TILDA Team Participates in NICOLA Environmental Research Launch
TILDA Team Engages in Ground-breaking Environmental Ageing Research at NICOLA Launch
On 8th February 2024, the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal study of Ageing (NICOLA) hosted a significant launch event at the Armagh Planetarium. The event introduced the SPACE (Supportive Environments for Physical & Social Activity, Health Ageing, & Cognitive Health) project, which explores the influence of environmental factors on brain health and ageing.
Key Highlights from the Launch Event
- SPACE Project Overview: The SPACE project’s research emphasizes the critical role of our living environments in supporting brain health and cognitive function. With evidence suggesting that environmental factors can significantly impact brain health, the SPACE initiative aims to design environments that optimize cognitive and physical well-being.
- Insights from TILDA Collaborators: The conference featured presentations from prominent figures in the field, including:
- Eileen Crimmins: Discussed advancements in modifying epigenetic ageing and its implications for understanding longevity.
- Jinkook Lee: Provided insights into the WHO initiative focused on collecting longitudinal data on ageing, highlighting global efforts to track and understand ageing processes.
- Ruth Hunter: Addressed ageing from a broader perspective, including social, cultural, environmental, and historical contexts.
- TILDA Team’s Contributions: The TILDA team, led by Senior Research Fellow Joanne Feeney, presented their research on environmental influences on cognition and ageing. Joanne’s talk focused on how TILDA employs environmental epidemiology measures to make causal inferences in public health, contributing valuable insights into how living conditions affect ageing and cognitive health.
Impact of the Event
The launch event underscored the importance of integrating environmental considerations into ageing research. By highlighting how environments can impact cognitive and physical health, the SPACE project aligns with TILDA’s commitment to understanding and improving the ageing experience. The collaboration between TILDA and NICOLA fosters a deeper understanding of the environmental factors influencing brain health and enhances the development of supportive strategies for healthy ageing.