Young-Onset Dementia Research Group

Group Lead

Associate Professor Samantha Loi

Overview

The Young-Onset Dementia Research Group (YOD Group) is a multidisciplinary research and clinical team within the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne, and at the Neuropsychiatry Centre, Royal Melbourne Hospital. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of people living with young-onset dementia and their families through innovative, person-centred research and clinical translation.

Our research spans epidemiology, mortality, health service delivery, behaviour change, caregiver support, and the translation of evidence into clinical practice. We work in close partnership with people with lived experience of young-onset dementia and their care partners to ensure our research addresses priorities that matter most and leads to meaningful outcomes.

Select Current Projects

• Our most recent project involved updating the Forward with Dementia website, which focuses on information relevant for people newly diagnosed with dementia, to include young-onset dementia content. This was launched on 15 June 2026. Our team involved Dr Meredith Gresham (University of NSW) and Dr Priscilla Tjokrowijoto (UCL), working with an advisory group of lived experience.
• The Joint Solutions project (2023 – 2025) was funded by the Australian Government of Social Services, through the Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance, to investigate pathways of care for people living with young-onset dementia.
  • Read our accessible report here.
  • View infographic here.

Select Key Papers Mulhall S, Gibson D, Cations M, Loi SM, Isbel S, Northey J, Bail K, D’Cunha N. A rapid review of service configurations and models of care people with young onset dementia. Health & Social Care in the Community. Vol 2027, Issue 1. Tjokrowijoto P, Beard C, Stange D, Cations M, Morkham B, Loi SM. Recommendations for a gold-standard pathway of care for young-onset dementia (editorial). ANZJP. Beard C, Tjokrowijoto P, Stange D, d’Cunha N, Cartwright J, Moylan N, Cations M, Withal A, oi SM. Qualitative perspectives of young-onset dementia care in Australia: a thematic analysis from the Joint Solutions Project. Dementia. Tjokrowijoto P, Beard C, Stange D, d’Cunha N, Cartwright J, Moylan N, Cations M, Withal A, Atkins K,  Burton E, Draper B, Irish M, Lewis R,  Scott T, Schweitzer D, Czejic R, Glennen K, Loi SM. The road to young-onset dementia diagnosis: Findings from the Joint Solutions project. Alz & Dementia. Loi SM, Tjokrowijoto P, d’Cunha N, Cartwright J, Moylan N, Cations M, Stange D, Withal A, Atkins K, Bradley L, Burton E, Draper B, Fitzgerald A, Goodlet C, Irish M, Joseph T, Kelso W, Lewis R, Poisson V, Pozzebon M, Scott T, Schweitzer D, Torresi K, Scovell R, Goh A, Czejic R, Glennen K, Beard C.  Lived experience perspectives about gaps and barriers in services for those living with, and those providing care, for people with young-onset dementia in Australia: Findings from the Joint Solutions Project. ANZJP.