Stronger Research, Together

This Dementia Action Week, the newly released World Alzheimer Report 2026 explores what it calls a “new era” in dementia clinical trials.

Within all the discussion of new treatments, diagnostics and scientific advances, there's an important question:

What constitutes a successful clinical trial for someone living with dementia?

A change in a biomarker might be an important scientific finding, but for someone living with dementia, success can look very different.

It might mean maintaining their independence for longer, communicating with loved ones or continuing to participate in activities they enjoy.

The report says that these outcomes should be considered alongside traditional clinical measures and that people living with dementia and carers should have a meaningful role in shaping clinical trials from the start.

It's a research principle that extends beyond clinical trials. People with living experience have knowledge and expertise that help make all dementia research more relevant, meaningful and responsive to the people it's ultimately intended to benefit.

Dementia Australia Research Foundation has created the professional development course Stronger Research, Together to help dementia researchers put that principle into practice by building their skills and confidence to effectively involve people with living experience in their research.

The free course is mandatory for all Foundation-funded researchers and is now available to researchers globally through the World Health Organization's Dementia Observatory Knowledge Exchange Platform. Australian-based researchers can also earn CPD points on completion.

The Foundation has also created a companion course for people with a living experience of dementia who'd like to become involved in research.