News
October 2018
Project partners get a taste of meditation intervention techniques
Silver Santé partners were given a fascinating insight into the meditation intervention experienced by volunteers in the Study’s clinical trials when they took part in a guided meditation session at the project’s annual meeting.
Led by instructor Martine Batchelor, who has been working with the meditation groups in the Age Well clinical trial, the 3-hour session at the meeting in Liege, Belgium, gave partners the opportunity to experience the different types of meditation being practiced in the study.
During the 3-day meeting, the ten partners – from Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium and the UK – also shared progress on the study’s nine work packages and took part in workshops to discuss aspects of work in close detail.
Project Coordinator Dr Gaël Chételat, of Inserm, France, says: “It was good to see so many of our project colleagues in Liege and to hear about the great progress being made in the different areas of the study.
“All the work packages are going well and one of our clinical trials has now finished so we’re on track to see the first results during 2019.
“It was also a privilege to experience some of the meditation techniques being practiced by some of our Age Well trial volunteers and we’re very grateful to Martine for leading the session.”
The Silver Santé Study is the first multi-disciplinary research project to examine the impact of mental training techniques – such as meditation and learning a language – on the brain with a view to improving the mental health and well-being of people in later life. It is also exploring the effects of certain lifestyle factors, including sleep quality, emotions, diet and physical activity, on our mental health as we age.
Above: The Silver Santé Study consortium partners at their annual meeting in Liège, Belgium.
The project’s partners taking part in a meditation session hosted by instructor, Martine Batchelor.
SCD Well results due in 2019
One of the Study’s two clinical trials – SCD Well – has now been successfully completed and the results are expected to be released next year.
The trial, led by Dr Natalie Marchant of University College London (UCL), is investigating the impact of mental training techniques on the health and well-being of patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) recruited from memory clinics in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.
Researchers will now analyse the results in order to assess the effects of short-term interventions, such as taking part in a health education or mindfulness programme, on 147 patients. Behavioural measures have been monitored to see how much of a difference can be made to participants’ well-being due to the intervention.
Dr Natalie Marchant (2nd from left) with her SCD Well colleagues at UCL.
July 2018
‘Magical’ Silver Santé workshop attracts great interest at high-profile international science forum
June 2018
Silver Santé to host session at Europe’s biggest interdisciplinary science event
Major French TV documentary features Silver Santé research
March 2018
Silver Santé Study features on French national TV programme
New video showcases Silver Santé Study work and team
Clinical trials on course for success
December 2017
Partners gather for annual consortium meeting in Barcelona
October 2017
Pilot study shows meditation may help cut Alzheimer’s risk
Play a vital role in improving mental health, urge Silver Santé team
Memory clinic patients recruited for next phase of four-centre clinical trial
June 2017
Volunteers help attract new recruits for Caen clinical trial
Trial investigating benefits of mental training techniques on memory clinic patients well underway
March 2017
Silver Sante Study nominated for SilverEco 2017 Award
Trial groups announced to Caen volunteers
December 2016
Hundreds volunteer to take part in Age-Well Study
Silver Santé Study partners gather for General Assembly in Bonn
Memory clinic patient trials due to begin in March 2017
September 2016
Silver Santé researchers meet with Dalai Lama
Volunteers in Caen, France, invited to local meetings
Preparations for further trials on course
June 2016
Huge turnout for 1st Public Conference
May 2016
You can also view official press releases and our e-newsletters.
And read ‘Points of View’ from our expert researchers.
