NRS Ageing webinar this week aims for ‘vital step change’ in dementia and brain health priority setting
The NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Ageing Specialty Group is inviting online discussion this week to help identify how the country can deliver a vital step change in dementia and brain health priority setting
The free webinar ‘Prioritising research questions — an example from dementia and brain health in Scotland’ will take place on Wednesday 21 October from 3-4pm, and will be led by Professor Terry Quinn, Clinical Lead for NRS Ageing.
Advance registration is required and delegates will hear from five speakers — including both healthcare professionals and public contributors — each offering their diverse insights while inviting further discussion to identify the most pressing questions for future research around the risk of cognitive decline.
Professor Quinn will introduce the session, followed by a strong line-up of experts united in ambitions for improving research in this area.
The Professor in Cardiovascular Ageing and Honorary Consultant Physician in Stroke and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Glasgow said: “We’re looking forward to delivering an informative session with a strong interactive element on 21 October and hope you can join us.
“Attendees are invited to make valuable contributions to our discussion as we collectively aim to improve brain health and help prevent dementia — one of the leading causes of death in Scotland.
“With a significant proportion of dementia risk now known to be linked to modifiable factors including social connection, hearing loss, and cardiovascular health, it is more important than ever that we identify priority avenues of research.
“As part of our webinar’s two-way exchange of knowledge, it is equally essential that we hear a wide range of voices to help inform that.”
Speaking alongside Professor Quinn will be Dr Lucy Beishon, Clinical Associate Professor in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Leeds, who will offer her thoughts on previous priority setting projects in dementia. Her current research interests focus on developing an integrated physical-mental health service for older people on inpatient mental health units.
Dr Beishon is a recipient of many grant awards enabling research around people living with severe mental illness and dementia.
Fenna Lunter, a visiting researcher from the Netherlands, will be discussing a Scottish priority setting exercise, leveraging her insights drawn from working with Brain Health ARC to help define the most important questions for future research around dementia and other brain health challenges.
Completing the presentations will be Winnie Henry and David Ross — co-authors of the book Challenging Assumptions Around Dementia: User-Led Research and Untold Stories — who will be discussing the need for ‘Assisting with priority setting as a public contributor’.
The book was co-produced by members of Partners in Research, a Patient and Public Involvement Group started by the NRS Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network. It is available online free of charge following a grant from the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and includes lived experiences from Winnie, David, and many others.
Both will discuss how people like them can positively influence the direction of research.
The webinar will conclude with a Q&A segment.
The role of the NRS Ageing Specialty Group is to support the delivery of high-quality clinical research relevant to the care of older people. It helps to manage participant recruitment to time and target, both for studies which are led from Scotland, and studies led from other nations which Scottish sites are participating in.
Publication date: 19th October 2026
