In addition to giving you the opportunity to choose the type of care you would like to receive in different stages of dementia, the Dartmouth Dementia Directive also gives you the opportunity to indicate whether you would like to participate in dementia research.
There are two broad categories of dementia research that involve human subjects:
(1) Some research studies in dementia, such as clinical trials of medications, offer the possibility that the participant may directly benefit.
(2) Other studies do not offer the possibility of a direct benefit to the participant. These studies are classified as “non-therapeutic research”. They enable scientists to examine and better understand the disease under study. While this research does not specifically help the participant, it may ultimately help future dementia sufferers. Some individuals with dementia wish to participate in non-therapeutic research to contribute to scientific progress and help those who may have dementia in the future.
The directive also gives you the opportunity to indicate the degree of risk of harm or discomfort you would be willing to endure if you choose to participate in either or both types of dementia research described above.
Please see the Dartmouth Dementia Directive, pages 7 - 10, for further details.