Dementia Researcher Vodcast

Globally, women are twice as likely as men to experience depression and anxiety, and the risk peaks at moments of hormonal change: postpartum, the luteal phase, perimenopause. Why?
In this episode of XXplored, host Dr Laura Stankeviciute, University of Gothenburg is joined by Professor Vibe Gedsø Frøkjær, a leading researcher on serotonin and sex hormones at the University of Copenhagen, and Franziska Weinmar, a psychoneuroendocrinology PhD researcher at the University of Tübingen and host of the Let's Talk About Women podcast.
They get into the biology behind hormone shift sensitivity, what oestrogen actually does to the serotonin system, and why the gut-brain axis might matter more for women's mental health than most clinicians appreciate. They also tackle hormonal contraception and depression risk, why suicide statistics look so different by gender, and where the field still has big gaps to close. A lot to chew on, with practical implications for counselling and care.
Key takeaways
Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression and anxiety, with risk clustering around hormonal transitions.
The serotonin system is built to respond to sex hormones, which makes it a likely route by which hormonal shifts affect mood.
Women differ in how sensitive their brains are to hormone shifts, and that sensitivity helps explain why some experience mood symptoms and others don't.
The gut-brain axis is a real frontier for women's mental health, and may open up new treatment options through drug repurposing.
Hormonal contraception works well for most women but carries a small heightened risk of depression that clinicians should counsel on more openly.
Emotion regulation is a trainable skill and a useful clinical target across hormonal transitions.
Gender differences in suicide reflect both how distress is expressed and how the care system recognises and responds to it.

A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.
If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on YouTube, on our website, and in selected podcast platforms.
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We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers, funders, or sponsors.
Subscribe to our sister show 'Dementia Researcher The Blogs':
https://podfollow.com/dementia-researcher-blogs

Extended reality is starting to find a real place in dementia research and care. In this episode, host Dr Byron Creese is joined by David de Jong-Bambagioni, Dr Emilie Brotherhood, and Alice Rowe to explore how virtual, augmented, and mixed reality tools are being used in practice.
Together, they discuss how XR is helping to standardise cognitive assessments, simulate clinical environments, and support earlier and more accurate diagnosis. The conversation also looks at how immersive tools are being used to build empathy, giving clinicians and carers a better sense of what it might feel like to live with dementia.
The panel share examples from their own work, including virtual simulations to distinguish delirium from dementia, and digital environments designed to capture subtle behavioural changes in conditions like frontotemporal dementia. These approaches are opening up new ways to study cognition, behaviour, and patient experience in more realistic and scalable settings.
Alongside the opportunities, the discussion also addresses the challenges. From safeguarding wellbeing to avoiding bias in digital tools, the group reflects on what responsible use looks like, and why co design and inclusive development matter.
This episode offers a practical look at where XR is already making a difference, and where it might go next.
In this episode:
How XR is being used in dementia research and care
Using immersive environments for assessment and empathy
Why co design and lived experience matter
Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality explained simply
Ethical risks and safeguards in vulnerable groups
How researchers are moving into digital health
Getting started with XR and finding collaborators
Inclusion, global perspectives, and reducing bias

A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.
If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on YouTube, on our website, and in selected podcast platforms.
Leave us a tip:
https://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/support
Follow us on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

Download and Register with our Community App:
https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers, funders, or sponsors.
Subscribe to our sister show 'Dementia Researcher The Blogs':
https://podfollow.com/dementia-researcher-blogs

In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast Dr Anna Volkmer hosts a discussion exploring the complexities of wandering in dementia care.
Dr Bryony Waters-Harvey & Dr Emma Hock from The University of Sheffield and Conny McGowan from The Orders of St John Care Trust discuss their research and outcomes of the NIHR funded "FREEDEM study" - Reframing 'wandering' as a meaningful activity using realist synthesis and qualitative exploration
Takeaways
Wandering is often a meaningful activity for residents.
Individualised care plans are crucial for supporting residents.
Language matters in how we perceive wandering.
Positive risk-taking can enhance residents' quality of life.
Hydration and nutrition are important for wandering residents.
Research should focus on the positive aspects of wandering.
Care staff need training to support safe wandering.
Environmental factors significantly impact wandering behavior.
Residents should have access to outdoor spaces.
Future research should involve residents and their families

