The relationship between genetics and cognition in an older population

Healthy ageing is an important area of research due to the increasing number of elderly citizens in most Western societies. Unfortunately, age is associated with declining mental abilities, so research that identifies biological mechanisms that could help us preserve cognition with increasing age is vital. One marker of biological ageing is Reactive Oxygen Species which causes oxidative stress. This thesis found relationships between oxidative stress-related genetic factors and cognition in healthy older adults. These results are important because they directly lead to interventions which may reduce oxidative stress in the brain and improve cognitive health in the elderly.