Harnessing knowledge of lifespan biological, health, environmental and psychosocial mechanisms of cognitive frailty for integrated interventions
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Division of Health Research
Abstract
The primary aim of the Cognitive Frailty Interdisciplinary Network (CFIN) is to promote collaborative, multidisciplinary research that moves along the pathway from basic laboratory studies through to having a real impact on lives. The focus is on research that addresses the challenge of alleviating the development of age-related cognitive frailty and related reduced healthspan (years, or proportion of one's life spent in good health), and poor quality of life. Cognitive frailty is defined as a variable condition characterised by simultaneous presence of physical frailty and age-related cognitive impairment, but the exclusion of existing dementia.
The issue of age-related cognitive frailty is a major societal challenge in terms of its increasing impact on quality of life in our ageing populations, but it is also a challenge in terms of bringing together research from diverse fields. Currently, much research on ageing takes place within disciplines. We are thus beginning to learn much about the biological mechanisms of the ageing process, the psychological and neurophysiological processes of cognitive ageing and the external environmental, social or personal health behaviour factors that impact on the development of frailty or cognitive decline in humans. Despite this wealth of knowledge already available on cognitive ageing, there has been little discourse and knowledge exchange between disciplines such that there has been little progress in recent years in finding multi-dimensional interventions to prevent, rehabilitate, or reduce progress in cognitive frailty in later life. This network aims to bridge the gaps between basic, clinical and social science research to foster the translation of the scientific understanding of ageing.
The objectives are focused on building and operationalising an important network in this area across disciplines including Biology, neuroscience, psychology, epidemiology, social science and citizen engagement, with an array of linked network support organisations including the NHSA and the National Innovation Centre for Ageing. With links to the NIHR NWC ARC, the use of a health inequalities assessment tool (the HIAT) will be incorporated into all research and activity outcomes of this network, to ensure that everything we do attempts to address, rather than make inequalities worse. The network is ideally constructed to deliver impact, with a significant international External Advisory Group (EAG) in place, an experienced PI/Co-I team, and an initial group of expert members across leading institutions. In addition to building the network Nationally and Internationally, via our own discipline networks, multidisciplinary research centres, learned societies, and via the network conference to be held early on, outcomes include production of a consensus paper on multi-factor pathways for intervention, an evidence synthesis of the interaction between biological mechanisms and external predictors of cognitive frailty, a series of mini-project development studies, and from these, a series of larger multidisciplinary outcome research proposals. Capacity development, particularly the development of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) will be a focus, with a mentorship programme whereby cross-disciplinary mentoring partnerships are set-up. We will also invite Co-Is and members to submit ideas for an ECR mini-conference/summer school. Involvement of older adults and other stakeholders such as carers is a crucial part of this network, which will be supported by the inclusion of a Co-I from VOICE, a well-established organisation that harnesses the mental capital, insights, and ideas of the public. They will be able to strengthen the reach and diversity of meaningful public engagement and participation in the mini collaborative projects and across the network. VOICE will strengthen links to and collaboration between citizens and a range of voluntary and community organisations (including charities).
The issue of age-related cognitive frailty is a major societal challenge in terms of its increasing impact on quality of life in our ageing populations, but it is also a challenge in terms of bringing together research from diverse fields. Currently, much research on ageing takes place within disciplines. We are thus beginning to learn much about the biological mechanisms of the ageing process, the psychological and neurophysiological processes of cognitive ageing and the external environmental, social or personal health behaviour factors that impact on the development of frailty or cognitive decline in humans. Despite this wealth of knowledge already available on cognitive ageing, there has been little discourse and knowledge exchange between disciplines such that there has been little progress in recent years in finding multi-dimensional interventions to prevent, rehabilitate, or reduce progress in cognitive frailty in later life. This network aims to bridge the gaps between basic, clinical and social science research to foster the translation of the scientific understanding of ageing.
The objectives are focused on building and operationalising an important network in this area across disciplines including Biology, neuroscience, psychology, epidemiology, social science and citizen engagement, with an array of linked network support organisations including the NHSA and the National Innovation Centre for Ageing. With links to the NIHR NWC ARC, the use of a health inequalities assessment tool (the HIAT) will be incorporated into all research and activity outcomes of this network, to ensure that everything we do attempts to address, rather than make inequalities worse. The network is ideally constructed to deliver impact, with a significant international External Advisory Group (EAG) in place, an experienced PI/Co-I team, and an initial group of expert members across leading institutions. In addition to building the network Nationally and Internationally, via our own discipline networks, multidisciplinary research centres, learned societies, and via the network conference to be held early on, outcomes include production of a consensus paper on multi-factor pathways for intervention, an evidence synthesis of the interaction between biological mechanisms and external predictors of cognitive frailty, a series of mini-project development studies, and from these, a series of larger multidisciplinary outcome research proposals. Capacity development, particularly the development of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) will be a focus, with a mentorship programme whereby cross-disciplinary mentoring partnerships are set-up. We will also invite Co-Is and members to submit ideas for an ECR mini-conference/summer school. Involvement of older adults and other stakeholders such as carers is a crucial part of this network, which will be supported by the inclusion of a Co-I from VOICE, a well-established organisation that harnesses the mental capital, insights, and ideas of the public. They will be able to strengthen the reach and diversity of meaningful public engagement and participation in the mini collaborative projects and across the network. VOICE will strengthen links to and collaboration between citizens and a range of voluntary and community organisations (including charities).
