Pump priming study for Mysmile-2: Can dental treatment for gum disease slow the progression of Alzheimer's Disease?

Summary

Background

Alzheimer's disease is an inflammatory disease of the brain causing memory loss, confusion and difficulties in coping with daily life, affecting 500,000 people in the UK. There are strong links between Alzheimer's disease and gum disease, which occurs when bacteria thrive under the gum line causing inflammation and bleeding. These bacteria pass into the bloodstream and likely speed up progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Our UHBW sponsored, NIHR funded, feasibility study (Mysmile), successfully met key objectives for recruitment, retention and successful treatment of gum disease in participants with Alzheimer's disease. We are now applying for NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) funding for a follow-on study (Mysmile-2) to determine if improving gum health slows Alzheimer's disease progression. This application is for pump-prime funding to develop a robust strategy for equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) of underserved groups in our NIHR application.

Methods

We will take a qualitative research approach, first conducting Patient/Public Involvement to refine research questions, then focus groups for more in-depth enquiry into what barriers are faced by underserved groups in Mysmile-2 recruitment areas. We will identify and plan resources for a realistic and affordable EDI strategy to help overcome these barriers.

Aim

To identify which local organisations to work with, and the resources needed to partner with them for awareness-raising and study recruitment. We will engage with underserved communities who were not represented in Mysmile-feasibility, eg, the socioeconomically deprived area of Hartcliffe, the Somali community in Barton Hill and the Caribbean community in Gloucester.