m for eight multi-national collaborative awards under the first phase of the international Centres of Excellence in Neurodegeneration (COEN) initiative.

COEN is a partnership between the UK (MRC), Canada (CIHR), Germany (DZNE), Flanders (VIB), Ireland (HRB/SFI) and Italy (Ministry of Health) which aims to build productive links between centres of excellence in partner countries, in order to add value to investments and accelerate progress in understanding the mechanisms of disease, and the identification of new therapeutic approaches.

Date:
10/12/2011

More Years, Better Lives - The Potential and Challenges of Demographic Change

 

The Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) "More Years, Better Lives - The Potential and Challenges of Demographic Change" seeks to enhance coordination and collaboration between European and national research programmes related to demographic change. The initiative has 15 members including the UK where ESRC leads on contributions from across Research Councils UK. 
Date:
10/12/2011

Mind Over Matter

 

Mind Over Matter is a science-art collaboration, funded by the Wellcome Trust, about dementia and the contribution that a unique cadre of twelve brain donors, aged between 84 and over a 100, will make to finding a cure for this devastating disease in the 21st century.
Date:
10/12/2011

Alzheimer’s Research UK invests record £5.1m in research

 

A record £5.1m  was committed to new research projects by Alzheimer’s Research UK in 2010/11, it's largest ever investment in research in one year, with a total of 58 new grants awarded.
Date:
10/11/2011

Arthritis Research UK and MRC Call for Applications for a Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research

 

Arthritis Research UK and the MRC propose to establish a jointly funded Collaborative Centre in Musculoskeletal Ageing which will become an international centre of excellence in research into the causes and mechanisms of musculoskeletal ageing.
Date:
10/4/2011

Age UK press release - a recipe for ageing better

 

Age UK has developed a recipe for ageing with top tips for ageing better from expert researchers.  The press release can be viewed here.
Date:
10/4/2011

Dementia and society

 

Dementia and Society is the current programme from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation with a focus on listening to people living with dementia and changing our communities to be more inclusive. 
Date:
8/24/2011

Football clubs sign up to dementia project funded by AHRC

 

Several leading Scottish football clubs are taking part in a project that offers people with dementia and their carers the chance to visit their grounds and talk about football at a series of informal coffee mornings.   The project was funded by, amongst others, the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
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