Linda Clare

Linda Clare is Professor of Clinical Psychology of Ageing and Dementia at the University of Exeter Medical School, where she leads the Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health (REACH). She serves as Director of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Dementia and Neurodegeneration (DeNPRU Exeter) and leads the dementia theme for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South-West Peninsula (PenARC). With formal clinical training in psychology and neuropsychology, her work spans academic research, policy development, and community-based dementia care initiatives.

• Undergraduate: University of Cambridge (Social and Political Sciences)
• Clinical Psychology Training: University College London
• PhD: MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
• Academic Career: Bangor University (1999-2015) → University of Exeter (2015-present)

Her research focuses on improving quality of life for dementia patients through rehabilitative approaches, stigma reduction, and caregiver support systems. She pioneered cognitive rehabilitation for early-stage Alzheimer's, leads the IDEAL cohort study (2014-2024) on dementia well-being, and develops tools like the Living with Dementia Toolkit. Current projects include ENLIVEN for nature accessibility and GREAT cognitive rehabilitation implementation.

Her IDEAL programme has produced 15+ publications in 2024-2025, covering topics from caregiver identity to green space impact on dementia patients. She collaborates with international teams in Norway, Italy, and Spain on awareness measures and rehabilitation protocols.

Clare's research is funded by Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, and NIHR. Her REACH team includes postdoctoral researchers Dr. Anthony Martyr and Dr. Sara Hayes, with administrative support from Emma Walter and Sarah Vinnels.