Alzheimer Scotland Student Research Programme: update from 2024 recipients

 In 2024, Sarah-Jayne Hamilton and Katie Robertson began their Masters projects as part of the Alzheimer Scotland Student Research Programme. They began their projects in October 2024 and have kindly shared their progress on the  research so far.

Sarah-Jayne Hamilton, University of Strathclyde

Sarah-Jayne’s studentship is titled: A Systems Approach to Implementing Digital Tools for Earlier Alzheimer Detection in Scottish Primary Care Services. The aim of the project is to investigate how to safely and effectively introduce new diagnostic test capable of earlier dementia disease detection into Scottish GP services. The test that will be the focus of the project is known as the Four Mountains Test.

Here are a number of the share a number of key activities and achievements to date that Sarah-Jayne has shared:

We are delighted to share that our NHS ethics application has been approved as of December 2024, so we are now ready to begin securing a GP practice. This is a huge and crucial milestone for the project as it means we can officially commence data collection and move forward with the next stages of our research. We have already initiated ongoing conversations with various NHS localities and dementia strategy leads in relation to implementing a digital tool for earlier Alzheimer detection formally known as ‘The Four Mountains Test’ – which is a test of spatial memory tapping into the early cognitive decline shown in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, we had the opportunity to present at the 8th Health Systems Design Research Symposium at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands to share our project with our peers working in similar fields. This was of great benefit to have valuable discussions, offering insights into broader systemic challenges and potential strategies for implementing digital tools in primary care. These conversations have emphasized the importance of understanding the system.

Next steps: 

• Conduct systems mapping with general practitioners who reach out to us with interest in implementing Digital Tools for Earlier Alzheimer Detection in Scottish Primary Care Services. 
• Evaluate the usability and integration potential of the digital tool within real-world clinical settings.
• Continue engaging with stakeholders to ensure the approach is informed by those directly involved in delivering and benefitting from these tools.  

 Katie Robertson, University of Edinburgh

Katie’s award, also known as the Ella MacGregor Award is titled: Neurostructural underpinnings of traumatic brain injury (TBI) dementia association. The project relates to how and why traumatic brain injuries contribute to an increased risk of dementia. The project aims to analyse the brain scans (using data from UK Biobank) of people who have a history of head injury compared to those who haven’t, identifying any differences in specific brain areas and neural connections.

Katie has provided a video update which you can view below: 

The Alzheimer Student Research Programme support the next generation of dementia and brain health research by funding studentships at institutions across Scotland. Find out more here