Lisa Bransby

The aim of this project was to determine the relationship between modifiable dementia risk factors across multiple domains of life with memory and thinking function and biological markers of Alzheimer’s disease in middle-aged adults. Modifiable dementia risk factors are lifestyle and health characteristics or behaviours that can be modified to potentially reduce risk for dementia. We classified these risk factors under five domains: mood symptoms, lifestyle behaviours, heart health, mental/social engagement, and sleep. Most volunteers (67%) reported at least one risk factor in two or more of these domains. 

We also observed that volunteers who reported risk in three or more domains performed worse on memory and thinking tasks and also had greater concerns about their own memory and thinking than volunteers reporting no risk factors. In a sub-group of volunteers, individuals reporting risk in two or more domains had increased levels of the tau protein in their cerebrospinal fluid (fluid bathing the brain and spine) but had equivalent levels of the beta-amyloid protein compared to those with risk factors in one or no domains. The beta-amyloid and tau proteins are both hallmark proteins of Alzheimer’s disease. 

These results suggests that modifiable dementia risk factors across multiple domains of life are highly frequent in middle-aged adults and are associated with worse memory and thinking and increased levels of tau. These findings may indicate that a greater burden or variety of modifiable dementia risk factors is associated with worse neurological outcomes such as Alzheimer’s disease-related biological processes that are apparent in midlife.

Bransby L, Buckley RF, Rosenich E, et al. The relationship between cognitive engagement and better memory in midlife. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2022;14(1):e12278. Published 2022 Feb 9. doi:10.1002/dad2.12278

Bransby, L., Rosenich, E., Buckley, R. F., Yassi, N., Pase, M. P., Maruff, P., & Lim, Y. Y. (2023). Multidomain modifiable dementia risk factors are associated with poorer cognition in midlife. Neuropsychology, 37(5), 582–594. doi:10.1037/neu0000900

Bransby, L., Rosenich, E., Maruff, P., & Lim, Y.Y. (Accepted). How modifiable are modifiable dementia risk factors? A framework for considering the modifiability of dementia risk factors. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease. doi:10.14283/jpad.2023.119

Bransby, L., Yassi, N., Rosenich, E., Buckley, R.F., Li, Q.X., Maruff, P., Pase, M.P., & Lim, Y.Y., (Under review). Multidomain modifiable dementia risk factors are associated with higher CSF tau and poorer cognition in midlife. Neurobiology of Aging. doi:10.1037/neu0000900

At the time of award, Ms Bransby was studying at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne.