NIHR BRC: Newcastle member Dr Alison Killen recently published Lewy body dementia, a practical guide’, a book that sets out practical guidance for people with Lewy body dementia, their families and carers, providing valuable information for finding acceptance and support.

Author Dr Alison Killen, a Health Psychologist has recently retired from Newcastle University where her work included designing interventions to support people newly diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and their families. She returned for the launch event at which people living with Lewy body dementia (LBD) and their families joined her and other dementia researchers and colleagues working in dementia support to celebrate the launch of the book at the Biomedical Research Building in Newcastle.

Alison Killen said: 'I was delighted to have the opportunity to launch 'LBD - a practical guide' at the BRC. Having worked on many LBD studies and the COBALT clinical trial, I know not only how important LBD research is within the NIHR BRC: Newcastle, but how much people with lived experience and their families are valued within this work. It was therefore an ideal setting to share this book which provides valuable information to support people on their journey with LBD.' 

The afternoon included presentations from LBD researchers Dr Jade Hawkesworth, Amelia Ikwue, Lucy Wood, Searlait Thom and Reza Sedghi. These were followed by a series of table discussions, a format which gave guests the opportunity to hear more about individual projects and ask questions. This was also a valuable opportunity for the researchers to learn from people with lived experience about how LBD impacts their lives.

Jade Hawksworth said: 'Dr. Killen’s book is a wonderful resource, and I am sure it will help many patients and their families navigate the conversations and decisions that follow a diagnosis of LBD. It has also been incredibly valuable to me personally. As a benchtop scientist, I spend much of my time looking down through a microscope. This book is a powerful reminder of what drew me to this career in the first place, which is the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people living with LBD.'

About the book

Lewy body dementia is an underdiagnosed and particularly challenging form of dementia which typically features visual hallucinations, REM-sleep disorder and cognitive fluctuations. Alison’s book aims to be a one-stop shop covering symptomology, assessment, diagnosis, and management as well as information on research and psychological techniques, help for carers and sources of further support.

To the book