BU Research Blog

February 23, 2022

First BU online public lecture explores living better for longer

BU research, Events, Featured, Public engagement, Research communication ematthews

The first of Bournemouth University’s online public lectures has taken place, exploring BU research into healthy ageing.

Following an introductory message from Vice-Chancellor Professor John Vinney, the event was opened by Professor of Nutrition Jane Murphy and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Sophia Amenyah, who discussed how our nutritional needs change throughout our life and the importance of good nutrition as we age.

They also shared details of their latest research projects – including the DONOR project, which will explore whether digital technology can support with the management of frailty, and how community-based food activities, such as growing, cooking and eating together, impact upon the health and wellbeing of older people.

In the second presentation of the evening, Principal Academic in Psychology Dr Samuel Nyman presented the findings of his research project which looked at whether Tai Chi had benefits for people with dementia and their carers and found that taking part in regular Tai Chi classes helped maintain good quality of life.

The presentation was followed by a live Tai Chi session with qualified instructor Michael Acton, which attendees could take part in from home.

Professor of Public Health and Wellbeing Ann Hemingway was the final speaker, talking about the Stay Active and Independent for Longer (SAIL) project, which used social innovation to support older people to remain active, healthy and independent, as well as exploring what barriers existed.

The event ended with a question and answer session and a discussion which covered topics including the importance of protein as we age, and the role technology can play in supporting health and wellbeing in later life.

Over 300 people registered to attend the event, which was the first in our online public lecture series showcasing BU’s research strengths and their impact.

The next event will take place on Thursday 24 March, exploring the past, present and future of the Great British seaside.

Thanks again to our speakers and to everyone who supported or attended the Living Better Longer event. If you missed it, you can watch the recording.

May 31, 2019

Public event – Living well with dementia: Tai Chi, creative drama and independence at home

BU research, Events, Impact, Public engagement, Research communication Adam Morris

Come to this public event on Wed 19 June to hear the latest results from 3 dementia research projects:

The benefits of Tai Chi for people with dementia
Dr Samuel Nyman, chief investigator for The TACIT Trial – TAi ChI for people with demenTia, will present the results of a 3-year study that investigated the benefits of Tai Chi for people with dementia and their informal carers living in their own homes in the Dorset, Southampton, and Portsmouth areas.
Supporting independent living for people with dementia (Project: AD-Autonomy)
As part of a 2-year European funded project (September 2017-August 2019), Dr Ben Hicks has been working with European partners to establish an online information portal to provide guidance on supporting people to maintain their independence while living with dementia. Dr Hicks will discuss the development of the information portal and provide attendees the opportunity to engage with it.
The benefits of creative drama and storytelling for people with dementia (Project: Story to Remember)
As part of another 2-year European funded project (September 2018-August 2020), Dr Ben Hicks has been working with European partners to explore the use of creative drama and storytelling as mediums for enhancing social inclusion in people with dementia. Dr Hicks will present the findings from the first stage of the project.

After the talks, come and meet some of our researchers to hear more about dementia research at Bournemouth University over a free light lunch.

Schedule:
Wednesday 19 June

10:15 Doors open
10:30 Introduction by Professor Jan Weiner, co-head of the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre
10:35 Public lecture by Dr Samuel Nyman on the TACIT Trial
11:20 Short break
11:30 Public lecture by Dr Ben Hicks on AD-Autonomy and Story to Remember
12:15 – 13:00 light lunch and an opportunity to meet the researchers

Register now

Please share the link for this public event dementia-and-living-well.eventbrite.co.uk with anyone who might be interested.

July 25, 2018

ADRC attend 47th British Society of Gerontology Conference, Manchester, UK

BU research, Events, PG research, Public engagement, Research news, Uncategorized jbentley

Yolanda Barrado-Martín from the Psychology Department and Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) attended the 47th edition of the British Society of Gerontology in Manchester (UK) from 3rd July to 6th July 2018.

International researchers from different disciplines gathered in Manchester to learn about projects under the theme “Ageing in an Unequal World: Shaping Environments fro the 21st Century”. This was a very well attended conference (with a waiting list), with up to 17 parallel sessions. Dementia had a relevant space in this conference with different sessions highlighting the use of diverse interventions to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and those providing support such as facilitating decision making processes, exploring environmental adaptations and supporting home-care for those willing to stay at home.

