Department of Old Age Psychiatry
We all want to enjoy good mental health when we grow old and receive the very best treatment and care for our parents and grandparents should they develop psychological or psychiatric difficulties.
Members of the Department of Old Age of Psychiatry work together to develop new treatments and to find ways of getting the best for our patients from treatments that are already available. The Department of Old Age of Psychiatry is lead by Professor Robert Howard.
Internationally regarded research
Our research into the basic biology of Alzheimer’s disease, the clinical features and aetiology of psychosis in later life and the conduct of randomised controlled trials is internationally regarded. We have a particular commitment to the conduct of high quality independent clinical trials because the results of these can impact positively upon the availability of effective treatments.
Sharing the results of our work with people who volunteer to take part in research and the public is a high priority for the Department, which has organised Open Days for Alzheimer’s disease research participants, their families and carers and for sixth formers.
Research partners
Members of the Department’s team carry out biological and clinical research that we believe will have important impact upon our understanding of dementia and other mental illnesses that affect older people and lead to the development of better treatments. We do this by working in close collaboration with:-
Our funders
Funders of our research include:
These charities all provide information about Alzheimer’s disease and current research for the public.
The Faculty of the Psychiatry of Old Age at the Royal College of Psychiatrists produces information for the public about older people’s mental health, and information for professionals working in Old Age Psychiatry. Members of the Department of Old Age Psychiatry have contributed to these leaflets and papers.
We are a friendly and motivated team who welcome collaboration and are keen to train the next generation of researchers in our field. Senior members of the Department offer supervision to students wishing to undertake a PhD or MD. Potential research students should contact us directly to find out more.