Technical Summary
The Cognitive Frailty Interdisciplinary Network (CFIN) will promote multidisciplinary research tackling development of age-related cognitive frailty and associated reduced healthspan and quality of life. This is both a major societal challenge in our ageing populations and a research challenge to integrate findings from multiple fields into effective prevention and therapeutic interventions across the life course that are implementable in real contexts. The primary goal of this proposal is thus network building across disciplines (including biology, neuroscience, psychology, epidemiology, social science and citizen engagement) and groups (researchers, clinicians, learned societies, business, clinicians, support organisations, older adults and carers) to foster transformative collaborative research for the purpose of better understanding and alleviation of the burdens of cognitive frailty. Network creation will be achieved by forming an external advisory group (EAG) and convening meetings, building membership through existing networks of investigators and members, and by use of social media and judicious linking of a network website. The CFIN will be fully activated at a networking conference at 6 months. Specific outcomes in addition to the EAG and researcher network will be the production of a cross disciplinary evidence synthesis of biological mechanisms and exogenous factors as related to cognitive frailty, identifying gaps, to inform creation of interdisciplinary collaborations with specific goals. Specific small projects will be funded, forming the basis of further Network-based funding proposals to external funders. There will also be a consensus document produced using a two stage Delphi process bringing together membership expertise on the most evidentially supported multi-dimensional interventions for cognitive frailty. Both papers will be submitted for publication. A Mentorship programme and summer school for ECRs will also be supported.
Organisations
- Lancaster University (Collaboration, Lead Research Organisation)
- Medical Research Council (Co-funder)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University Hospital Cologne International (Collaboration)
- Heriot-Watt University (Collaboration)
- University of Essex (Collaboration)
- SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX (Collaboration)
- University of Huddersfield (Collaboration)
- Aston University (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
Publications
Fowler Davis S
(2023)
Green spaces and the impact on cognitive frailty: a scoping review.
in Frontiers in public health
Fowler Davis S
(2024)
A Scoping Review on the Opportunities for Social Engagement and Cognitive Frailty in Older Adults.
in Public health reviews
Hodgson J
(2023)
A Scoping Review of the Effects of Ambient Air Quality on Cognitive Frailty
in Environments
Holland C
(2024)
Understanding exogenous factors and biological mechanisms for cognitive frailty: A multidisciplinary scoping review.
in Ageing research reviews
| Description | The challenge area of this Interdisciplinary network is Cognitive Frailty, which is defined as co-existing physical frailty and cognitive impairment with no dementia. There is a large literature on risk factors and potential predictors of cognitive frailty and it is clear that the risk factors for this are not always the same as those for frailty alone, or cognitive impairment alone. Importantly, mechanisms for cognitive frailty are not necessarily the same as mechanisms for Alzhemiers Dementia (that is, CF is not just early Alzheimers in older people who may also be living with physical functional impairments). To address this challenge, our aims as a network are: ? To gain an integrated understanding of cognitive frailty and implementation of multidimensional interventions. ? To develop understanding of how cognitive impairments precipitates occurrence of multi-system physiological changes, or vice versa, and how we could intervene immediately after the first signs of cognitive or functional changes to prevent or delay associated cognitive frailty. ? to work across the basic to translational spectrum, in order to respond to the challenges of ageing, focused on cognitive frailty We are asking: ? how do health, educational and environmental inequalities impact these processes? ? What are key transition points or drivers? ? Are there key mediators in relationships (e.g. stress, health behaviour, environmental conditions, nutrition), and can we effectively target them A large part of our activities to address this challenge is the multidisciplinary scoping of mechanisms of cognitive frailty, aiming to go further than any previous work by including the full range of potential mechanisms that include everything from social determinants of health to basic biological mechanisms. We have conducted four literature reviews, which also act as gap analyses for research plans. These are listed below with key outcomes/findings identified: (i) A multidisciplinary scoping review of research focusing on understanding biological mechanisms and exogenous factors as related to cognitive frailty. It was possible to map out findings on mechanisms and risk factors of cognitive frailty across disciplines, identifying that a key gaps was that the distinction of CF as a separate syndrome from 'natural ageing' or early dementia is not yet clear but is essential for determining interventions and factors that may be associated with reversibility. Differentiation of biomarker pathways or triggers for associated biological ageing pathways are also not yet clear. Improvement of diagnostic tools and models for use in biological research are important, as is refinement of clinical criteria and identification of subtypes, which will likely happen in parallel to defining mechanisms and designing interventions. (ii) Impacts of social engagement and activity on CF: A Scoping Review on the Opportunities for Social Engagement and Cognitive Frailty in Older Adults demonstrates that contextual factors should be a consideration for older people and that there is a need to address vulnerability to pervasive cognitive frailty due to isolation and sub-optimal opportunities for social connection and engagement. (iii) Impacts of pollution on cognitive frailty: A Scoping Review of the Effects of Ambient Air Quality on Cognitive Frailty found evidence of an association between higher PM2.5 levels and worse cognitive function and rate of decline in cognitive function over the life course, although certain population factors influenced the size of the effect. We also found that air quality appears to be a critical risk factor even at air quality levels below World Health Organisation targets. (iv) access to green space in mechanisms for cognitive frailty: The Green spaces and the impact on cognitive frailty: a scoping review identifies that physical activity and the critical opportunity for exercise is promoted by nature and the natural environment. The risk of CF is mitigated by exercise and opportunity at a community level to use green spaces. All four reviews (see publication list) focus on the links between inequalities, physiological mechanisms (for example via vascular disease risk or via impacts of mental health disorders) and cognitive and functional decline. Examples of inequality related factors were identified as having an impact on underlying biological mechanisms such as inflammation, gut microbiota or oxidative stress, and also on the risk of cognitive decline. These also include the environments where people live (pollution, access to green space, accessibility and age-friendliness of environments), levels of education and access to cognitive stimulating occupations, association of poverty to poor nutrition, modifiable health behaviour and to stress, anxiety and depression. Importantly, this synthesis of work has led to identification of specific mediators and moderators in the link between physical frailty and cognitive decline which has led to further funding applications to develop both statistical models with human data, and model organism methods to enable further research and link to potential interventions. Five pump priming projects have been completed, as follows, with one or two key findings: 1. Cognitive frailty: A conceptual overview and risk factors: Understanding of cognitive frailty among the general public, carers and health and social care professionals (Cognitive Epidemiology, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Dementia, Public Health, Psychology, Primary Care) A mixed-method study design was used to investigate the general understanding of cognitive frailty and its risk factors in the population. A survey was conducted with 120 participants, and 20 participants completed qualitative interviews. The perceived presentation of cognitive frailty was a decline in cognitive and physical functions, limiting the quality of life, getting weaker or less able, fragility, and vulnerability. Most respondents considered that cognitive frailty manifests first between the ages of 60 and 70, with a presentation of difficulties in conducting cognitive tasks, for example, memory, decision-making, difficulty with coping with everyday tasks, forgetfulness, lack of concentration and focus. Healthcare professionals interviewed are aware of the terminology and risk factors and wish to have normative scales or clinical thresholds for identifying cognitive frailty in patients at risk. 2. Distinguishing cognitive frailty from early dementia: the differential role of impairments and potential predictors. (Psychology, data science, health economics, health inequalities, epidemiology, neuroscience). Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), within a group of people identified as living with cognitive frailty, we were able to distinguish specific patterns of cognitive impairment that were more likely and less likely to lead to a dementia diagnosis or pattern of function over time. This evidence will be important to develop our ability to distinguish cognitive frailty from early dementia. 3. Associations of lipophilic micronutrients with oxidised lipids in persons with mild cognitive impairment (Biosciences, Mathematics, Neuroscience) We completed establishing high performance liquid chromatography method to measure serum carotenoid levels. Using this method, we were able to quantify carotenoids in 49 samples and corelate findings with oxidised lipids and tests for cognitive functions. This analysis was important to investigate contribution of lipids on cognitive function. 4. A holistic approach to cognitive frailty in an older community-dwelling population in India: Evidence from a nationally representative survey (Psychology and Anthropology). Using Data from the Longitudinal Study of Ageing in India (LASI) we were able to identify the variable prevalence of cognitive frailty in different regions of India and identify key socio-economic, regional, health and psychological risk factors that impact risk of cognitive frailty in these populations. This evidence will be important as we seek to understand risk factors to enable interventions and policy changes in different international contexts. 5. A pilot study to explore the neurovascular status of older individuals with a preclinical gait speed decline. (Neuroimaging, Optometry, Neurophysiology, Biochemistry, Neuropsychology). Given the pump priming nature of this project, findings are around feasibility of study. Recruitment of older samples with specific impairments (not diseases) is difficult. Social media is not a good platform to reach potential volunteers. Contact through clinics would on the other hand require NHS ethics application and needs to be planned in advance and is not suitable for short term limited time studies. Learning Points: need to establish contacts with the relevant study groups before applying for any future grant; it would help having NHS ethics in place before applying for funds to reduce time to study implementation and facilitate recruitment of older adults with declines. The protocol design was comprehensive for the study of vascular health in older adults and its contribution to declines, allowing analysis of relevant associations between factors at different levels. There are three further pump priming projects for which outcomes are not yet available. A further outcome is the Delphi consensus study on interventions for cognitive frailty. Importantly, this included an interdisciplinary and intersectoral set of experts who were brought together in three rounds of this process: Researchers divided into those who work directly with older people (e.g. psychologists, social scientists) and those who work in labs (e.g. biologists); health and social care practitioners including clinicians; lay people who were experts by experience of cognitive frailty. Consensus was achieved on preventability, whether Cognitive frailty could be delayed and treated, but contrary to evidence, there was uncertainty over reversibility. Consensus on intervention approaches and methods was broadly achieved (e.g. on personalised approaches) with some important differences between the groups. The outcomes will form important groundwork for development of future interventions. An important outcome of the network activities is the significant multidisciplinary and multi-sector network built. As at February 2025, there were 257 members in CFIN, 72 institutions and 15 countries involved. We have 51 international members, 8 Business/NGO partners, 15 clinical practitioners and 9 members of the public. ECR members consist of 52 Postdocs/research assistants, and 46 Postgraduate students. |
| Exploitation Route | The primary outcome of a developed and active interdisciplinary network in this area of research, which now consists of 257 members in the UK and internationally, is a resource that will continue to have an important impact on research, dissemination and use of the findings of the work and of subsequent planned research and is already acting as an impetus in this challenge area, an example being pump priming work funded by the network within members (see collaborations and findings sections), members' applications for further research funding. the award of various global partnership awards and further linking with other BBSRC/MRC networks via UKAGENET demonstrates the effective network that has developed. The key point of this network area is that cognitive frailty may be potentially more modifiable than neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia, but may eventually, if not intervened with, lead to dementia, loss of independence and significant health and care needs. Our interdisciplinary scoping reviews identified key modifiable predictors, mechanisms and mediators that we intend in future funding will be developed into frailty tools (e.g. combinations of assessments to produce a cognitive frailty profile) and animal models of behavioural assays that can then be used in further research by the research and clinical communities. Our ongoing work in the network has produced a consensus on interventions that may have an impact specifically on cognitive frailty (our Delphi study, paper in progress) which provides a unique set of recommendations for potential interventions, with participants including research and clinical experts across the disciplines, but also including older adults who are experiencing cognitive frailty or have cared for people who have. The outcomes of the Delphi study will be useful for groups developing interventions. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Environment Healthcare Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism |
| URL | https://www.ukanet.org.uk/cfin/ |
| Description | The cognitive frailty network has brought together researchers from a range of disciplines with the impact that: - the research area and the important pattern of co-occurrence of physical frailty with cognitive impairment outside of dementia is beginning to be better understood and differentiated from neurodegenerative conditions within both the academic and clinical network members. - disparate research areas with relevant input to the topic have been brought together and are beginning to be consolidated -mutual development of ability to work across disciplines, e.g. development of terminology understanding or the chance to work with real world end-users of research (frailer older adults and carers) has been described as transformative by researchers involved. The knowledge exchange between those who have expertise in frailty and cognitive decline in humans (academic and non-academic) with equivalent concepts in model organisms has been particularly striking, as has the knowledge exchange between expertise in psychological impacts on aspects of physical health and those with expertise in underlying biological ageing mechanisms. New 2025: Our dissemination work with public health leads and clinicians has also received positive feedback in terms of changes they hope to make to their practice. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Other |