Yolanda Barrado-Martín had an oral presentation entitled: “How is Tai Chi received by people living with dementia and their informal carers?” Those attending the session showed their interest in the topic and asked questions about people living with moderate dementia’s involvement in the classes and about the Ransomised Controlled Trial Phase of the study. This was a great experience for Yolanda who presented her PhD pilot results to a friendly international audience.

The ADRC’s work was also represented by Dr Michele Board who gave a presentation on “Evaluating the impact of the Virtual Reality app ‘A Walk Through Dementia’, and Mananya Podee who discussed leisure activity, arts and social inclusion for those with dementia.

Participation in the BSG conference was a valued addition in knowledge regarding psycho-social interventions for people living with dementia and a great opportunity to network with researchers from the gerontology background. Yolanda’s attendance to this conference was possible thanks to one of the Santander Mobility Awards.

British Society of Gerontology 47th Annual Conference – Ageing in an Unequal World: Shaping Environments for the 21st Century.

June 22, 2018

Photo of the Week: The TACIT Trial

BU research, Research communication sgardener

The TACIT Trial: TAi ChI for people with demenTia

This week’s photo of the week is Dr Samuel Nyman‘s entry of a Tai Chi class in action. This weekly series features photo entries from our annual Research Photography Competition taken by BU academics, students and professional staff, which gives a glimpse into some of the fantastic research undertaken across the BU community.

The TACIT Trial is all about people. The study is undertaken by a team of researchers led by Dr Samuel Nyman at BU who are looking into the benefits of Tai Chi for people with dementia. Qualified Tai Chi instructors, such as senior instructor Robert Joyce from Elemental Tai Chi (photographed), lead the classes. The classes are attended by people with dementia and their informal carers. The classes involve slow, gentle, fluid body movements and slow breathing that leave you feeling relaxed and yet you have exercised your core muscles. In this randomised controlled trial, we are following up for six months people who have taken part in the classes and practiced at home and are comparing them to others who have not done Tai Chi. This will provide initial evidence for the first time in the UK as to the benefits of Tai Chi for the health and well-being of people with dementia and their informal carers. This photo is taken from a workshop for Solent NHS led the the chief investigator Dr Samuel Nyman and Robert Joyce.

You can find out more about the TACIT Trial here:

Webpage: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/tai-chi/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheTACITTrial/

—

Dr Samuel Nyman is a Principal Academic at Bournemouth University. For more information about this research, please contact Samuel here.

December 18, 2017

End of year ADRC Christmas Seminar – PhD Student presentations

BU research, Research news, Uncategorized mobrien

Six of the ADRC PhD students gave short presentations of their plans and findings at the end of year ADRC Christmas seminar held on 12^th December. They included the following:

Yolanda Barrado-Martin : Process evaluation of a Tai Chi exercise intervention to prevent falls among older people with dementia.

Raysa El Zein : Dietary intervention study using coconut oil to evaluate effects of ketone metabolism in older adults.

Christopher Hilton : The role of attention in spatial (dis)orientation in people with early signs of dementia.

Joanne Holmes : An exploration of the factors that affect the extensive meal experience for cognitively active elderly living in residential care.

Mananya Podee : Improving holiday accommodation and service provision for people with dementia: An exploration of needs and expectations.

Vladislava Segen : How does ageing affect ability to recognise places, stay oriented & navigate successfully?

It was a highly successful afternoon with lots of good discussion and challenging questions posed for our students. Well done to everyone who presented and we look forward to hearing more about your great work in due course!

September 18, 2017

ADRC attend European Health Psychology Society Conference, Padua, Italy

BU research, PG research, Public engagement mobrien

Dr Samuel Nyman, Yolanda Barrado-Martín and Iram Bibi from the Psychology Department and Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) attended the 31^st edition of the European Health Psychology Society Conference in Padua (Italy) from 29^th August to 2^nd September 2017.

European and International researchers met in Padua on this occasion to learn about projects under the theme “Innovative ideas in Health Psychology”. Dr Samuel Nyman and Yolanda Barrado-Martín had an oral presentation each entitled: “Systematic review of behaviour change techniques used to increase physical activity among people with dementia” and “Acceptability of a tai chi intervention for people living with dementia and their informal carers”. Dr Samuel Nyman was also in charge of chairing the session “Physical and cognitive function in later life” involving these two presentations. Those attending the session showed their interest in the topic and asked questions about ways of facilitating people living with dementia’s participation in exercise interventions. This was a great experience for Yolanda who presented for the first time her PhD pilot results to an international audience.

