More than 50,000 people are helping researchers understand how our brains change as we age.
Together, PROTECT participants are building one of the richest datasets ever created on brain ageing.
Now, we have an opportunity to go further – and faster.
With additional support, we can accelerate the next phase of PROTECT, moving promising discoveries into real-world impact sooner.
WHY THIS MATTERS NOW
Dementia risk develops many years before symptoms appear.
That means earlier detection – and prevention – could transform the future of this disease.
At Exeter, PROTECT is helping make that shift possible.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO FURTHER
PROTECT has always been powered by people. Thousands of participants already contribute their time each year.
If many participants gave a small, affordable amount – or chose to make a regular gift – together we could create meaningful new capacity for research, helping to launch new prevention studies and move discoveries closer to clinical trials.
Even small contributions, when combined, can unlock entirely new areas of research. For example, researchers are keen to expand a nutrition study exploring compounds found in beetroot. Early results are encouraging, but around £250,000 is needed to progress this into a full clinical trial.
Taking part in PROTECT already has an enormous impact. But for those who would like to do more, this is a chance to help accelerate what comes next.
WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS NOW
Your support could help researchers to:
• Expand prevention studies within PROTECT
• Develop at-home blood biomarker testing
• Explore lifestyle approaches to brain health
• Move promising discoveries towards clinical trials
Every contribution helps move this work forward faster.
WHAT YOUR GIFT COULD DO
• £10 – helps support large-scale online assessments
• £25 – could fund an at-home blood testing kit
• £100 – supports analysis of research samples
• Every contribution helps accelerate progress
A COMMUNITY EFFORT
PROTECT participants are already helping to transform dementia research through their time and commitment.
Many supporters also choose to donate in honour of someone they love, or to help ensure future generations face a different experience of dementia.
However you choose to be involved, you are part of a growing community working towards the same goal. Thank you.
All donations made through this page directly support PROTECT dementia research led by the University of Exeter.
get involved with the protect study
If you're aged 40 or over and would like to register for PROTECT, you can do so here. It takes less than 20 hours per year to participate in the study which is so crucial towards the future of dementia research.
