UCL Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health

There are 820,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) occur in almost 90% of those diagnosed. BPSD can have a profound impact in the quality of life for both people with dementia and their carers, and are a trigger for relocation to care homes. BPSD is often treated with anti-psychotics but these drugs are associated with serious side effects and increased mortality. There is a need to evaluate non-pharmacological interventions for BPSD, of which exercise is one of the most promising.

EVIDEM-E is a randomised controlled trial of therapeutic exercise for BPSD, funded by the National Institute for Health Research. This presentation aims to describe the research journey from conception to administration of the trial. Methodological, ethical and practical issues of Evidem-E trial design and administration will also be discussed.