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Transforming young onset dementia support
Leeds Beckett and Dementia Forward launch nationally significant research partnership.
Young Onset Dementia requires more innovative, person-centred services and care pathways tailored for the individual and their family.
Leeds Beckett University has partnered with leading Yorkshire charity Dementia Forward in a ground-breaking Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to reshape the way Young Onset Dementia (YOD) is understood, supported and treated across the UK.
The 30-month project, part-funded by UKRI through Innovate UK, will co-create innovative, evidence-based services and care pathways tailored to the unique needs of people diagnosed with dementia before the age of 65 – and their families.
With support from LBU’s experts in psychology, dementia care and service design, the project will establish a Centre of Excellence for YOD support – including a new physical base in East Yorkshire – and build a scalable model that can inform a national YOD care framework.
The collaboration marks a major step forward in addressing one of the most under-served areas in UK dementia care. People with YOD often fall through the cracks of mainstream services, receiving support that is not age-appropriate or aligned with the demands of mid-life responsibilities.
From Regional Innovation to National Impact
Dementia Forward currently supports over 4,500 families annually across Yorkshire and has delivered pioneering young onset services for over a decade. This partnership strengthens its mission to offer holistic, research-informed care that empowers individuals and supports their families to live fulfilling lives.
An experienced KTP Associate will be recruited as a full-time Research and Innovation Coordinator, embedded within the Dementia Forward team and supported by academics from LBU’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The work will be grounded in co-creation with stakeholders and community voices – producing practical, scalable tools for social care professionals, healthcare providers and policymakers.
This project underpins our ambitions to adapt and expand our services and influence the wider system... to provide evidence-based solutions that improve lives.
Young Onset Dementia: Key facts
- YOD affects people under the age of 65, with different challenges than late-onset dementia
- An estimated 70,800 people are living with YOD in the UK (Alzheimer’s Society, 2024)
- YOD is more prevalent in minority ethnic communities than in the population as a whole
- Diagnosis takes an average of 4.4 years for younger people, compared to 2.2 years for over-65s
- Dementia Forward has supported 4,500+ families annually in Yorkshire
This KTP has the potential to shape YOD service delivery nationally – allowing the charity to become thought leaders, influencing policy and driving change.
