Category: Dementia

Dementia Bulletin

The latest dementia bulletin from Mersey Care Evidence and Library Service has now been published at https://www.evidentlybetter.org/dementia/2025/06/23-june-2025/

In this issue:

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) rejects Alzheimer’s treatments
  • Effectiveness of cognitive stimulation for individuals with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  • Identification of core outcomes for quality in routine care provided to people living with dementia in Australia: a multilevel modified Delphi consensus study
  • ARUK and Cure Parkinson’s join forces to find new treatments for people living with Parkinson’s and dementia
  • Plus much more

Please let me know if you think there are other colleagues who would benefit from receiving this bulletin and I will add them to the mailing list.

Dementia Bulletin

The latest dementia bulletin has now been published at https://www.evidentlybetter.org/dementia/2025/06/9-june-2025/

In this issue:

  • What are the effects of music‐based therapeutic interventions for adults with dementia?
  • Cold sore viral infection implicated in development of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Improving early dementia diagnosis: the READ-OUT study
  • Qualitative study exploring knowledge and attitudes towards dementia risk prediction, barriers to dementia services and service improvement recommendations with diverse populations in England
  • Cost-consequence analysis of an e-health intervention to reduce distress in dementia carers: results from the iSupport randomised controlled trial
  • Plus much more

Cochrane Review: Music-Based Interventions for Dementia Show Modest Benefits

A recent Cochrane review evaluated the effects of music-based therapeutic interventions on individuals with dementia. Analysing data from 30 studies involving 1,720 participants, the review found that, compared to usual care, music-based interventions probably lead to slight improvements in depressive symptoms and may reduce overall behavioural problems. However, evidence regarding benefits for agitation, emotional well-being, cognition, and long-term effects remains limited or uncertain.

These findings suggest that while music therapy can offer some benefits for people with dementia, further high-quality research is needed to fully understand its impact.

Read the full review: Cochrane Library – Music-Based Therapeutic Interventions for People with Dementia

Top New Books 2024

Our library is proud to present Our top picks of 2024! This year, we’ve expanded our offerings with carefully curated collections on critical topics like dementia care, coaching resources. These selections provide invaluable support for professionals, caregivers, and anyone eager to deepen their understanding. Explore these new additions and discover how they can empower and inform your journey.

Enhancing Lives Through Knowledge: Our New Dementia Collection

We are thrilled to announce the addition of a comprehensive Dementia Collection to our library! This new resource is designed to support individuals, families, and caregivers who are navigating the challenges of dementia.

What You Can Find in Our Dementia Collection:

Educational Books and Guides: Learn about the latest research, treatment options, and caregiving strategies from leading experts in the field.

Personal Stories and Memoirs: Gain insight and empathy through the experiences of those living with dementia and their loved ones.

Activity Resources: Discover activities and programs tailored to engage and support cognitive function for individuals with dementia.

Support Resources for Caregivers: Find practical advice and emotional support to help caregivers manage their responsibilities and well-being.

Visit our library today and start discovering these vital resources. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those touched by dementia.

Public Health

Current Awareness

Are UK health systems dementia ready?: Comparing dementia policy across the four nations of the UK.
Future Health; 2024.

(A dementia diagnosis remains one of the most feared by the public. The potential arrival of new treatments creates an opportunity to improve patient outcomes. But to do so will require health systems to be dementia ready quickly. Urgent action is now needed to make them so.)
Freely available online

When I’m 64: A strategy to tackle poverty before state pension age: summary report.
Fabian Society; 2024.

(The UK is facing a hidden poverty crisis among 60 to 65-year-olds. Since 2010, no significant measures to ameliorate the impact of the rising pension age have been introduced. This report looks at the roots of the problem and presents a strategy for solving it.)
Freely available online

The future for health after Brexit.
Nuffield Trust; 2024.

(This report tracks issues that are important for the delivery of health and care in the UK to understand how our changing relationship with Europe is changing the picture for the NHS and health more generally, and what the prospects are for the future. This latest report shows that global medicine shortages are being felt particularly acutely in the UK, and the country’s reliance on migration as a source of health and social care staff is intensifying.)
Freely available online


Internet Watch Foundation Annual Report 2023: #BehindTheScreens.
Internet Watch Foundation (IWF); 2024.

(IWF works to end child sexual abuse imagery online. The annual report contains 2023 trends and data, and case studies and provides some analysis on the distribution of child sexual abuse images and videos on the internet. The new data reveals thousands of images and videos of three to six year old children who have been groomed, coerced and tricked into sexually abusive acts, are now being found on the open internet.)

On the path to ending smoking: using new funding.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH); 2024.

(With a major opportunity to reset our local strategies and make rapid progress towards ending smoking for all populations this paper has been developed by ASH in partnership with DsPH and Humber and North Yorkshire’s Centre for Tobacco Control Excellence to support local decision making in spending new funding to address smoking. It has been reviewed and endorsed by the Association of Directors of Public Health.)

To receive personalised research directly to your inbox, sign up to KnowledgeShare:

KnowledgeShare-sign-up-formDownload

Mental Health

Current Awareness Bulletins

With thanks to our colleagues at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trusts, new current awareness bulletins are avaialble to view and download. Some articles are freely accessible, others require an Open Athens account. Please get in touch for additional support: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk

Suicide Prevention and Self Harm

Suicide-prevention-April-2024Download

Dementia

Dementia-April-24Download

Depression and Anxiety

April-24Download

Learning Disabilities and Autism

April-2024-5Download