South Australia

Lifestyle and Healthy Brain Ageing

Improved health care and living standards have meant that more people are living longer and healthier lives. This is fantastic, but with increased age comes an increased risk of developing dementia. More than 46 million people worldwide are living with dementia, and with an ageing population this is expected to triple in the next three decades. Understanding the causes of dementia, and what each of us can do to reduce our risk of dementia, has never been more important.

In this seminar, we will explore the science behind dementia prevention, and how certain lifestyle factors can help us maintain healthy brain performance as we age.

• Hear from experts in brain ageing and dementia research
• Explore the science behind dementia prevention
• Learn about lifestyle factors that promote healthy brain ageing
  
  

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Hear from Leading Experts:

Dr Genevieve Steiner is the Research Director and Lead of the Neurocognition Laboratory at the NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University. Her work in cognitive neuroscience spans the early detection, prevention, and treatment of memory and thinking problems in older people with the aim of reducing dementia risk and improving quality of life. Dr Steiner’s work examines changes in the brain’s function and structure to discover biomarkers for dementia and test novel therapeutics that can provide early intervention. She is leading Australia’s first medicinal cannabis trial for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr Alexandra Wade is based with the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at the University of South Australia. Her work focuses on dementia prevention through diet and lifestyle modification. During her PhD she investigated the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. She is now working to explore how diet and physical activity can be utilised to reduce dementia risk.

Dr Ashleigh Smith is an emerging research leader and member of the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at the University of South Australia. Her research is positioned at the nexus of neuroscience, exercise physiology and cognitive ageing, with a vision to develop targeted and sustainable physical interventions to improve health across the lifespan.

Associate Professor Tim Windsor Flinders University’s College of Education, Psychology and Social Work. His research interests are in the area of lifespan developmental psychology, with a focus on social relationships, well-being, and how people successfully adapt to ageing-related transitions.

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Session timetable

Registration		Time 10.00
Welcome and introduction	Dr Mitchell Goldsworthy (chair)	10.15
Prevention of dementia In this presentation, Dr Steiner will describe her own personal journey caring for a loved one with dementia, highlight the early signs of dementia and the importance of early detection, and detail the latest evidence on dementia prevention and delaying deterioration.	Dr Genevieve Steiner	10.20
The Mediterranean diet for healthy brain ageing in Australia The Mediterranean diet has a range of health benefits, and has been linked to reductions in dementia risk. This talk will explore the bioactive nutrients of the Mediterranean diet, and their effect on brain health and functioning.	Dr Alexandra Wade	10.50
Morning tea will be provided (please indicate any dietary preferences when registering)		11.20
Living your best day: Optimising activity patterns for brain health In this presentation, Dr Smith will share her recent research around the importance of balancing optimal amounts of physical activity, sleep and other lifestyle behaviours together for the best brain health.	Dr Ashleigh Smith	11.50
Social engagement and cognition in older adulthood Research concerned with cognitive ageing and dementia has increasingly focused on lifestyle factors that could help people to remain cognitively healthy for longer. Recent evidence suggests that remaining socially engaged might be one way to help preserve cognitive fitness. In this presentation, A/Prof Windsor will review recent research evidence concerned with links between social engagement and brain health, outline possible reasons why socially engaged people report better cognitive health, and present findings from his own research on this topic.	A/Prof Tim Windsor	12.20
Closing remarks	Dr Mitchell Goldsworthy (chair)	12.50
Close		1.00

Click here to download a flyer

Event Date & Time: 29th November 10.00am - 1.00pm

Event Location: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building
G030 Lecture Theatre 1
North Terrace

Registrations Open: 14th Oct 19 12:00 AM

Registrations Close: 30th Nov 19 11:59 PM

Places Available: 143

This event is free for AAG members
and non-members alike

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