| Description | CFIN Policy event |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Contribution to Gap analysis |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Development of early career researchers |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Within the early career research workforce in ageing, these endeavours have led to increased ability, knowledge and understanding of interdisciplinary working, of the issue of cognitive frailty, of working with lay older adults who have first hand experience of cognitive frailty as potential end beneficiaries of research, and of different pathways to impact, including the issues of health inequalities. ECRs have had the opportunities to network internationally and to receive senior researcher support for their research funding applications. |
| Description | Strategy Advisory Panel |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | CFIN Network extension |
| Amount | £109,090 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2024 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | CONSOLIDATE: Co-designing Opportunities for Needs-led Solutions that Optimise Living Independently With Dementia by Accessible Technology Enhancement |
| Amount | £1,600,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | APP53266 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2025 |
| End | 03/2028 |
| Description | Development of collaboration with Ageing Group at Sunway University; QR travel & Collaboration funding |
| Amount | £22,500 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | UTB1003XS05 |
| Organisation | Lancaster University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | EuroAgeNet: European Partnerships in Ageing Science |
| Amount | £206,587 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y00695X/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2023 |
| End | 04/2025 |
| Description | Global Partnering Award UK Ageing Networks: South Asia - SAAgeNet |
| Amount | £184,307 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y006941/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2023 |
| End | 04/2025 |
| Description | NIHR Applied Research Collaborations Dementia Capacity Building (Post-doctoral training programme) |
| Amount | £317,546 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIHR200182 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 12/2025 |
| Description | UK Ageing Research Networks Partnership with the USA and Canada |
| Amount | £173,533 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/Y006968/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2023 |
| End | 04/2025 |
| Title | High performance liquid chromatography method to measure carotenoids |
| Description | An analytical method was developed and validated to measure serum levels of carotenoids (Lycopene, beta carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, retinol, and alpha tocopherol). |
| Type Of Material | Biological samples |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The method is suitable to measure carotenoids in human plasma/serum. This method will apply for future studies. |
| Description | A pilot study to explore the neurovascular status of older individuals with a preclinical gait speed decline |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Components of this pump priming research will be led by a CFIN Co-I and a network member at Aston University. Contributions at Aston will be to set-up the brain MRI sequences to assess the brain vascular condition in collaboration between Aston University and Edinburgh, and to implement/test the experimental paradigms (Aston); obtain information on sociodemographic and health of a group of older participants: to contribute, with partners to: characterising physical, sensory and neuropsychological condition and frailty status; measuring brain and retina blood flow and perfusion and determine the presence of structural abnormalities using brain MRI sequences, TCD, and OCTA; to assess the level of serum inflammatory markers in relation to the neurovascular status (Aston CFIN Co-I); determine the association between the degree of vascular ageing and the brain dynamics derived from the EEG signal (Aston CFIN member). Aston University will organise PPI activity |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Edinburgh University collaborator will work with the CFIN member at Aston University to: set-up the brain MRI sequences to assess the brain vascular condition; give training to the Aston members in transcranial doppler ultrasound (TCD); lead on measurements of brain and retina blood flow and perfusion and determine the presence of structural abnormalities using brain MRI sequences, TCD, and OCTA The University of Huddersfield collaborator will contribute the opthalmic scanning The Sheffield Hallam University collaborator will support cognitive testing. |
| Impact | No outcomes as yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | A pilot study to explore the neurovascular status of older individuals with a preclinical gait speed decline |
| Organisation | University of Huddersfield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Components of this pump priming research will be led by a CFIN Co-I and a network member at Aston University. Contributions at Aston will be to set-up the brain MRI sequences to assess the brain vascular condition in collaboration between Aston University and Edinburgh, and to implement/test the experimental paradigms (Aston); obtain information on sociodemographic and health of a group of older participants: to contribute, with partners to: characterising physical, sensory and neuropsychological condition and frailty status; measuring brain and retina blood flow and perfusion and determine the presence of structural abnormalities using brain MRI sequences, TCD, and OCTA; to assess the level of serum inflammatory markers in relation to the neurovascular status (Aston CFIN Co-I); determine the association between the degree of vascular ageing and the brain dynamics derived from the EEG signal (Aston CFIN member). Aston University will organise PPI activity |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Edinburgh University collaborator will work with the CFIN member at Aston University to: set-up the brain MRI sequences to assess the brain vascular condition; give training to the Aston members in transcranial doppler ultrasound (TCD); lead on measurements of brain and retina blood flow and perfusion and determine the presence of structural abnormalities using brain MRI sequences, TCD, and OCTA The University of Huddersfield collaborator will contribute the opthalmic scanning The Sheffield Hallam University collaborator will support cognitive testing. |
| Impact | No outcomes as yet |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Associations of lipophilic micronutrients with oxidised lipids in persons with mild cognitive impairment |
| Organisation | University Hospital Cologne International |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | This pump priming project is led by the CFIN co-investigator based at Aston University, who will contribute their biosciences and mathematics expertise, in addition to providing the highly skilled technician with the required expertise for the analyses |
| Collaborator Contribution | The study will use banked plasma samples from persons with mild cognitive impairment n=100) aged 65 years and older, free from major organ failure and not taking antioxidant supplements collected as part of CogLife study (University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany). The ethical approval was granted by the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (DRKS) under DRKS00015036), where persons were evaluated for cognitive outcomes. Participants were asked to self-complete a qualitative food-frequency questionnaire modified to assess intake of fruits and vegetables, in order to identify those individuals consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (high intake) and those consuming a diet poor in fruits and vegetables (low intake). |
| Impact | no outcomes yet Disciplines: Biosciences, Mathematics, Neuroscience |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Cognitive frailty: A conceptual overview and risk factors |
