ART’s primary tool for studying memory is the Verbal Associative Learning and Memory Test (VALMT). This test has been developed by the team to study memory over periods of a few minutes to several days. It has been custom designed to improve on current standard clinical tests by overcoming some of their weaknesses and by making it possible to study memory over extended periods, something existing tests are not well suited to. The VALMT has been made available online to allow remote testing and to allow testing at multiple timepoints without the need for multiple visits to a lab or clinic. The team are actively translating the VALMT into multiple languages.
The memory group within ART are currently using the VALMT for several projects:
- The Memory, Alzheimer’s and Dementia (MeAD) project – using the VALMT to try to diagnose individuals who will develop dementia much earlier than current clinical tests are able to. If we can diagnose dementia earlier in the disease, then we can support the patient much more and (with the hopeful development of drug treatments aimed at stopping the progress of the disease) preserve more of their memory, their sense of self and overall quality of life. This will also reduce the awful distress felt by all the family who are seeing their loved one fade away before them…
- Translating and validating the VALMT across many languages – support has already been added for Italian, French, Turkish, Polish, Indian English and many more are in development!
- Studying memory decline in healthy ageing
- Studying how memory changes across the lifespan
- Investigating how memory is impacted by repetitive head impact in sports
Take part in our research!
If you are over the age of 18 and would like to take part in our MeAD project to potentially interrupt the progression of dementia, you can by clicking on the link below.
If you would like to find out more about the study, please e-mail Terry McGibbon on tmcgi001@gold.ac.uk
