Dr Mary O’Malley

Research Interests

Mary’s research interests include ageing, environmental design for older adults and people living with dementia, timely diagnosis of dementia, and support for younger people living with dementia. Mary was a Co-Investigator on the CultureBox Study, which explored how the arts could be used to reduce feelings of isolation and increase wellbeing for those living with dementia in care-homes during the pandemic.

Mary is presently one of the Principal Investigators on the Wellcome Trust funded DEFIN-YD (Dementia Experts for Involvement Network for Younger people with Dementia) project that aims to raise awareness of young onset dementia and provide research opportunities for younger people living with dementia though a national public and patient involvement network.

Teaching Interests

Mary is experienced in leading modules in Dementia Studies and has taught undergraduate and postgraduate students in a variety of higher education settings.

Feel free to contact Mary if you would like to hear more about her work or if you would be interested in doing a PhD with her.

Membership of Professional Bodies

British Psychological Society – Chartered Psychologist

Young Dementia Network Member

Recent Publications

Parkes J, O’Malley., M, Stamou, V., La Fontaine, J., Oyebode, J. R., Carter, J (2022) Lessons learnt from delivering the public and patient involvement forums within a younger onset dementia project. Dementia ;21(7):2103-2116. doi:10.1177/14713012221110006

O’Malley, M., Parkes, J., Stamou, V., LaFontaine, J., Oyebode, J., Campbell, J., & Carter, J. (2021). Current UK clinical practice in diagnosing dementia in younger adults: compliance with quality indicators in electronic health records from mental health trusts. Aging & Mental Health, 1-10.

O'Malley, M., Parkes, J., Stamou, V., LaFontaine, J., Oyebode, J., & Carter, J. (2020). International consensus on quality indicators for comprehensive assessment of dementia in young adults using a modified e‐Delphi approach. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 35(11), 1309-1321.

O’Malley, M., Innes, A., & Wiener, J. M. (2020). (Dis) orientation and design preferences within an unfamiliar care environment: a content analysis of older adults’ qualitative reports after route learning. Environment and Behavior, 0013916520953148.

O’Malley, M., Parkes, J., Campbell, J., Stamou, V., LaFontaine, J., Oyebode, J. R., & Carter, J. (2020). Receiving a diagnosis of young onset dementia: Evidence-based statements to inform best practice. Dementia, 1471301220969269.

Oliver, K., O'Malley, M., Parkes, J., Stamou, V., La Fontaine, J., Oyebode, J., & Carter, J. (2020). Living with young onset dementia and actively shaping dementia research–The Angela Project. Dementia, 19(1), 41-48.

O’Malley, M., Parkes, J., Stamou, V., La Fontaine, J., Oyebode, J., Carter, J. (2019) Young onset dementia: A scoping review of key pointers to diagnostic accuracy. BJPsych Open 5(3), E48 doi: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2019.36

Stamou, V., La Fontaine, J., Oyebode, J., Jones, B., Gage, H., O’Malley, M., … Carter, J. (2018). The ANGELA Project: improving diagnosis and post-diagnostic support for younger people with dementia and their families/supporters. FPOP, (142).

O'Malley, M., Innes, A., & Wiener, J. M. (2018). How do we get there? Effects of cognitive aging on route memory. Memory & Cognition .46, 2, 274-284. doi: https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-017-0763-7

O'Malley, M., Innes, A., Muir, S., & Wiener, J. M. (2018). ‘All the corridors are the same’: a qualitative study of the orientation experiences and design preferences of UK older adults living in a communal retirement development. Ageing and Society. 38, 9, 1791-1816. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X17000277

O'Malley, M., Innes, A., & Wiener, J. M. (2017). Decreasing spatial disorientation in care-home settings: How psychology can guide the development of dementia friendly design guidelines. Dementia, 16, 3, 315-328. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301215591334

External Roles

Expert reviewer for the academic journals Dementia, Aging and Mental Health, Ageing & Society and Experimental Brain Research.

Invited reviewer for Open University Press.

Invited speaker for the Young Dementia Network webinar series.