Dementia affects 55 million people worldwide, and with few treatment options available, it’s essential to find ways to reduce risks and enhance the quality of life for those living with a neurodegenerative disease.
Join UEA academics Prof Chris Fox and Dr Jurgen Grotz as they explore risk reduction and early dementia support, and shine a light on the groundbreaking dementia research happening in Norwich.
This relaxed event will also feature local voluntary sector organizers and individuals with lived experience, offering practical advice and inspiring stories to support and guide those affected by dementia.
The SPIN-Dementia Network hosted a fireside discussion at the Norwich Science Festival in March 2025, exploring dementia risk, lived experience, and community action. With 77 registered attendees, the session brought together experts, practitioners, and people with lived experience to examine what dementia risk means for individuals and society.
The event opened with a storytelling segment, where a local participant shared a personal perspective on dementia care and prevention. This was followed by a guided conversation on the realities of dementia services and the challenges faced by families and carers.
A panel discussion, chaired by Dr Jurgen Grotz, featured:
The panel discussed recent developments in dementia research, local service provision, and approaches to prevention, before opening the floor to audience questions. Topics included:
Links between heart disease and frontotemporal dementia
Depression as a contributing factor to dementia
Parkinson’s-related dementia
Advances in treatment since the introduction of Donepezil
Lifestyle changes to reduce dementia risk in later life
After the session, attendees visited information tables offering local service materials, SPIN-D Network leaflets, and details on how to engage with dementia research and community initiatives.
spindementianet.org 