Insights from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing: Environmental Factors and Biological Markers in Cognitive Health and Well-being

Dr. Paola Zaninotto
Professor, Medical and Social Statistics, University College London

Part of the Healthy Aging Research Seminar Series, hosted by UBC Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging and the Social Exposome Cluster.

This talk will provide an overview of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), a large cohort study of people aged 50 and older in England, and highlights findings from two key studies. The first study explores the impact of environmental factors on depression and cognitive health in older adults. Using data from 6,839 individuals interviewed between 2012 and 2018, it examines whether exposure to light at night is associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms and whether this association differs between urban and rural areas of England. Additionally, findings from a study investigating the associations between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 and various domains of cognitive function, including memory, executive function, and language, will be presented. The second study utilizes recently analysed proteomics data from 3,305 blood samples collected in 2008, offering a unique longitudinal perspective to examine the relationship between protein concentrations and dementia and wellbeing over more than a decade. Dementia risk was assessed in 3,249 dementia-free participants over a median follow-up of 9.8 years, with 229 participants developing dementia. Finally, associations between protein concentrations and measures of well-being will also be discussed.

This is a hybrid event, you may attend in person or virtually. Attendees must register and indicate their preference.