Home / Health / Devon Mom and Daughter Join Dementia Fight
Devon Mom and Daughter Join Dementia Fight
11 May
Summary
- Protect Study uses blood samples and cognitive tests.
- Research aims to identify lifestyle and genetic dementia risk factors.
- Over 30,000 people have already joined the vital study.
A mother and daughter from Devon, Vic Owens and Jan Tandy, have joined the Protect Study, a significant dementia research initiative. The study utilizes a simple finger-prick blood sample alongside data from online cognitive tests to pinpoint lifestyle and genetic elements that could lower dementia risk. This effort is particularly meaningful for Owens, who described watching family members with dementia "disappear" as heartbreaking.
The research, spearheaded by Professor Anne Corbett from the University of Exeter Medical School, builds upon previous work identifying dementia-linked blood biomarkers. By correlating these biomarkers with performance on highly sensitive online brain function tests, the study aims to predict an individual's future risk. This predictive capability could pave the way for early diagnoses and personalized treatment plans.
Jan Tandy shared her motivation for joining, stating that witnessing the rapid decline of a family member and the fear in a friend's eyes prompted her involvement. She believes that understanding these risk factors is crucial for developing interventions and treatments to help people age without succumbing to dementia.
