This month's web trawl examines three very different web sites that give information on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
http://www.dsdcengland.org.uk This is a communal web site for England's eight Dementia Service Development Centres (DSDCs), which provide services and information about dementia for a defined geographical area. From the home page, the user may access pages for each of the eight centres (each page contains a statement pertaining to the work of the centre, along with contact details). Links are also provided to a series of pages giving details of research projects undertaken by the various DSDCs, seminars, and other similar events. It does appear some time however since these pages were updated, and some of the information, particularly with regard to the seminars is out of date. Although the web site covers the eight English DSDCs, there are also links provided to the equivalent web sites in Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. Overall, the information provide on this web site is very specialised and would be largely of interest only to those who are providing services for the care of patients with dementia.
http://www.dementia.stir.ac.uk This is the web site of Scotland's Dementia Services Development Centre. The centre provides information on dementia, as well as developing and disseminating research into the condition. From the home page, the user may navigate to a series of pages detailing education, training, and other services the centre provides, along with lists of publication available for purchase. The web site is aimed largely at those working with, and caring for, patients with dementia and would be of value not only to medical and nursing staff, but also social workers and staff of day centres and care homes. The web site does not contain a great deal of information that would be directly relevant to patients and their families, who would be better directed to the web site of the Alzheimer's Society.
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk This is the web site of the Alzheimer's Society; the UK based charity for patients with Alzheimer's disease, their family, and carers. The home page is clearly laid out and contains numerous (more than 50) links to pages covering subjects ranging from basic facts about the disease and its diagnosis to advice for carers and suggestions for fundraising. A “news” section, also accessed from the home page, is regularly updated, with the most recent item having been posted one day before the writing of this review. Much of the information is aimed at patients and carers, but health professionals are catered for also. Details are provided of a variety of training courses, along with information about drugs that are now used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the latter being available for download in pdf format. Families, carers, and patients themselves often have many questions about this distressing condition. This web site contains a wealth of material, and is likely to provide much of the information they may be searching for. This site, therefore, is well worth recommending to patients and their families.