Building Insights Brick by Brick: Lego Serious Play
In this podcast, host Dr Anna Volkmer explores the use of Lego Serious Play as a research tool / methodology in dementia and neurodegenerative disease studies. Traditionally used in therapy and organisational development, Lego Serious Play is now finding its way into the research world—helping researchers, participants, and stakeholders express complex ideas, foster collaboration, and build deeper insights (literally and metaphorically).
Anna is joined by a panel of expert guests:
Dr Warren Donnellan, University of Liverpool – a trained facilitator of Lego Serious Play who applies it to resilience and carer research.
Dr Alys Griffiths, University of Sheffield – who has integrated the method into dementia studies and her work in Motor Neuron Disease.
Dr Joe Langley, Sheffield Hallam University – known for combining design thinking and participatory research methods, including Lego Serious Play, in health and care settings.
Together, they explore the origins, applications, and benefits of this playful method, share case studies, and reflect on how building with Lego can break down communication barriers and empower participants—particularly those with dementia.
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Topics covered:
🔷What is Lego Serious Play and how does it work in research?
🔷Insights into resilience and the carer experience
🔷Using play to unlock communication in dementia research
🔷How design thinking intersects with health research
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Essential links / resources mentioned in the show:
🔷An overview of Lego Serious Play: https://www.lego.com/en-us/seriousplay
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Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. You can also find a video version on our website on YouTube and in Spotify.
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This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.
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Follow us on social media:
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41:17
ADPD 2025 Conference Highlights - Part Two
This year's AD/PD Conference was held in Vienna, Austria from the 1st to 5th April. In this second of a two-part special we bring you highlights from the last three days of the conference.
The AD/PD Conference focuses on basic science and translational and clinical research bringing New insights on disease mechanisms and etiologies, the latest findings from clinical trials, innovative outlooks on therapy and prevention and advances in diagnostic markers.
In this special on-location recording our guest host Dr Isabel Castanho, Instructor the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School talks with:
Dr Emma Garland, Research Associate at The University of Sheffield. An early career researcher with a focus on Alzheimer’s, and an interest in protein pathogenesis, iPSC culture and inflammation in neurodegenerative disease.
Susan Rohde, PhD Student at UMC Amsterdam. Susan is a Neurobiologist interested in (healthy) brain aging and related diseases, and currently work on the Dutch 100 Plus Study.
Dr Martyna Matuszyk, Research Communications Officer at the Alzheimer’s Society. Supporting the charity to communicate dementia research with the public, having previously completed a PhD and Postdoc working on Alzheimer’s and MND.
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Here are just a few highlights from the discussion:
🧬 1. "This is why we do the science."
A powerful and emotional talk from Trevor Salamon, sharing his wife's journey with young onset dementia, reminded the audience what it's all really about.
🧠2. Can your gut give you Parkinson’s?
Discover new research showing how toxic proteins may travel from the gut to the brain — and how mini organoids are helping researchers prove it.
🧫 3. Microglia, mice, and human brains… all pointing to the same gene?
Explore how two researchers independently found SPP1 upregulated in Alzheimer’s immunotherapy studies — in both mice and humans.
🧪 4. PhD students are stealing the show
From organoid development to cutting-edge methylation studies, early-career researchers are producing some of the most exciting work on display.
💬 5. "I saw your name on the poster and had to say hello"
Hear how chance meetings, shared lab lines, and QR code posters are turning scientific conferences into hubs of unexpected connection.
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For more information on the event visit:
https://www.adpd.kenes.com
Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website:
https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode – and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our YouTube Channel - https://youtu.be/PghjSzaamnc
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This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.
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Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
https://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
https://www.twitter.com/demrescommunity
https://www.bsky.app/profile/dementiaresearcher.bsky.social
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dementia-researcher
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Download our new community app: https://onelink.to/dementiaresearcher
Of Mice and Men… and Toxins: The Environmental Link to Dementia
In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, guest host Dr Sam Moxon is joined by Dr Adam Schuller, Dr Savannah Rocha-Wrigley, and Megan Hager from Colorado State University's Tjalkens Lab to explore the significant yet often overlooked impact of environmental toxins on dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.
This fascinating discussion sheds light on how substances such as pesticides, heavy metals, wildfire smoke, and air pollution can trigger changes in glial cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, which may lead to dementia. The experts share insights into groundbreaking experimental models, imaging technologies, and the importance of early intervention and prevention strategies to reduce toxin-related risks.
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Key Topics:
🔷Defining environmental toxins and their relevance to dementia
🔷Role of astrocytes and microglia in neurodegeneration
🔷Translational neurotoxicology models
🔷Advanced AI imaging and analysis techniques
🔷Preventative strategies to mitigate environmental risks
Essential links / resources mentioned in the show:
Tjalkens Lab - https://bit.ly/4hMLO8w
Adam Schuller Website - https://bit.ly/3RmSLCk
WHO Air Quality & Health - https://bit.ly/3FIxqkd
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Full biographies on all our guests and a transcript can be found on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. You can also find a video version on our website on YouTube and in Spotify.
--
This podcast is brought to you by University College London / UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in association with Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia who we thank for their ongoing support.
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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
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45:46
Minds in Motion: Dr Katie Breheny - Health Economics in Dementia Care
The Minds in Motion Podcast from Dementia Researcher in association with the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations and Alzheimer’s Society, brings together NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellows, to talk about their research and careers.
In this second series, we hear from five of the Dem Comm Fellows each taking a turn as co-host and guest. Alongside the researchers we have the incredible Trevor Salomon, Alzheimer’s Society Volunteer & Chair of the European Dementia Carers Working Group as our permanent co-host and anchor.
In show Trevor is joined by the guest from our previous show Dr Lis Grey from University of Bristol and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) West to interview Dr Katie Breheny.
Katy works in the NIHR ARC West and University of Bristol. Katie is a health economist focused on improving the way we assess and value healthcare interventions for people living with dementia. Her research explores how traditional health economic methods can be adapted to better capture wellbeing and quality of life in dementia care. With a background in psychology, Katie’s work spans health economics, patient-reported outcomes, and methodological research, ensuring that economic evaluations reflect the real-world needs of individuals, carers, and service providers. She is particularly interested in making assessments more inclusive and meaningful, while also working on innovative projects such as adapting wellbeing questionnaires and developing personalised digital tools to support dementia care.
Dem Comm is a 2 year programme funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the Alzheimer's Society. It supports a new generation of dementia research leaders, bringing together researchers from different multidisciplinary backgrounds to encourage cross-cutting and community-orientated dementia research projects that can address key gaps in the evidence around dementia care and support, delivering transformative translational research.
For information on the Fellowship visit:
http://www.arc-wx.nihr.ac.uk/dem-comm-research-fellows
For guest biographies, a full transcript and much more visit:
http://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast, and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. If you prefer to watch rather than listen, you’ll find a video version of this podcast on our website, YouTube and Spotify.
This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia, who we thank for their ongoing support.
Follow us on Social Media:
http://www.instagram.com/dementia_researcher/
http://www.facebook.com/Dementia.Researcher/
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A biweekly podcast for early career researchers, bringing together fantastic guests to discuss their research, careers + much more.
Dedicated to sharing the science, encouraging collaborations, attracting more people to the field, and supporting those already here to succeed.
Brought to you by https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk at University College London, in association with Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Race Against Dementia - everything you need, all in one place. supporting early career researchers across the world
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