005 The Big D – Why Dementia is not a death sentence, with Dr Ben Hicks
Dr Ben Hicks has a very refreshing approach to ‘The Big D’. A highly engaging and passionate professional who cares deeply about his research topic, and more importantly about his research subjects, Ben explains about the ground-breaking research he’s involved with.
Ben is adamant that a dementia diagnosis is no longer a death sentence. In fact, developments in technology and a gradual shift in health professionals’ approach to dementia are enabling Ben and his colleagues to challenge public assumptions. Encouragingly, they are experiencing an attitudinal shift amongst those affected by dementia towards Ben’s end goal – that of promoting how people can live positively and well with dementia.
Dr Ben Hicks is a psychology lecturer at Bournemouth University and Deputy Director of the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC). Having studied how people experience and live with chronic conditions like cancer, an opportunity arose to work on a dementia project and Ben jumped at the chance.
At the age of just 20, Ben faced the difficult situation of seeing his grandmother suffering from dementia. This personal experience fuelled Ben’s interest in dementia and he has become one of the leading researchers in the field.
He believes the perception of dementia today is similar to that of the big C – cancer – 20 years ago. But he also believes that being diagnosed with the big D is no longer a death sentence and his groundbreaking research shows how people can live well with the disease for many years, with the right support and understanding.