Increasing awareness of dementia research in South Asian communities in Manchester
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) dementia researchers joined colleagues from the University of Manchester, the University of Liverpool and the Alzheimer’s Society on 22 May 2025 to engage with members of Manchester’s South Asian communities about dementia and dementia research. Our colleagues share a video about the event and give us their thoughts on the day.
The British Muslim Heritage Centre was abuzz with informative sessions, henna art, interactive Q&As and engaging discussions on a busy Thursday in Whalley Range. The community festival had been set up by researchers across the North West to foster closer connections between academics and South Asian communities.
People from South Asian backgrounds have higher risk factors which can put them at greater risk of dementia compared to the wider British population. On top of this, stigma and myths can be associated with the disease, and many South Asian people might encounter barriers in terms of accessing support and getting a diagnosis.
The team of researchers wanted to get a conversation started and celebrate how far we have come in treating dementia but also recognise how much more there is to do, especially for underrepresented communities. Getting involved in research – whether it’s as a participant or in an advisory role – can be so important to addressing mental health inequalities.
The morning started with a Community Advisory Panel, where community members shared their experiences of being involved with research and posed questions about potential future research.
Dr Ross Dunne, Old Age Psychiatrist and Director of the Greater Manchester Dementia Research Centre (GMDRC) at GMMH, gave a presentation on the Manchester brainHealth clinic, forging a new pathway for people with memory issues to get a more accurate diagnosis and faster.
Saliha Ahmed, a Senior Clinical Research Practitioner in dementia studies at GMMH showcased current research that is taking place in Greater Manchester, and what is involved in taking part in the studies.
“The event was a great example of how we can bridge the gap between us as researchers and underrepresented communities in research,” Saliha told us. “It was educational and informative, and attendees were very receptive to learning about dementia research. We also got quite a bit of interest about some of our studies, too, and we're really looking forward to working with more participants from South-Asian backgrounds.”
Finally, Sania Rehman, Manager at the Sahara South Asian Service of the Alzheimer’s Society, detailed different services available to support people living with Dementia and their loved ones within the local community.
The event drew an impressive crowd, Dr Sarah Kate Smith, Dementia Research Fellow, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester, told us:
“Over 100 people representing South Asian Communities attended over the course of the day. Join Dementia Research reported more sign-ups than ever from the South Asian Community at this event.”
A daughter of a parent living with dementia told the team: “It can be so helpful hearing from dementia experts when they too represent the South Asian Community.”
Another GMMH colleague and Clinical Trials Coordinator, Rabeaa Uddin said “It was incredibly powerful to see so many South Asian families with elders engaging so openly around dementia — a topic that’s often difficult to talk about in our communities. The day reaffirmed how vital culturally sensitive outreach is in building trust and encouraging participation in research.”
If you’d like to find out more about dementia research taking place in Greater Manchester, you can visit GMDRC’s webpage, email dementiaresearch@gmmh.nhs.uk, or search our Active Studies Finder.
