The research program explores how aging influences brain function in test-persons from a Danish birth cohort of men born in 1953 in the Metropolitan area of Copenhagen.~Test-persons are divided among three groups based on performance in cognitive tests at late midlife compared to young adulthood; 1) Positive expected performance, 2) expected performance and 3) negative expected performance and sampled from a birth cohort of 11.532 men.~Researchers aim to identify factors earlier in life that affect or predict changes in cognitive function, specifically of cognitive decline in order to predict healthy vs unhealthy cognitive aging, including progression to possible dementia. The objective is to be able to predict cognitive decline in aging.~During the four years of data collection approximately 300-400 participants will be included and examined.~The examinations include cognitive test including Cambridge Neuropsychological test automated Battery (CANTAB); sleep, life events and depression questionnaire; blood sample analysis including functional analyses of mitochondria and gen analyses such as genome scanning, SNP analysis, ApoE ε-type; structural and functional changes in the brain measured with magnetic resonance (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings of electrical activity and visual attention.~The results from these studies will hopefully point to new avenues for intervention in order to change the course of brain aging.
The research program explores how aging influences brain function in test-persons from a Danish birth cohort of men born in 1953.