PROF. EMILY J. HENDERSON
MBChB (Bris.) MRCP (UK) PhD FHEA FRCP
About Professor Henderson
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Emily Henderson is Professor of Ageing and Medicine at the University of Bristol and a practicing Consultant Geriatrician. She specialises in the assessment and management of Parkinson’s disease, complex frailty, recurrent falls and fracture prevention.
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Alongside her clinical work, she leads national and international research programmes focused on improving care for older people. Her work has been published widely, and she is frequently invited to speak at medical conferences and advise policy makers.
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Emily is committed to translating cutting-edge research into compassionate, practical care — ensuring that older adults and their families receive evidence-based support tailored to their needs.
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My research work
My research aims to improve quality of life, independence, and wellbeing for older adults, particularly those living with neurodegenerative conditions.
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I led the RESPOND clinical trial, which demonstrated that treatment with rivastigmine reduced falls in people with Parkinson’s disease by 45%. For patients, this means fewer injuries, fewer hospital admissions, and greater confidence in daily life. The findings were published in Lancet Neurology.
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Building on this work, I am Chief Investigator of the largest drug-repurposing trial in Parkinson’s disease, designed to confirm and extend these results. We also deliver the PRIME programme, an ambitious research initiative focused on ensuring that research and care reflect the real experiences of people living with Parkinson’s, not just standard trial populations. PRIME identifies who benefits most from specific interventions and targets support to those who need it most. We develop and test ways to stratify risk so that patients at higher risk receive the right care at the right time. The programme also designs and evaluates innovative models of care, testing whether complex interventions help people live fuller, more independent lives and achieve what matters most to them day-to-day.
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To support this work, I established the Ageing and Movement Disorders Research Group at the University of Bristol, bringing together researchers and clinicians to translate scientific discoveries directly into improved care for older adults.
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Alongside my research, I maintain an active clinical practice as an NHS consultant in Bath and in private practice in Bristol. This dual role ensures that the latest evidence guides every treatment decision I make, while the real-world challenges my patients face continue to shape the questions my research addresses.
