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Peer-reviewedCC BYAge and ageing

Scottish priorities for dementia and brain health research-results of a national research priority setting exercise.

  • Fenna Maria Alexandra Lunter1
  • Winnie Henry2
  • David Ross2
  • Jacqui Kerr3
  • Emma Law3
  • Stephen Makin4
  • Alison Mckean5
  • Tom C Russ3,6
  • Lucy Stirland7
  • Susan Deborah Shenkin8,9
  • Jennifer Kirsty Burton1
  • Terence J Quinn1
9 affiliations
  1. 1School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
  2. 2Public Contributor, NHS Research Scotland Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network, Edinburgh, UK.
  3. 3NHS Research Scotland Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network, Edinburgh, UK.
  4. 4School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition (Centre for Rural Health), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
  5. 5Brain Health Scotland, Alzheimer Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
  6. 6Ageing and Health, Usher Institute, Edinburgh, UK.
  7. 7Division of Psychiatry, The University of Edinburgh Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Kennedy Tower Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Morningside Terrace, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK.
  8. 8Ageing and Health, The University of Edinburgh Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, 9 Little France Road, Edinburgh EH16 4UX, UK.
  9. 9Advanced Care Research Centre, The University of Edinburgh Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, Edinburgh, UK.
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Abstract

Background

Dementia is a global challenge, but benefits from local, context-specific evidence. With finite resource, and numerous potential research directions, formal priority setting can help develop equitable and relevant research agendas. We used this approach to establish dementia and brain health research priority questions for Scotland.Methods

A steering board of professionals and experts through lived experience guided the process, following established research prioritisation frameworks. Research questions were collected through surveys and refined to create an interim list. This was further rationalised through Delphi-style ranking involving cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral interest-holders. After reaching consensus, each research question was assessed for potential impact.Results

Between April and July 2025, 706 participants submitted 2677 questions. These were consolidated into an interim list of 142 questions. Two ranking rounds (n = 242, n = 252) reduced the list to 20 questions (10 brain health, 10 dementia). Interest-holders included people living with cognitive impairment (n = 48, 6·8%), current or previous caregivers (n = 217, 30·7%), public contributors (n = 261, 37·0%), and professionals (n = 134, 19·0%). Risk reduction was a leading brain health priority, while early diagnosis was a top dementia priority. Research around brain resilience and improving dementia care pathways was selected as having greatest potential impact.Conclusion

We established Scotland-specific research priorities for brain health and dementia, which we advocate to researchers, funders and decision-makers. Our national research prioritisation exercise received engagement from diverse interest-holders, ensuring a range of voices will inform future research.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{lunter2026scottish,
  title = {{Scottish priorities for dementia and brain health research-results of a national research priority setting exercise.}},
  author = {Fenna Maria Alexandra Lunter and Winnie Henry and David Ross and Jacqui Kerr and Emma Law and Stephen Makin and Alison Mckean and Tom C Russ and Lucy Stirland and Susan Deborah Shenkin and Jennifer Kirsty Burton and Terence J Quinn},
  journal = {Age and ageing},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1093/ageing/afag261},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42896862},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Scottish priorities for dementia and brain health research-results of a national research priority setting exercise.
AU  - Fenna Maria Alexandra Lunter
AU  - Winnie Henry
AU  - David Ross
AU  - Jacqui Kerr
AU  - Emma Law
AU  - Stephen Makin
AU  - Alison Mckean
AU  - Tom C Russ
AU  - Lucy Stirland
AU  - Susan Deborah Shenkin
AU  - Jennifer Kirsty Burton
AU  - Terence J Quinn
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/01
JO  - Age and ageing
DO  - 10.1093/ageing/afag261
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42896862
AB  - Background  Dementia is a global challenge, but benefits from local, context-specific evidence. With finite resource, and numerous potential research directions, formal priority setting can help develop equitable and relevant research agendas. We used this approach to establish dementia and brain health research priority questions for Scotland.Methods  A steering board of professionals and experts through lived experience guided the process, following established research prioritisation frameworks. Research questions were collected through surveys and refined to create an interim list. This was further rationalised through Delphi-style ranking involving cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral interest-holders. After reaching consensus, each research question was assessed for potential impact.Results  Between April and July 2025, 706 participants submitted 2677 questions. These were consolidated into an interim list of 142 questions. Two ranking rounds (n = 242, n = 252) reduced the list to 20 questions (10 brain health, 10 dementia). Interest-holders included people living with cognitive impairment (n = 48, 6·8%), current or previous caregivers (n = 217, 30·7%), public contributors (n = 261, 37·0%), and professionals (n = 134, 19·0%). Risk reduction was a leading brain health priority, while early diagnosis was a top dementia priority. Research around brain resilience and improving dementia care pathways was selected as having greatest potential impact.Conclusion  We established Scotland-specific research priorities for brain health and dementia, which we advocate to researchers, funders and decision-makers. Our national research prioritisation exercise received engagement from diverse interest-holders, ensuring a range of voices will inform future research.
SN  - 0002-0729
SN  - 1468-2834
ER  -