Thirst for Knowledge: Hydration & Dementia

In this podcast Dr Anna Volkmer engages in a captivating discussion with a panel of researchers and experts from the University of East Anglia and Age UK. The focus? Hydration – a seemingly simple yet profoundly impactful aspect of well-being, especially for older individuals and those living with dementia. -- Sharing their research, learning and efforts to deliver practical changes are: Ellice Parkinson, PhD Student. With a background in clinical psychology and working in Huntington’s disease but having now worked in dementia research for almost 10 years, and now focussed on Hydration care of older people, and people living with dementia (and quickly approaching the final year of her PhD at UEA). Dan Skipper, CEO of Age UK Norwich. Dan is an active part of a range of forums focusing on improving the quality of later life in the city and county, including Norwich Older People’s Forum, Norfolk Older People’s Strategic Partnership, and the Norwich Institute of Healthy Ageing. Amy Zile, PhD Student whose work is focussed on Hydration in older adults who live in the community. Mental health and wellbeing of students and academic staff. Dr Florence Jimoh, Senior Knowledge Exchange Associate passionate about hydration in older adults who are at increased risk of dehydration due to physiological and cognitive changes. Her research has involved working with stakeholders to develop a Drinks Diary that some care home residents can use to monitor their fluid intake. -- As we age, maintaining proper hydration becomes more crucial than ever, with far-reaching effects on physical health, cognitive function, and overall quality of life. When it comes to individuals grappling with dementia, the significance of hydration takes on an even more intricate dimension. Join us as we dive into the intricate tapestry of hydration science and its intersection with aging and dementia – and most importantly, exploring the research undertaken by this group to understand and address the challenges. Resources discussed: Improving drinking for people living with dementia in care homes - Access to the FREE dehydration awareness posters for public and clinical areas - https://bit.ly/44kIudY UEA Hydrate Group - Access to the FREE DrinkIt resources and information about the UEA Hydrate Group - https://bit.ly/3shiJ0V -- Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk -- Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast with full captions on our YouTube Channel -- This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.