Affiliation: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
Saturday 10th of May 9.00-9.45
Aula Magna
“Translating ‘factors associated with brain health’ to ‘factors that promote brain health’: from observation to intervention”
Whether and how cognitive functions can be promoted or protected as we age is a central issue within cognitive ageing research. Diverse approaches and methodologies have been used to address this, spanning large-scale longitudinal studies to focussed experimental designs. This keynote will focus on the process of identifying potential lifestyle and behavioural determinants of cognitive ageing to the opportunities to target those within interventions. Determinants of cognitive ageing have primarily been identified from observational studies, and examples will be used to illustrate relatively robust predictors, from activity engagement and physical activity to social connections. In identifying determinants, critical caveats must be considered. These include cause and effect assumptions within observational research, with issues in distinguishing between differential preservation versus preserved differentiation. While lifestyle and behavioural factors are often measured simultaneously within studies, they have commonly been considered on an analysis-by-analysis basis, likely resulting in over-estimates of individual contributions given the non-independence of determinants. Multivariate approaches are, however, becoming increasingly common, with ‘marginal gains’ providing a framework for considering the cumulative importance of individuals factors. Ultimately, the goal is not simply to identify factors associated with cognitive ageing but to demonstrate how targeted behaviour change might promote or protect functions across the life course. Interventions have developed from early cognitive training studies to complex, whole lifestyle approaches. Translating observation to intervention brings specific challenges, including issues of near and far transfer or scaling from samples to populations. Such challenges notwithstanding, global research collaborations are providing promising evidence, and equally importantly, optimism for the cognitive ageing research agenda.