Factors of biological ageing: does it all go together when it goes?

As older people form an increasingly large proportion of human populations globally, greater resources will be needed for their management and care. Cognitive ageing, the process by which some cognitive abilities decline in older age, is of particular concern because it can lead to reduced quality of life, problems with daily tasks, a loss of independence, and increased risk of dementia. Yet, much of our understanding of dynamic biological changes that accompany cognitive ageing is not based on tracking the same people over time, or describes one aspect of change at-a-time. Using multiple large datasets that track people's brain structure, blood markers and aspects of their genes, I will identify patterns of coordinated changes within each domain. I will test how they correspond to each other, and to cognitive ageing, and identify lifestyle and genetic features that may help identify those at greatest risk of these dimensions of ageing.