May 26, 2026
The EMERALD-Lewy team gathered at St. James’s Hospital on 27 January 2026 for our Annual Consortium Meeting, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and collaborators to reflect on progress made across the programme.
Updates included the expansion of the national cohort study and the development of innovative approaches to understanding symptom progression in Lewy body dementia. Through dense longitudinal sampling, and by combining questionnaires, gamified cognitive tasks, and passive smartphone data, the team is generating rich real-world insights into fluctuations in symptoms while minimising participant burden.
The meeting also highlighted the upcoming launch of The Lewy Lounge, a six-week peer support programme for people living with Lewy body dementia and their care partners. Rolling out in Cork, Dublin, and online, the programme aims to reduce isolation, improve coping strategies, and enhance quality of life, supported by a structured evaluation to assess its impact.
Finally, the consortium showcased ongoing knowledge translation activities, including drama workshops, found poetry and international conferences. These initiatives ensure that EMERALD-Lewy research continues to reach and meaningfully engage communities, clinicians, and the wider public.