| Organisation | Heriot-Watt University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | to contribute expertise in qualitative methods, gerontology, and support the dissemination of the planned survey. To support the outcome public event. |
| Collaborator Contribution | To contribute primary care expertise and support access to patients |
| Impact | No outcomes yet Disciplines: Cognitive Epidemiology, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Dementia, Public Health, Psychology, Primary Care |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Cognitive frailty: A conceptual overview and risk factors |
| Organisation | University of Sussex |
| Department | Brighton and Sussex Medical School |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | to contribute expertise in qualitative methods, gerontology, and support the dissemination of the planned survey. To support the outcome public event. |
| Collaborator Contribution | To contribute primary care expertise and support access to patients |
| Impact | No outcomes yet Disciplines: Cognitive Epidemiology, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Dementia, Public Health, Psychology, Primary Care |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Distinguishing cognitive frailty from early dementia: the differential role of potential predictors. |
| Organisation | University of Sussex |
| Department | Brighton and Sussex Medical School |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | we will be adding expertise in Psychology, data science, health economics and health inequalities to planned secondary data analysis |
| Collaborator Contribution | They will be adding expertise in epidemiology, neuroscience and specific data resources. |
| Impact | No outputs as yet disciplines included are Psychology, data science, health economics, health inequalities, epidemiology, neuroscience |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Is 24-hydroxycholesterol an early biomarker for cognitive frailty |
| Organisation | Aston University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a pump priming award made by the CFIN steering group, including the PI (Carol Holland), Co-Is and members of the External advisory group, including lay older adults who are "experts by experience" in cognitive frailty. The award was to Nona Pop, an early career researcher, mentored by Dr Valia Rodriguez and Dr Iru Dias both mid-career researchers at Aston University, and Dr Sue Broughton, a mid-career researcher at Lancaster University. As CFIN Investigators, we set up the awarding structure and panel, working with the lay older adults to support them to be involved in discussions with potential applicants and offering advice from their perspectives on both the planning of the projects and award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The applicant is a CFIN member and has been involved in and supported the Early Career Researcher activities within the CFIN network. |
| Impact | Planned outcomes include a fellowship application and an Alzheimers UK PhD studentship application. Disciplines involved in the collaboration: Biological sciences/biogerontology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Geriatrics . |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Listen Well: Understanding the link between frailty, physical health and listening-specific cognitive function |
| Organisation | Lancaster University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a pump priming award made by the CFIN steering group, including the PI (Carol Holland), Co-Is and members of the External advisory group, including lay older adults who are "experts by experience" in cognitive frailty. The award was to Dr Kate Slade, an early career researcher, mentored by Dr Helen Nutall, a mid-career researcher, both at Lancaster University. As CFIN Investigators, we set up the awarding structure and panel, working with the lay older adults to support them in being involved in discussions with potential applicants and offering advice from their perspectives on both the planning of the projects and award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | These partners have engaged in CFIN throughout as members, particularly contributing to the joint Research Showcase held between CFIN and the Lancaster University Centre for Ageing Research (C4AR), December 2023 and also contributing to a related event in December 2024. The planned research is taking their learning about cognitive frailty from their involvement in CFIN and applying it to their specialist area of the links between cognitive impairment and Hearing loss in later life. |
| Impact | full research proposal Disciplines : Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Sport and Exercise Science |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Preventing cognitive frailty: what people know and what they'd be willing to change |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a pump priming award made by the CFIN steering group, including the PI (Carol Holland), Co-Is and members of the External advisory group, including lay older adults who are "experts by experience" in cognitive frailty. The award was to Shaima Elhag, an early career researcher, in collaboration with other ECRs from a range of disciplines, all members of CFIN, and mentored by Alan Gow, a senior professor. As CFIN Investigators, we set up the awarding structure and panel, working with the lay older adults to support them to be involved in discussions with potential applicants and offering advice from their perspectives on both the planning of the projects and award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This pump priming award was made to a group of ECR CFIN members who have all contributed to various ECR and other events. Their pump priming work will investigate understanding of CFIN in the general older population, as well as acceptability of healthy lifestyle changes that may be part of future interventions. This work will lay important groundwork for future research and impact. |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Preventing cognitive frailty: what people know and what they'd be willing to change |
| Organisation | Heriot-Watt University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a pump priming award made by the CFIN steering group, including the PI (Carol Holland), Co-Is and members of the External advisory group, including lay older adults who are "experts by experience" in cognitive frailty. The award was to Shaima Elhag, an early career researcher, in collaboration with other ECRs from a range of disciplines, all members of CFIN, and mentored by Alan Gow, a senior professor. As CFIN Investigators, we set up the awarding structure and panel, working with the lay older adults to support them to be involved in discussions with potential applicants and offering advice from their perspectives on both the planning of the projects and award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This pump priming award was made to a group of ECR CFIN members who have all contributed to various ECR and other events. Their pump priming work will investigate understanding of CFIN in the general older population, as well as acceptability of healthy lifestyle changes that may be part of future interventions. This work will lay important groundwork for future research and impact. |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Preventing cognitive frailty: what people know and what they'd be willing to change |
