Our research focus
The vision for the Healthy Aging intervention group is to identify and to optimise sustainable interventional strategies for improved or maintained brain health throughout the lifespan. The mission is to conduct interdisciplinary population-based neuroscience research that provides unique insights into the neuro-cognitive mechanisms of brain and cognitive aging, with a particular emphasis on novel interventions for neuro-enhancement.
Particular focus is on life-style factors, for example physical activity, and by combining advanced brain mapping techniques with extensive behavioral testing we are starting to understand the neural and behavioral effects. In the future, we aim to also include physiologically tailored brain stimulation techniques, for example transcranial alternating current stimulation (TACS), as a potential interventional strategy for neuro-enhancement in aging. We also aim to move further towards understanding motor control in aging, with particular focus on the interplay between cognitive and motor performances. In all our projects, we strive for high academic standards, innovative methods and techniques, and an ambitious, fun and diverse work environment.
Key projects
LISA
The Live active healthy ageing (LISA) study is a 1-year physical training intervention comparing moderate with high intensity resistance training. The study includes 450 community-dwelling healthy individuals aged 62-70 years, and besides MRI scans of the brain also physical and cognitive assessments are performed. The study was initiated with Bispebjerg Hospital and Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen. The long-term follow-ups (2-10 years) will provide possibilities to track individual late-life aging trajectories.
7T Lifespan
In this project we take advantage of the ultra-high field-strength of 7T and examine how brain metabolites differs across the lifespan. We further aim to link neuro-metabolites to other aging sensitive biomarkers for example cognitive functions and biomarkers in blood.
Lifebrain
The LISA study is part of the Lifebrain, Healthy minds from 0-100 years: Optimising the use of European brain imaging cohorts, a European consortium coordinated by the University of Oslo, consisting of 14 partners https://www.drcmr.dk/lifebrain. Lifebrain was initiated in 2017 and aims (i) to establish a solid foundation of knowledge for understanding how brain, cognitive and mental health can be optimized through the lifespan and (ii) to identify determinants of brain, cognitive and mental health at different stages of life by creating a large database of detailed information about brain imaging relating to cognitive function, mental health, and genetics. Lifebrain incorporates more than 5000 individual participants and exceeds 27.000 examinations in total.
We have close collaboration with other groups at DRCMR, with local groups across Copenhagen, as well as international research centers. We are always looking for talented, enthusiastic and motivated group members, so if you have an interest in interventions and lifespan brain imaging, do not hesitate to contact us.
