Researchers from University College London (UCL) and The University of Osaka (UOsaka) participated in the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2025 (AAIC25), held in Toronto from 25 to 31 July. As the world’s largest dementia research conference, AAIC25 hosted over 10,000 attendees from more than 135 countries.

This joint participation reflects the deepening collaboration between UCL and UOsaka, developed through their strategic partnership to address global challenges in dementia research. At AAIC25, the teams presented two major collaborative research projects.

1. Early Detection and Support for Atypical and Young-Onset Dementias

In a joint project between the Dementia Research Centre at UCL and the Department of Psychiatry at UOsaka, researchers focus on early detection, diagnosis, and nonpharmacological support for individuals with atypical and young-onset dementias. The results of this collaboration were presented in an oral session on 28 July:
“Nonpharmacological Interventions for the Management of Visuospatial Disturbances in Dementia in the UK and Japan”
Presenters: Maki Suzuki, Matthew Bancroft, Sebastian Crutch, Keir Yong, Manabu Ikeda

Related to this collaborative research between UCL and UOsaka, the UK and Japan leads of Rare Dementia Support (RDS)—Prof. Sebastian Crutch and Dr. Maki Suzuki—met in person at AAIC25. As part of the wider RDS international network, they were joined by Prof. Mary Pat Sullivan (Nipissing University), who leads the Canadian hub. This in-person meeting strengthened their shared commitment to raising awareness of dementia diversity, involving people with lived experience in research, and supporting individuals affected by rare dementias globally.

2. Application of Mobile Patch EEGs in Dementia

Researchers from UCL’s Department of Psychiatry, UOsaka’s Department of Psychiatry, and UOsaka’s Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research are jointly exploring the feasibility, usability, and implementation challenges of wearable EEG patches for people living with dementia in an ongoing study involving older adults with dementia in the UK. Their findings were presented in a poster session on 30 July:
“Mobile Patch EEGs – Practicalities, Acceptability, Barriers, and Facilitators to Patch Use in People with Mild or Moderate Dementia”
Presenters: Gill Livingston, Penny Rapaport, Yuto Satake, Andrew Sommerlad, Tsuyoshi Sekitani, Ruan-Ching Yu, Teppei Araki, Monica Manela, Clare Yu, Yuki Miyazaki, Masahiro Hata, Manabu Ikeda

The team hosted a joint dinner, where they discussed future collaboration and plans to use their current study as a foundation for further joint work.

Participation in AAIC25 offered valuable opportunities to share research progress, strengthen international partnerships, and stay informed about the latest developments in dementia science worldwide.

The next Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC26) will be held in London from 12 to 16 July 2026, providing an ideal platform to continue and expand this meaningful collaboration between UCL and UOsaka.