| Organisation | Sheffield Hallam University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a pump priming award made by the CFIN steering group, including the PI (Carol Holland), Co-Is and members of the External advisory group, including lay older adults who are "experts by experience" in cognitive frailty. The award was to Shaima Elhag, an early career researcher, in collaboration with other ECRs from a range of disciplines, all members of CFIN, and mentored by Alan Gow, a senior professor. As CFIN Investigators, we set up the awarding structure and panel, working with the lay older adults to support them to be involved in discussions with potential applicants and offering advice from their perspectives on both the planning of the projects and award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This pump priming award was made to a group of ECR CFIN members who have all contributed to various ECR and other events. Their pump priming work will investigate understanding of CFIN in the general older population, as well as acceptability of healthy lifestyle changes that may be part of future interventions. This work will lay important groundwork for future research and impact. |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Preventing cognitive frailty: what people know and what they'd be willing to change |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a pump priming award made by the CFIN steering group, including the PI (Carol Holland), Co-Is and members of the External advisory group, including lay older adults who are "experts by experience" in cognitive frailty. The award was to Shaima Elhag, an early career researcher, in collaboration with other ECRs from a range of disciplines, all members of CFIN, and mentored by Alan Gow, a senior professor. As CFIN Investigators, we set up the awarding structure and panel, working with the lay older adults to support them to be involved in discussions with potential applicants and offering advice from their perspectives on both the planning of the projects and award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This pump priming award was made to a group of ECR CFIN members who have all contributed to various ECR and other events. Their pump priming work will investigate understanding of CFIN in the general older population, as well as acceptability of healthy lifestyle changes that may be part of future interventions. This work will lay important groundwork for future research and impact. |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Preventing cognitive frailty: what people know and what they'd be willing to change |
| Organisation | University of Essex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | This is a pump priming award made by the CFIN steering group, including the PI (Carol Holland), Co-Is and members of the External advisory group, including lay older adults who are "experts by experience" in cognitive frailty. The award was to Shaima Elhag, an early career researcher, in collaboration with other ECRs from a range of disciplines, all members of CFIN, and mentored by Alan Gow, a senior professor. As CFIN Investigators, we set up the awarding structure and panel, working with the lay older adults to support them to be involved in discussions with potential applicants and offering advice from their perspectives on both the planning of the projects and award. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This pump priming award was made to a group of ECR CFIN members who have all contributed to various ECR and other events. Their pump priming work will investigate understanding of CFIN in the general older population, as well as acceptability of healthy lifestyle changes that may be part of future interventions. This work will lay important groundwork for future research and impact. |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Early Career Research conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a two day workshop with ECR members of the international CFIN network, including mainly PG students and some Postdoctoral researchers. All had the opportunity to present their work and be involved in a research proposal exercise, as well and networking opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | External Advisory Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Our external advisory group (20 members) attend a meeting up to 3 times per year where they are informed on the network aims, they offer input on the progress of the network activities, offer involvement in specific network activities (including interdisciplinary/intersectoral mentoring of researchers, supporting recruitment of experts by experience or greater diversity for the Delphi panel) and offer their point of view from their own background. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ukanet.org.uk/cfin/ |
| Description | Guest lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Brain Health: From identifying determinants to intervention. Guest lecture for Gero 404 Health and illness in later life, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada (online), 9th October 2024. This was an invited lecture for Professor Andrew Sixsmith, a member of the research network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Importance of fruit and veg for your memory |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation as part of the Centre for Ageing Research's Research Showcase, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, 11th December 2023. The research showcase comprised of research talks, CFIN project updates focused at a lay audience. The meeting also accommodated posters and interactive sessions from local businesses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/facilities/campus-and-community-life/events/lancaster-university-centre-... |
| Description | Invitation to talk to Spanish/international conference of Educators |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a large conference of people working in education across the age ranges (early years through to later life education) in Valencia, Spain. The aim was to present evidence on the importance of education for later life cognition to educators and educational researchers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited talk title: Nourishing Your Brain with the Power of Fruits and Vegetables, ARCHA Research Showcase, 10th January 2024 at Aston University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited talk to Dr Iru Dias, a member of the CFIN co-investigator team. Around 50 people from a mixed audience attended this event mainly on line. The event sparked debate afterwards |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invited talk to Psychology Department, Aberystwyth University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited Departmental talk to Interested parties at Aberystwyth University, focused on explaining cognitive frailty, presenting the outcomes of a scoping review, and opening the CFIN network for new members. Several of the audience enquired about getting involved in the network and one postgrad joined and has attended subsequent events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited talk to Psychology Department, Aston University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk to multidisciplinary Ageing Research Centre. Questions and discussion afterwards was sparked and further discussion about future research plans ensued. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Invited talk to Sunway University in Malaysia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of a network development visit, I was invited to give a lecture to staff and students, including contributors to national public health strategies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Keynote presentation as part of the Age Scotland Awards |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Building brain health: How to stay sharp as we age. Keynote presentation as part of the Age Scotland Awards, Glasgow, UK, 1st October 2024. This was an invited keynote for Age Scotland's annual conference, comprising a diverse audience of over 150 people. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Keynote presentation at Dementia Research Conference 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Gow, A. J. Exploring brain health: from observation and intervention to what people think. Keynote presentation at Dementia Research Conference 2023, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, online, 29th-30th March 2023. This was a keynote presentation to the Dementia Research Conference 2023, delivered online to an audince of 200-300, primarily clinical staff and academics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.bsms.ac.uk/about/events/2023/03-29-dementia-research-conference-2023.aspx |
| Description | Keynote presentation at Dementia Research Conference 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Exploring brain health: from observation and intervention to what people think. Keynote presentation at Dementia Research Conference 2023, Brighton and Sussex Medical School |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.bsms.ac.uk/about/events/2023/03-29-dementia-research-conference-2023.aspx |
| Description | Keynote presentation at the Festival of Ageing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Opportunities for building brain health: what we can do to stay sharp as we age. Keynote presentation as part of the Festival of Ageing, COSLA Conference Centre, Edinburgh, UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/festival-of-ageing-tickets-759602119387 |
