The Health Research Board (HRB) and the Atlantic Philanthropies recently announced the research arm of Ireland's first National Dementia Strategy. Seven new research projects have been funded to support the implementation of the strategy.

Among the awards is a HRB Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement (ICE) Award which is being led by Professor Anne Hickey, Associate Professor Psychology at the Department of Psychology, Division of Population Health Sciences, RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland). 

Programme and project grants under this funding scheme will research topics such as the use of home computer tablets for care management, dementia-friendly hospital design and the links between stroke and dementia and will start this year as a result of this significant investment.

The RCSI-led StrokeCog study involves modelling and modifying the consequences of stroke-related cognitive impairment through intervention. Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide and a significant contributor to adult disability. The ICE award will support three post-doctoral positions to examine the links between stroke and dementia. This is an under-researched topic internationally and is a critical area to better understand, as one in ten people develop dementia after first stroke, and more than one in three people who have a recurrent stroke develop dementia. Vascular dementia accounts for approximately one-third of all dementia types. Better knowledge and understanding will play an important role in developing preventative healthcare strategies. The value of the award is €572,000 over a period of three years.

Speaking on the award, Professor Hickey said, "Findings from the StrokeCog study will provide, for the first time in Ireland, critical data enabling service planners and providers to plan services addressing cognitive impairment post-stroke both in hospital and the community. Our programme deliverables will make an original contribution to national and international understanding of the implications and management of cognitive impairment after stroke." 

"The awards are part of a very deliberate and focused plan to improve dementia care. They are aligned with the National Dementia Strategy and they all focus on improving quality of life for people living with dementia and those caring for them. From making our hospitals more friendly for dementia patients, or using technology to remotely track health markers like patient blood pressure and weight, each of these new projects will make a very real and tangible impact on people's lives and improve how we deliver their healthcare services," said Graham Love, the Chief Executive of the HRB.