Access the toolkit and resources:
https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/freedem/home
Strategies to support safe wandering in care homes for older adults – what works, for whom, and in which circumstances? A realist synthesis:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748926000192
A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk.
If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you will find a video version of this podcast on YouTube, on our website, and in selected podcast platforms.
Leave us a tip:
https://dementia-researcher.captivate.fm/support
Follow us on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
https://bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social

Download and Register with our Community App:
https://www.onelink.to/dementiaresearcher
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
The views and opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the producers, funders, or sponsors.
Subscribe to our sister show 'Dementia Researcher The Blogs':
https://podfollow.com/dementia-researcher-blogs

This episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast continues our coverage from the AD PD Conference 2026 in Copenhagen, one of the largest international meetings focused on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Hosted by Professor Louise Serpell, the conversation brings together Athina Grigoriou, Dr Lauren O’Neill, and Dr Sofie Let Frandsen, each sharing highlights from across the conference.
The discussion spans a wide range of topics, from the biological role of alpha synuclein and mitochondrial dysfunction, through to emerging therapeutic targets and the growing importance of biomarkers. There is a strong focus on how diseases are more complex and varied than once thought, with increasing attention on stratification, personalised medicine, and early detection.
Alongside the science, the episode also reflects on the importance of patient voices, collaboration across disciplines, and the value of sharing both positive and negative research findings.
This is Part Two of our AD PD 2026 reflections, offering a thoughtful look at where the field is heading next.
ADPD Conference Website - adpd.kenes.com/
Top Takeaways:
Alpha synuclein may have a normal physiological role, not just a pathological one
Mitochondrial dysfunction remains central in Parkinson’s mechanisms
Biomarkers are key for both early detection and patient stratification
Diseases like Parkinson’s and dementia are highly heterogeneous
Personalised medicine is becoming a realistic goal, not just an idea
New therapeutic targets beyond dopamine are emerging
Early stage and presymptomatic intervention is a major focus
Patient and carer perspectives remain underrepresented but essential
Collaboration and openness, including sharing negative results, are vital
More diverse populations are needed to validate biomarkers globally

A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
Follow us on social media:
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This episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast comes from the AD PD Conference 2026 in Copenhagen, bringing together global researchers to share the latest in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease research.
Hosted by Professor David Cash, the episode features Grace Thompson, Dr Marieta Vassileva, and Dr Alice Carstairs, each offering their own highlights from across the conference.
Rather than trying to cover everything, the conversation focuses on standout talks and emerging themes. These include advances in biomarkers, growing interest in co pathology, the role of neuroinflammation, and how new tools like AI and multiomics are changing how we understand disease.
Across the discussion, the group reflects on what new findings might mean for diagnosis, treatment, and the future direction of dementia research. There is also a strong sense of optimism, with the field moving towards combination therapies and earlier intervention.
This is Part One of a two part series capturing reflections from the conference.
ADPD Conference Website - adpd.kenes.com/
Top Takeaways:
Biomarkers are now central across diagnosis, prediction, and trials
Co pathology is a major theme, with diseases rarely existing in isolation
Tau is emerging as a key driver of cognitive decline
Microglia and neuroinflammation offer new therapeutic targets
Multiomics is helping uncover detailed disease mechanisms
AI is becoming essential for handling complex datasets
Early career researchers are playing a visible role at major conferences
Synaptic loss is strongly linked to cognitive decline
Combination therapies are increasingly seen as the future
The field feels more optimistic than in previous years

A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
Follow us on social media:
www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
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www.bsky.app/profile/dementiare…archer.bsky.social

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