Golnaz Atefi, a PhD student from Maastricht University, is embarking on a unique 1,000km roller skating journey from Amsterdam to Geneva to highlight an important issue in dementia research. Her studies have shown that when data doesn’t adequately represent diverse populations, the effectiveness of treatments and innovations can be limited, leaving some people without the care they need.
To bring attention to this, Golnaz will spend the whole of September, which also happens to be World Alzheimer’s Month, roller skating across Europe, meeting with researchers, healthcare professionals, and community members to discuss her findings, to advocate for more inclusive research practices and to chat about their understanding and experiences of dementia.
She plans to share her experiences through daily vlogs on the Dementia Researcher YouTube channel, giving viewers a firsthand look behind the scene of her journey. Additionally, her trip will be documented in a film by Jale Yekta and Frough Soori, who will travel with her (with waterproof clothing, first aid kit, snacks and spare clothes to hand).
This week Adam Smith chatted with Golnaz to hear about her research and plans for this epic and unique trip!
Golnaz is also inviting other researchers, especially those focused on diversity and representation in dementia, to join her #RollingForDementia campaign, to meet along the way. She hopes to connect with others in the field and share valuable insights with the wider community.
This initiative is supported by Alzheimer’s Netherlands, with guidance from Naaheed Mukadam, and additional backing from Alzheimer Europe and Alzheimer Centrum Limburg.
Nathan Stephens
Adam Smith