PhD defence Lion Michaëlla Soons

Keywords: Risk reduction, Aging, Modifiable, Dementia

"Emerging modifiable factors for maintaining optimal cognitive function in aging: an epidemiological approach"

Due to the aging population, the number of people living with dementia will substantially increase worldwide in the coming decades. There is a broad consensus that dementia risk is partly modifiable. Rapid scientific developments in the field of dementia risk reduction highlight the potential to identify new modifiable factors. This thesis aimed to contribute to the evidence base of emerging modifiable dementia factors, including hearing loss, visual loss, sleep disturbances, and low social contact, and their role in maintaining optimal cognitive function in aging. The findings from this thesis support hearing loss, poor sleep quality and social factors as independent risk factors influencing cognitive performance in aging. Lower socioeconomic status (low income, low educational level) is also an important factor contributing to cognitive performance. However, the role of visual loss in cognitive aging requires further investigation. 

Click here for the full dissertation

Click here for the live stream.