J. Corley|Simon R. Cox|I. J. Deary
Healthy cognitive ageing in the Lothian Birth Cohort studies: marginal gains not magic bullet
University of Edinburgh|University of Edinburgh|University of Edinburgh
face shifting demographics increase human longevity important examine carefully known cognitive ageing identify promote possibly malleable lifestyle healthrelated factors might mitigate ageassociated cognitive decline lothian birth cohorts 1921 lbc1921 n 550 1936 lbc1936 n 1091 longitudinal studies cognitive brain ageing based scotland childhood iq data available participants recruited later life followed regularly overview summarises main lbc findings date illustrating possible genetic environmental contributions cognitive function level change brain imaging biomarkers later life key associations include genetic variation health fitness psychosocial lifestyle factors aspects brains structure addresses key methodological issues confounding earlylife intelligence social factors emphasises areas requiring investigation overall findings emerged lbc studies highlight multiple correlates cognitive ability level later life many small effects yet reliable predictors cognitive change correlates independent additive associations concept marginal gains whereby might cumulative effect small incremental improvements across wide range lifestyle healthrelated factors may offer useful way think promote multivariate recipe healthy cognitive brain ageing