RESEARCH
How we co-create knowledge
The WTD Institute's research agenda emerged organically from our first Walking the Talk experience.
Following the inaugural edition in 2023, the first peer-reviewed paper examining the impact of this immersive, multi-domain model was published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, led by neuroscientist Agustín Ibáñez alongside Fernando Aguzzoli-Peres. Notably, all participants were included as co-authors. The publication documented a clear shift away from extractive research practices and toward a more collaborative approach to knowledge creation.
From there, the research arm gained structure, depth, and momentum through the invaluable leadership of Professor Emerita Sherril Gelmon (Portland State University) and Professor Kate Irving (Dublin City University), whose combined expertise in implementation science, nursing, public health, ethics, and dementia education helped consolidate WTD's methodological rigor.
Over two years, the research team expanded to include both experienced and early-career researchers from our alumni community, leading to multiple peer-reviewed publications, conference posters, and international presentations.
The goals of this research were:
- To understand the impact of WTD on participants and document the broader impact of WTD through collaborations and dissemination.
- To examine participants' personal and social experiences, including overall satisfaction with WTD.
- To explore perceptions of stigma related to dementia.
- To assess changes in individual commitment, confidence, and skills for advocacy.
- To evaluate the lasting impact of WTD on participants' actions, behaviors, and sense of identity after the event.
"Co-leading the WTD research team since 2024 has been a passion project for me, helping me to fulfill a promise I made to my late husband Phil to use my lived experience as his care partner to help improve supports for other dementia care partners and people living with dementia. I have been very fortunate to co-lead this team with Kate Irving, and to work with a terrific group of WTD alumni who are gifted researchers. Hopefully our considerable body of presentations, posters, website content, and publications from the two years of research will contribute to further cementing WTD's place as an essential social movement with the dementia community."
— Prof. Sherril Gelmon
From Experience to Evidence: Networking and Global Collaboration in Brain Health Research, Policy and Advocacy
A social network analysis was conducted with 2024 and 2023 participants to demonstrate connections and collaborations established. Understanding the complex web of relationships has helped us better represent WTD as a growing social movement that seeks to bring change in dementia advocacy globally.
S. B. Gelmon, J. Reed, W. D. Dawson, J. A. Zegarra-Valdivia, K. Irving, F. Aguzzoli Peres. "Building Social Networks to Engage People Living with Dementia, Care Partners, Researchers, Advocates, and Others: Walking the Talk for Dementia." Poster presentation, Alzheimer Europe Conference, Bologna, October 2025.
Future WTD research will emerge organically through the WTD community, reflecting our goals as a collective leadership movement.