Health Sciences University (HSU) has launched a new clinic for patients with dementia in collaboration with Dorset HealthCare NHS foundation trust.

The Brain Health Clinic will take place every Monday at HSU’s Bournemouth campus as an initial two-year pilot and will be evaluated thereafter.

It’s set to assess patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia who have already been diagnosed by the Memory Assessment Services, offering additional annual cognitive assessments.

Patients are added to a database with their up-to-date cognitive assessment data, allowing them to participate in appropriate clinical trials for dementia and related conditions – including those coordinated by Oxford Dementia Platform UK.

Dr Julie Northam, head of research at HSU, said: “We’re delighted to have launched the Brain Health Clinic here at the university.

“Sometimes, patients can be given a dementia diagnosis and discharged into the community, waiting for the conditions to worsen.

“With the new clinic, patients will be regularly assessed by researchers and clinical research practitioners.

“This collaboration with Dorset HealthCare is a brilliant example of knowledge exchange that will benefit our local community.”

Dr Carol Bannister of Dorset HealthCare added: “We’re excited to be collaborating with HSU in this new venture.

“We’re all aware of the vital importance of developing new treatments for dementia, and the Brain Health Clinic will support patients and carers to facilitate their involvement in innovative research trials to discover new therapies and treatments.”

• hsu.ac.uk