School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.
Int Psychogeriatr. 2013 Jul;25(7):1145-55. doi: 10.1017/S1041610213000380. Epub 2013 Mar 25.
Differences in the level of cognitive compromise between individuals following brain injury are thought to arise from underlying differences in cognitive reserve. The level of cognitive reserve attained by an individual is influenced by both genetic and life experience factors such as educational attainment and occupational history. The Tasmanian Healthy Brain Project (THBP) is a world-first prospective study examining the capacity of university-level education to enhance cognitive reserve in older adults and subsequently reduce age-related cognitive decline and risk for neurodegenerative disease.
Up to 1,000 adults aged 50-79 years at the time of entry into the study will be recruited to participate in the THBP. All participants will be healthy and free of significant medical, psychological, or psychiatric illness. Of the participant sample, 90% will undertake a minimum of 12 months part-time university-level study as an intervention. The remaining 10% will act as a control reference group. Participants will complete an annual comprehensive assessment of neuropsychological function, medical health, socialization, and personal well-being. Premorbid estimates of past cognitive, education, occupational, and physical function will be used to account for the mediating influence of prior life experience on outcomes. Potential contributing genetic factors will also be explored.
Participant results will be assessed annually. Participants displaying evidence of dementia on the comprehensive neuropsychological assessment will be referred to an independent psycho-geriatrician for screening and diagnosis.
The THBP commenced in 2011 and is expected to run for 10-20 years duration. To date, a total of 383 participants have been recruited into the THBP.
脑损伤后个体认知能力下降程度的差异，被认为源于认知储备的潜在差异。个体获得的认知储备水平受到遗传和生活经历因素的影响，如教育程度和职业经历。塔斯马尼亚健康大脑项目（THBP）是一项世界首创的前瞻性研究，旨在考察大学教育水平提升老年人认知储备的能力，从而减缓与年龄相关的认知衰退和神经退行性疾病的风险。
研究将招募多达 1000 名年龄在 50-79 岁的成年人参与 THBP。所有参与者都将健康，无重大医疗、心理或精神疾病。在参与者样本中，90%将作为干预措施至少进行 12 个月的兼职大学水平学习。其余 10%将作为对照组。参与者将每年进行一次全面的神经心理学功能、身体健康、社交和个人幸福感评估。将使用过去的认知、教育、职业和身体功能的预患病估计来解释先前生活经历对结果的中介影响。还将探索潜在的遗传因素。
将每年评估参与者的结果。在全面的神经心理学评估中表现出痴呆迹象的参与者将被转介给独立的心理老年病学家进行筛查和诊断。
THBP 于 2011 年开始，预计持续 10-20 年。迄今为止，共有 383 名参与者参加了 THBP。