Participation in EHPS Conference was a valued addition in knowledge regarding interventions, exercise, behaviour change techniques, adherence to interventions, and relationship of patient and care givers. Titles of few among many interesting sessions are highlighted; “Mechanisms and adherence in interventions for patients with chronic disease,” “Caregiving and relationships in health,” “Methods for building better behavior change interventions,” “Dyadic regulation processes to promote health and well-being in romantic couples,” Developing and evaluating interventions to promote physical activity: issues in special settings and populations” and “Behaviour change theory and interventions in implementation research.” Iram Bibi found that the Poster presentations were also a great learning experience and an opportunity to socialize with scholars from around the globe.

August 7, 2017

The TACIT Trial releases YouTube video to help with recruitment

BU research, Research news, Uncategorized mobrien

The TACIT Trial has a new professional video; please forward to anyone you know who has dementia or is a carer of someone with dementia who may be interested in taking part in this study: https://youtu.be/96Kyi_P7ngI.

Further information can be found below and by visiting the website www.bournemouth.ac.uk/tai-chi. A YouTube clip can also be seen with Dr Samuel Nyman appearing on the BBC Radio Solent breakfast show and the breakfast team taking part in Tai Chi.

The TACIT Trial Team at Bournemouth University Ageing & Dementia Research Centre are looking for people living with dementia and their carers to take part in an exciting new study. For more information, please get in touch!

People with dementia and their informal carer will be helping with research to find out if Tai Chi is beneficial for people with dementia. All participants will be talking to researchers on a weekly basis and half will have the chance of getting to do Tai Chi. This study will be based in #Bournemouth #Ferndown #Christchurch #Dorchester #Poole #Romsey #Eastleigh #Portsmouth.
You can have a look at our flyer (https://goo.gl/vZzkWG) and our venues´ details (www.bournemouth.ac.uk/tai-chi).

If you want to get involved, please contact Yolanda Barrado-Martín by:
· E-mail: ybarradomartin@bournemouth.ac.uk
· Telephone: 07801890258
· Facebook #TheTACITTrial: Fill out our questionnaire (https://goo.gl/forms/WA5mk2vR8m9qWw0K2) with your contact details and we will get back to you!

July 3, 2017

BU research project encourages people with dementia to take up Tai Chi

BU research, Uncategorized mobrien

A new research project is encouraging people with dementia to take up tai chi.

The project, called The TACIT Trial: TAi ChI for people with demenTia, aims to test whether tai chi is of benefit to people with dementia, and of benefit for their carers. Click here to read the full article.

November 7, 2016

Do you know someone with dementia who might like to come to some free Tai Chi classes?

Uncategorized mobrien

In the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI), we currently have several research projects actively looking for people with dementia and their informal carers to take part.

If you know of anyone with dementia or a carer of someone with dementia who may be interested please let them know.

Current opportunities include taking part in a Tai Chi study where they get to receive free Tai Chi classes to assess the benefits of Tai Chi to their health and wellbeing.

These are currently being held for 4 weeks in the Christchurch and Eastleigh areas (with more opportunities next year in other areas including Bournemouth and Poole).

They will need to get in contact as soon as possible to avoid missing classes!

For more information about the Tai Chi study please see the flyer here and contact Yolanda Barrado-Martín on Tel: 07801 890258, Email: ybarradomartin@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Other projects include studies where they visit the university to take part in novel tasks that look at our ability to navigate our way through virtual environments, or keep a diary about their engagement in leisure activities throughout their usual week.

For more information about other BUDI projects please click here or contact the BUDI office via budi@bournemouth.ac.uk and/or telephone 01202 962771

October 27, 2016

NIHR-funded TACIT Trial: TAi ChI for people with demenTia.

Research themes, Uncategorized mobrien

Since the beginning of 2016, Dr Samuel Nyman (Psychology Department, and Bournemouth University Dementia Institute) has been funded 100% of his time for 3 years by the NIHR on a Career Development Fellowship. Part of the fellowship is to conduct a research project: “The TACIT Trial TAi ChI for people with demenTia”.

The first external presentation about this project was on the 11^th November 2015 as part of an ESRC-funded seminar series, Physical activity among hard-to-reach groups: Issues of research, policy and practice. That presentation was noticed by Haringey Council who have charged a scrutiny panel with the task of reviewing their strategy for increasing physical activity among older people in their borough. As part of this review, last week on the 13^th October, Haringey Council invited Samuel, along with other colleagues from across charitable / higher education / private sectors, to present about the project. The project was met with much interest and contributed to a roundtable discussion on how to implement the current evidence-base into practice.