| Description | Media contribution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Channel 5: Will You Get Dementia? - interviewed for TV programme with national audience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.channel5.com/show/will-you-get-dementia |
| Description | Media contribution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Times: We must change how we think about ageing - contributed article |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/we-must-change-how-we-think-about-ageing-2qp2v6v5b |
| Description | Media contribution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Your Brain On... Retirement - interviewed for podcast with international audience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://thebraindocs.com/your-brain-on/retirement/ |
| Description | Media contribution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Digital Health: Health tech can help reframe ageing as an opportunity not a problem - contributed article |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.digitalhealth.net/2024/07/health-tech-can-help-reframe-ageing-as-an-opportunity-not-a-pr... |
| Description | Media contribution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Peloton The Output: How Exercise Changes Your Brain for the Better - interviewed for web article with international reach |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.onepeloton.com/blog/exercise-and-the-brain/ |
| Description | Media contribution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | BBC Science Focus: How to retire well: 5 insights from the world's best studies - interviewed for magazine article with international audience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://apple.news/AiE1qnjclQgK9cVGlpV940Q |
| Description | Media contribution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Healthcare Leader: How to approach the use of AgeTech - contributed article |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://healthcareleadernews.com/views/how-to-approach-the-use-of-agetech/ |
| Description | Network development conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Cognitive Frailty Interdisciplinary Network Development Conference was held on 15-16 September 2022: Online conference, 68 delegates from 5 countries and 32 institutions and including some lay members from our External Advisory Group. Conference included presentations on the two scoping reviews, paper presentations and the following network development activities: • What does interdisciplinary work mean, and are we doing it? (presentation and discussion from experts) • Presentation on Interdisciplinary/cross sector Mentoring, followed by a matchmaking session • Delphi study: A consensus study on interventions for cognitive frailty - stage 1 (2nd stage ongoing at the moment, including lay members, professional practitioners, 3rd sector as well as academic and clinical researchers) • Consortia development An important success of both the conference and the CFIN network activities generally is the increased focus and understanding of cognitive frailty already achieved. This is important as cognitive frailty has important modifiable elements but lack of intervention could result in significant negative outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ukanet.org.uk/cfin/2022/09/20/cognitive-frailty-interdisciplinary-network-development-co... |
| Description | Nourishing Your Brain with the Power of Fruits and Vegetables |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Research showcase event at Aston Research Center for Health and Ageing (ARCHA). researchers described ageing research work at Aston University and there were poster sessions and question and answer sessions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Organised Aston Research Centre for Health and Ageing conference 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Sixty individuals attended the conference, where researchers presented their findings to an engaged audience. The event featured a diverse lineup of both national and international speakers, contributing to a rich exchange of knowledge and ideas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Presentation as part of Cognitive Frailty Interdisciplinary Network webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Lifestyles and brain health: How might we study that? Presentation as part of the Cognitive Frailty Interdisciplinary Network's webinar on multidisciplinary research on cognitive frailty, online, 31st May 2024. Webinar developed as part of CFIN's ECR series to support developmental opportunities and training |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation as part of Dementia Friendly East Lothian's Gathering |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Thinking about brains. Presentation as part of Dementia Friendly East Lothian's Gathering: Nourishing our neurons, Fisherrow Centre, Musselburgh, UK, 15th November 2024. Invited presentation to start day-long workshop developing a local brain health programme, attended by aboout 35 people. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation as part of Get Berkshire Active's Live Longer Better Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | What keeps you sharp? Thinking about brain health as we age. Presentation as part of Get Berkshire Active's Live Longer Better Webinar, online, 5th November 2024. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation as part of the Centre for Ageing Research's Research Showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The 12 Days of Christmas: Santa's Brain Health Edition. Presentation as part of the Centre for Ageing Research's Research Showcase, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, 11th December 2023. The research showcase was a full day of talks from the CFIN project across disciplines aimed at a lay audience. Around 80-100 people attended. In addition to talks there was an exhibition of posters from students, local businesses involved in frailty intervention, and opportunities for self-assessment of aspects of healthy diet, linked to the talks. There was a lot of interaction and discussion throughout the day. Members of a 3rd sector organisation judged the PG students posters. The named presentation closed the days activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/facilities/campus-and-community-life/events/lancaster-university-centre-... |
| Description | Presentation at British Society of Gerontology conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at the British Society of Gerontology conference. Around 30 people attended my talk, a mixture of Early career researchers, later stage academics, members of third sector organisations and older lay participants (e.g. co-researchers). Several people expressed interest in joining the network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation at Business link event (NICA, Newcastle) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The purpose of this event was to disseminate the network further to industry links. We worked with the National Innovation Centre for Ageing and VOICE, both based at Newcastle University. The audience included industry and social enterprise representatives as well as third sector organisations. We included VOICE members in the presentations (lay older adults involved in research). The event included "speed dating" between researchers and delegates and several potential partnerships were conceived. The event included speakers from staff who have been involved with Innovate UK Healthy ageing challenge industry linked activities, from the Chief Operating Officer of the NIHR innovation observatory, and from IUK Edge, who all provided information to the delegates about funding and processes for research partnerships. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at Our Future Health event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Health research from Heriot-Watt's Global Research Institute in Health and Care Technologies. Presentation at the Our Future Health event, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, 12th February 2025. Presentation explored health-related research followed by hands-on demonstrations of technology, attended by about 12 students and staff |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Presentation at UKAN/UKRI Partnering Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Integrating lifespan biological, health, socio-economic, environmental and behavioural mechanisms. Presentation at UKAN/UKRI Partnering Meeting, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, 3rd September 2024. Presentation as part of 11 funded ageing networks, held as a satellite event to the BSRA meeting. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at the Edinburgh Dementia Prevention Summer School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Brain health behaviours: From observation and intervention to action. Presentation at the Edinburgh Dementia Prevention Summer School, University of Edinburgh |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ed.ac.uk/clinical-brain-sciences/research/edinburgh-dementia-prevention/news/edp-summer-... |
