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Thesis3.66 MB
Dissertation
Sustained Attention and Memory in Ageing - Identifying Neurophysiological Markers and Their Modifiability via Lifestyle Intervention
University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00976
Abstract
With global populations ageing rapidly, understanding cognitive decline mechanisms have become a critical public health priority. Preserving cognitive function is essential for successful aging and reducing the societal burden of dementia. Recent neurophysiological advances have highlighted resting-state EEG (rsEEG) as a valuable tool for capturing intrinsic neural signatures of cognitive ageing. Specifically, alpha oscillations and aperiodic activity have emerged as promising biomarkers that may sensitively index age-related neural changes and individual cognitive differences in healthy older adults. Sustained attention and memory (short-term, working, and episodic) are fundamental cognitive domains essential for maintaining independence and quality of life in ageing populations. Understanding their neurophysiological underpinnings is crucial for identifying early decline markers and developing targeted interventions. rsEEG offers superior temporal resolution, capturing rapid neural dynamics underlying these critical cognitive functions. Despite advances, literature linking resting-state alpha and aperiodic activity to sustained attention and memory performance in healthy older adults remains inconsistent. Research on aperiodic activity and cognition is even more nascent, with few studies directly investigating its relationship to sustained attention or memory in healthy older adult cohorts. As such, the potential for rsEEG to reveal subtle, domain-specific brain–behaviour relationships in normative ageing has yet to be fully realised. In parallel, growing evidence suggests that modifiable lifestyle factors, including physical activity, diet, sleep, and mindfulness, can confer neuroprotective benefits. However, the effects of multidomain lifestyle interventions on cognition are mixed, underscoring the need for more sensitive biomarkers to detect subtle neural changes that may result from multidomain lifestyle interventions. rsEEG markers offer a promising avenue for detecting plasticity-related neural alterations, even in the absence of observable cognitive improvements.
The aims of this thesis were twofold: first, to investigate the neurophysiological correlates of sustained attention and memory in the context of healthy ageing using rsEEG, specifically focusing on alpha and aperiodic activity; and second, to determine whether these candidate neurophysiological markers of cognitive ageing are modifiable following a multidomain lifestyle intervention targeting dementia risk factors. This thesis leverages data from the Lifestyle Intervention Study for Dementia Risk Reduction (LEISURE) study, a 12-week randomised controlled trial investigating a multidomain lifestyle intervention integrating exercise, diet, sleep, and mindfulness in a sample of 99 healthy older adults (aged 50–85 years).
Details
- Title
- Sustained Attention and Memory in Ageing - Identifying Neurophysiological Markers and Their Modifiability via Lifestyle Intervention
- Authors
- Alicia J. Campbell - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, External
- Contributors
- Sophie Andrews (Principal Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Healthy Ageing Research ClusterDaniel Hermens (Co-Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteJacob M Levenstein (Co-Supervisor) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson Institute
- Awarding institution
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- DOI
- 10.25907/00976
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991183145702621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
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