Neuro-Cognitive
The Neuro-Cognitive working group is interested in all aspects of cognitive function and psychological well-being in older adults.
TILDA longitudinal translational neurocognitive research programme aims to determine the keys to successful ageing by addressing brain, mental and cognitive health in a multifactorial and multidisciplinary perspective. Our research aims to identify the brain-predicted markers of cognitive ageing and to determine the risks and protective factors of brain, mental and cognitive health in older age. Our goal is to generate policy-relevant information on the prevalence and causal pathways of accelerated brain and cognitive ageing and mental health issues among adults aged 50 and over in Ireland. TILDA's dataset places us in the unique position to address brain health with a multifactorial perspective, by investigating the interplay between brain structure and function, mental health and cognitive health; their relationships with the cardiovascular, immune and endocrine systems, physical health and function, lifestyle behaviours and social and physical environmental factors; and their impact on healthcare costs and utilisation.
Since its beginning, TILDA has collected data on its participants’ cognitive and mental health every two years using an extensive battery of standardised neuropsychological and psychological tests, measuring global and domain-specific cognitive function (verbal memory, executive function and orientation) and mental health (loneliness, stress, anxiety and depression). At Wave 3 of the study (2014), a subset of TILDA participants also underwent multimodal MRI scans (structural, functional resting state, diffusion tensor imaging and arterial spin labelling at rest and during hypercapnic challenge), to assess brain structure and functional connectivity, white matter integrity and microstructure and cerebral perfusion.
TILDA neurocognitive research is being developed within the frame of the overarching NEUROCOG working group and the MRI working group which focuses on the development of methods for the processing and analysis of TILDA multimodal MRI data.
The neurocognitive research programme and NEUROCOG working group are led by Dr Céline De Looze and Dr Joanne Feeney. The MRI working group is led by Dr Céline De Looze and Dr Silvin Knight.
TILDA Researchers
Céline De Looze
Dr. Céline De Looze is a research fellow in cognitive neuroscience in TILDA.
Her research aims to investigate the risk and protective factors associated with cardiovascular, brain and cognitive health in a multi-system perspective.
TILDA Researchers
Joanne Feeney
Dr. Joanne Feeney is a senior research fellow in cognitive neuroscience in TILDA.
As part of the TILDA team, her research focuses on factors influencing cognition and cognitive decline.
TILDA Researchers
Silvin Knight
Dr Silvin Knight is a Research Fellow with TILDA, currently working within the FRAILMATICS research program.
His current research interests include quantitative modelling of cardiovascular and neurovascular haemodynamics and autoregulation, as well as developing machine learning and data-driven approaches for the analysis of these vascular networks.