More than 100 delegates gathered at the Liner Hotel in Liverpool on 3 March 2026 for the 7th Liverpool Dementia & Ageing Research Conference; a day to showcase the amazing work carried out by researchers, and health and social care professionals working to improve our understanding and treatment of dementia, led by organiser and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, Dr Clarissa Giebel.
The annual event brought together researchers, practitioners, charities and people with lived experience from across the UK and Europe. Attendees travelled from as far afield as the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Norway, reflecting the growing international reputation of the conference, and the impact of the work carried out at the University of Liverpool.
Dr Giebel opened the day by welcoming delegates, before introducing keynote speaker Professor Gill Windle of Bangor University. Professor Windle is a prominent voice in the field of dementia research, with an extensive career both leading academic advances, as well as guiding institutional and governmental policy. Her keynote highlighted the importance of resilience, community engagement and evidence-based approaches in improving the lives of people living with dementia and their families.
The programme featured three themed sessions covering dementia training and education, innovations in residential care, and sport and dementia. Speakers represented leading institutions across the UK and internationally, sharing research on topics ranging from stigma and global advocacy to young-onset dementia in athletes.
Throughout the day, the conference space housed an array of posters displayed around the room. Delegates gathered during refreshment breaks and lunch to explore the high-quality submissions, discuss findings and connecting with presenters. A dedicated best poster prize award celebrated the outstanding contributions on display, and was awarded to Christine Torres, a domiciliary care worker from Caring Connections, who is doing an NIHR/ESRC Equadem Network Plus funded research internship at the University of Liverpool.
The event also featured a panel debate examining dementia care challenges across Europe, an “in conversation” session exploring personal caring journeys, and a charity raffle in support of Dementia UK.
Dr Giebel spoke of the success of the event, saying, "It was brilliant to see such diversity at our 7th Conference - diversity in people, experiences and countries - all coming together to learn about and discuss innovations in dementia care. The Conference has been going strong now for several years and firmly puts Liverpool on the map for inclusive dementia research and knowledge exchange."
The next conference will be held in spring 2027.
