KEEP IN TOUCH WWW.LANCASTER.AC.UK/ALUMNI | 11 Says Professor Holland: “We are living in times when we can feel a bit more hopeful about dementia. Intervening with cognitive frailty is hopeful - but we need to understand the mechanisms.” What they have already identified is that the link between being physically frail and the mild cognitive impairment is mediated by factors such as depression and cognitive reserve (the protection provided not just by education, but also by occupations and hobbies that make people use their brains in a complex manner) as well as how active people are physically. As these are modifiable, researchers in the field are optimistic that they may be able to find ways of reducing eventual dementia, including its most common form, Alzheimer’s, but also improve outcomes for those with cognitive frailty, maybe even reversing some of the decline. So far, Lancaster’s main work on Cognitive Frailty has consisted of a large-scale literature review, but the centre is also bidding for funding to look at these links between physical frailty and cognitive impairment. They wish to explore a range of interventions, especially in terms of acceptability from the perspectives of older people themselves. Clues on improving the prospects for ageing well are gathering pace. Other work linked to the Centre for Ageing Research is that by Lancaster’s Dr Helen Nuttall, examining how ageing and age-related hearing loss affect the brain and how we communicate, and what can be done to improve communication for older adults. There is also work with charities in Lancaster and Liverpool on the way music and dance can help people living with dementia and their carers. Other projects are looking at the use of virtual reality for people who can no longer go out. International collaborations between the Centre for Ageing Research and Spanish scientists during Covid revealed that frailty among older people increased during the pandemic, but that it was worse in Spain where their government banned outside exercise. Many more questions are being addressed at Lancaster, which will be relevant to every single one of us. Says Professor Holland: “After all, we all get old and we’re realising that there are things that we should all be doing earlier in life that will increase our chance of ageing well.” For further details visit www.ukanet.org.uk/cfin www.lancaster.ac.uk/health- and-medicine/research/c4ar Singing intervention (Lyrics and Lunch)
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