| Description | Presentation for Edinburgh Skeptics Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Brain health: stacking the cards in our favour. Presentation for Edinburgh Skeptics Society, Edinburgh, UK, 6th March 2024. This was a public engagement event, delivered to an audience of ~30, primarily members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation for u3a in Scotland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | What promotes brain health? Presentation at u3a in Scotland Autumn Event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation to SAAgeNet meeting in Delhi, India, November, 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | CFIN members including international partners from India and Malaysia joined together for an update meeting in Delhi (and by hybrid links). Several new interested parties from India joined at this meeting, resulting in further dissemination including public health practitioners. Several CFIN Co-Is and the PI presented work, but the event also focused on the developing work of ECRs (mainly PhD students). Plans were made for further training and collaboration visits between the institutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation to a Policy focused event, London February 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This event was targeted at disseminating the importance of cognitive frailty as an important transition point in healthy ageing to policy makers such as ICB and public health leads and geriatricians from around the country. In addition to some brief talks to set the scene and explain some of the findings and gap analyses, round tables were held with these delegates. Feedback included requests for further information and comments on the impact the day will have on practice changes in public health departments, with a focus on prevention of later life serious declines. As a response, we have shared the slides and are putting together a briefing based on CFIN work and inputs from delegates. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Presentation to new PhD students at Lancaster Autumn Academy 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a methods and research examples session aimed at introducing new PhD students to different methods currently being used by faculty researchers. Colleagues commented on their new understanding of both the method and the area of cognitive frailty. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentations to schools as part of RSE@ School Talks Programme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The Great British Brain Off. Presentation as part of the RSE@ School Talks Programme, Loreburn Primary, Dumfries, UK, 8th February 2024. The Great British Brain Off. Presentation as part of the RSE@ School Talks Programme, Moffat Academy, Moffat, UK, 7th February 2024. These were workshops delivered in two primary schools, audience of ~30 per class, primarily aged 9-10 years old. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://rse.org.uk/programme/education/schools/ |
| Description | Research Showcase, Centre for Ageing Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a full day of talks focused on multidisciplinary perspectives on dementia, including talks from the CFIN project, aimed at a lay audience. Around 60 people attended. In addition to talks there was an exhibition of posters from students and exhibitions linked to the talks. There was a lot of interaction and discussion throughout the day. Members of a 3rd sector organisation judged the PG students posters. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Research Showcase, Centre for Ageing Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a full day of talks from the CFIN project across disciplines aimed at a lay audience. around 80-100 people attended. In addition to talks there was an exhibition of posters from students, local businesses involved in frailty intervention, and opportunities for self-assessment of aspects of healthy diet, linked to the talks. There was a lot of interaction and discussion throughout the day. Members of a 3rd sector organisation judged the PG students posters. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Brain health: identifying protective factors, testing interventions and raising awareness. Research seminar, Sunway University, Malaysia, 20th February 2025. Invited research presentation during research visit to Sunway, hosted by Dr Samira Vafa and supported by SAAgeNet funding |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Researcher visit to Aston University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A researcher from Sunway University, Malaysia visited Aston University to learn new analytical techniques. this visit strengthened collaboration with Sunway University for future research activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Researcher visit to Medical School laboratories at Aston University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A PhD student from Madras Diabetes Research Foundation completed lab exchange visit to Aston during Jan-Feb 2024. He learnt new techniques and planning to submit a research paper based on lab activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Short visit to University of Delhi, India as a part of SAAgeNET networking activity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | SAAgeNET networking event organised at University of Delhi to increase collaboration between UK, Malaysian and Indian universities. event was attended by 20+ individuals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Show at the Eden Festival as part of the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Marginal gains for brighter brains! Show at the Eden Festival as part of the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas in Eden Explores, Moffat, UK, 16th June 2024. This was a public engagement event, delivered to an audience of ~55, primarily member of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of Edinburgh Beltane's Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Boron and Brighter Brains. Show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of Edinburgh Beltane's Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas, Edinburgh, UK, 8th August 2024. This was a public engagement event, delivered to an audience of ~75, primarily member of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk on the Delphi study to delegates at the June SAgenet meeting in Malaysia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a talk as part of a joint networks event under the aegis of SAAgenet funding held in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. This was an important networking event for the planned individual training and exchange visits that came out of it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk to mental health PhD students at Lancaster University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The PI was invited to give a talk on cognitive frailty and explain some of the mental health associations and mediations to a group of first year Blended learning (distance learning) PhD students doing a PhD in Mental Health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Workshops as part of Unforgotten Forces Autumn Gathering |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Building our Brain Health. Workshops as part of Unforgotten Forces Autumn Gathering, The Barracks Conference Centre, Stirling, UK, 12th November 2024. Invited workshops on brain health, repeated twice with ~35 participants per session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |