A new and poignant photography exhibition highlights the experiences of people living with memory problems during and beyond the pandemic.

A quarter of people over 60 worry about memory loss. Many live with an awareness of an increased risk of dementia, without knowing what they can do about it.

In 2018, the National Institute for Health Research and the Economic and Social Research Council funded the APPLE-Tree (Active prevention in people at risk of dementia) study. This five-year study, led by Queen Mary University of London in collaboration with the International Longevity Centre-UK, explores how to support people with memory concerns to make changes that reduce their chances of getting dementia. The groups also seek to help participants live with the uncertainty and worry of memory loss.

Now some of the participants have worked with professional photographer and artist Sukey Parnell Johnson to make and curate a public exhibition of photographs.  The exhibition intends to spark conversations about how society supports, includes and respects people who live with memory problems. The exhibition, sponsored by Daisy Cooper MP, will be displayed at the House of Commons, after which it will be open to the public at Holy Sepulchre in Holborn (the musicians church) for 3 months.

Professor Claudia Cooper, APPLE-Tree Chief Investigator says

“There are currently no guidelines for how health and social care services support people with memory problems that are not dementia, and yet as the exhibition shows, these symptoms have a profound impact on lives.”

“Age-specific dementia incidence rates have declined 13% globally in the last ten years, raising hopes that lifestyle and preventative health care measures can offset the expected increase in dementia cases from global gains in life expectancy².

“While we are excited by the possibilities heralded by the new drug Lecanemab, to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, which NICE is currently reviewing, it won’t be suitable for many people living with dementia.

“Lifestyle and preventable health changes can make a difference now, but people with memory concerns have told us they feel in limbo – between health and dementia, and don’t know where to go for help.”

Arunima Himawan, Senior Health Research Lead, ILC-UK says

“For all of us, memory means we can hold onto the people and places that are precious to us, the experiences that define us, and the things we never want to forget. Losing our memories to one extent or another is something we face – and fear – as we age.”

Daisy Cooper MP, who has sponsored the House of Commons exhibition, says “By raising the issues and developing better prevention strategies and support programmes, projects like the APPLE-Tree study benefit everyone.” 

“As policymakers grapple with streamlining health and care services to better support people living with dementia, projects like the APPLE-Tree study bring the issue visibly into the heart of Westminster” 

Contact

For press queries, please contact press@ilcuk.org.uk or +44 (0) 208 638 0832

Spokespeople are available on request.

Notes

Up to half of people over 60 worry about memory loss.

Across the UK, 900,000 people live with dementia – this could be up to 1.6 million by 2040. In recent years, the ILC has been involved in several projects looking at how society can support people to live well with dementia including doing things they enjoy for longer. Spending with dementia: Enabling and protecting consumers with dementia – ILCUK

748 people joined this study between January 2021 and December 2022. Half attended support groups, held on video-call. In these supportive video sessions, participants shared stories and sometimes photos about experiences of memory loss and other facets of their lives throughout this extraordinary pandemic time. Some of the participants receiving support groups agreed to take part in the exhibition project.

More information about the APPLE-Tree study:

People with mild memory problems are left in limbo between health and dementia, and need help to make lifestyle changes (nihr.ac.uk)

The House of Commons exhibition will be in the Upper Waiting Hall from 23 January 2023 until 27^th January 2023. The exhibition will then move to the Holy Sepulchre in Holborn where it will be available for public viewing from 1 February 2023 for at least three months.

For more information about Sukey Parnell Johnson and her photography About – Sukey Parnell Johnson

This project (ES/S010408/1) was funded jointly by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). ESRC is part of UK Research and Innovation. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the ESRC, UKRI, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.