Dr Nyman and guests with the scrutiny panel, Haringey Council Chamber

The project is starting to recruit into its Pilot Intervention Phase, and will recruit into the randomised controlled trial phase in the spring of 2017. The trial results will be available in the autumn of 2018 before Samuel finishes his fellowship in December 2018.

For further information about the TACIT Trial, please see:

Summary of the project on the NIHR’s blog: http://www.nihr.ac.uk/newsroom/blog/why-tai-chi-may-be-a-great-activity-for-people-with-dementia.htm
Short piece giving a rationale for promoting Tai Chi to prevent falls, to be published in Perspectives in Public Health (in press): http://staffprofiles.bournemouth.ac.uk/display/journal-article/216768
International Clinical Trials registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02864056

June 30, 2016

BUDI presents at the 2016 BU Festival of Learning

BU research, Events, Public engagement, student research, Uncategorized mobrien

On Wednesday 29^th June, BUDI hosted an event ‘(Re) consider Dementia’ as part of the annual BU Festival of Learning. It was a packed day and showcased a number of research projects as well as entertainment from the BUDI Orchestra.

During the morning, Dr Samuel Nyman introduced the TACIT Trial. Funded by the National Institute for Health Research, this project will teach Tai Chi to people living with dementia in the Bournemouth and Southampton areas, with the aim to see whether it leads to improvements in postural balance, health and wellbeing for them and their carer. Some of the Tai Chi exercises were then taught to the participating audience by Robert Joyce of Elemental Tai Chi, who is part of the team working on this project. You can obtain further information by visiting http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/dementia-institute/2016/02/18/4170/.

Over the lunch hour, attendees were entertained by the BUDI Orchestra as they held their concert in the Student Hall. This performance was the first of three that will be held over the next 12 months following funding from the Arts Council won earlier this year by Andy Baker, the lead musician. The orchestra is made up of those living with dementia, their carer partners, BU staff (in the picture you can see BU’s Sarah Cronin singing “Danny Boy”) along with 5 talented musicians. Everyone was joyous and in good spirits especially as the BBC were filming the orchestra for their Inside Out programme to be featured in September. Bournemouth Echo as well as BU’s PR team were also taking photos, video clips and quotes from both the orchestra and the audience. You may have seen the Echo’s article already.

May we take this opportunity to ask that should you know of anyone living with dementia that would like to join the orchestra, or if you have any unwanted string or percussion instruments that you no longer have use for then please do contact budi@bournemouth.ac.uk as the orchestra will give them a good home.

The afternoon continued with three interesting presentations focusing on current BUDI research. Dr Michelle Heward started by introducing team posters and presenting Cage Cricket, a pilot project being carried out by Dr Rick Fisher and Ben Hicks who are working in partnership with Dementia Hampshire and Cage4All. To find our more visit http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/dementia-institute/2016/06/02/cage-cricket-with-people-with-dementia-and-their-care-partners/

After a short interval, Michelle continued with her own informative project on “Fire safety in the home”. This was funded by the Inspired by 2012 Health & Wellbeing Legacy Fund. Michelle and Dr Fiona Kelly worked closely with Dorset Fire & Rescue in producing training of some staff and literature. Michelle then answered several interesting questions. To find out more visit http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/dementia-institute/2016/03/23/fire-safety-innovations-for-people-affected-by-dementia-2/

Finally, Mary Duah-Owusu White presented for the first time on her PhD “Improving care for people in acute hospital wards”. The audience listened with interest and look forward to hearing the outcomes at a future BUDI event.

To find out more about our work please visit our website: http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/dementia-institute/
Report by Michelle O’Brien, BUDI Administrator

May 31, 2016

International Clinical Trials Day 2016

Events, Public engagement, Uncategorized mobrien

On 17 May, The Royal Bournemouth Hospital celebrated the International Clinical Trials Day 2016. The TACIT Trial (TAi Chi for people with demenTia) Team had been invited to give a presentation at this event. Yolanda Barrado-Martín (pictured here) as PhD Researcher working on the trial attended the event and gave a talk on the impact and characteristics of the project. The audience was mainly formed by professionals working at the Hospital, academics, and the principal guest was The Worshipful The Mayor of Bournemouth.

For further information about the project please click here
Email: Dr Samuel Nyman – snyman@bournemouth.ac.uk and/or
Yolanda Barrado-Martin – ybarradomartin@bournemouth.ac.uk

November 13, 2015

BUDI’s ESRC Festival of Learning event held on 11th November 2015

Public engagement, Uncategorized mobrien

BUDI hosted a packed day of events showcasing some of our research, community-based projects and awareness-raising work. Attendees included university staff and students, people living with dementia and their family members, care home staff, members of the Alzheimer’s Society and interested members of the public. The day started with an announcement of the commitment by Bournemouth University to work towards becoming dementia friendly. This entails delivering dementia friends training to all university staff and, in time, to all students, ensuring Human Resource processes meet the needs of family members caring for people with dementia and anyone with a diagnosis of dementia working in the university, ensuring any marketing and communications are ‘dementia friendly’ and working with Estates to ensure the university meets dementia friendly design principles as much as possible.

We were delighted to see the return of the BUDI orchestra, comprising people with dementia, their family members, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra musicians John Murphy and Kevin Pritchard and led by Andy Baker, a freelance musician, who showed us techniques to support successful rehearsals and performances. This interactive workshop had everyone participating and it set the tone for an inspiring day.

BUDI orchestra and the audience playing music together.

We also heard from Dr Samuel Nyman about his recently NIHR funded Tai Chi project and had a chance to learn some basic Tai Chi from Robert Joyce. In the afternoon we were inspired to create poetry by Jonnie Seagrave ‘Fluffypunk’ and shown how to create poetry with people with dementia.

We then heard from Mary O’Malley about her Ph.D. investigating wayfinding in people with dementia, followed by a dementia friends training session delivered by Dr Michelle Heward. Throughout the day, we had visitors to our BUDI stand and the Alzheimer’s Society’s table, In the Student Centre, SportBU had a sponsored spin bike challenge to cycle 850,000 metres – a metre for every person living with Dementia in the UK. They managed this amazing feat and raised £100.00 for the Alzheimer’s Society. A huge thank you to everyone who took part and contributed.

The day finished with a screening of the film Still Alice, which portrays the journey of a woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in her early 50s, and this was followed by a lively panel discussion (Professor Candida Yates, Professor Iain MacRury, Dr Fiona Cownie and Dr Fiona Kelly), in which the audience offered their insights, experiences and thoughts on the film.

Pictures (Learning Tai Chi, Learning Poetry, BUDI welcome desk and SportBU bike challenge)

November 10, 2015

11 November – BUDI’s Event at the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences

Public engagement mobrien

BUDI welcome you to attend its events at the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences being held tomorrow 11 November on the Talbot Campus (10am to 7pm). Below you will find the programme of the day’s events. Its FREE so please come along and join us if you can.

Programme for ESRC Festival of Social Sciences

(10am to 12 noon workshops in Student Hall)
10.00 Event opening
10.15 Music workshop
11.00 Remembrance Day 2 minutes silence
11.05 Tai Chi workshop
11.50 Networking
(PG22)
12.00 Tai Chi information session
(this section is purely for Persons living with Dementia and their Carers)
Please contact snyman@bournemouth.ac.uk or mobrien@bournemouth.ac.uk for further information regarding the Tai Chi information session if required.

Student Centre
12.45 Poetry introduction

(1pm to 7pm Allesbrook Lecture Theatre)
13.00 Dementia Friends Session
14.00 Way finding workshop
14.30 Poetry workshop
15.15 Networking

Screening of the Film “Still Alice”

16.00 Welcome
16.15 Screen film
18.00 Short interval
18.10 Panel discussion
19.00 Thank you and Good Night

Previous HSS blog

Tagged / Tai Chi

First BU online public lecture explores living better for longer

Public event – Living well with dementia: Tai Chi, creative drama and independence at home

Register now

Photo of the Week: The TACIT Trial

The TACIT Trial: TAi ChI for people with demenTia

End of year ADRC Christmas Seminar – PhD Student presentations

ADRC attend European Health Psychology Society Conference, Padua, Italy

The TACIT Trial releases YouTube video to help with recruitment

BU research project encourages people with dementia to take up Tai Chi

Do you know someone with dementia who might like to come to some free Tai Chi classes?

NIHR-funded TACIT Trial: TAi ChI for people with demenTia.

BUDI presents at the 2016 BU Festival of Learning

International Clinical Trials Day 2016

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