News
July 2018
‘Magical’ Silver Santé workshop attracts great interest at high-profile international science forum
Scientists, policy-makers and science journalists from all over the world took part in a workshop hosted by the Silver Santé Study at the prestigious EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) in Toulouse, France, on 12 July 2018.
More than 60 people attended the 75-minute session and participated in some of the brain training techniques, such as meditation and health education training, being trialled as part of the Study’s investigations into mental health and well-being in the ageing population.
The popular session, called ‘The Magic of Memory: Can brain training techniques help boost memory and improve mental health in later life?’, included a scientific presentation about the project as well as an entertaining magic show which demonstrated how memory can be affected by distraction.
Leading the ESOF session from the Silver Santé Study were Project Coordinator, Dr Gaël Chételat, and Dr Géraldine Poisnel, both of Inserm, who gave scientific presentations about the Silver Santé Study; Rhonda Smith, of Minerva Communications UK, who led a health education activity in which participants examined lifestyle factors which may affect mental health and well-being; Elizabeth Parsons, of UCL, who led a memory quiz in which people were challenged to remember a group of objects; and Marc Heidmann, of the Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre, who led a meditation session for all participants.
Dr Poisnel said: “We were delighted to be chosen to host a session here at ESOF and we hope the many people who took part in today’s event found it both informative and enjoyable.
“Our study is trialling various mental training techniques in order to test their effectiveness in improving mental health and well-being in later life. If we can find techniques that empower people to improve their own mental health, this may in turn reduce the cost/care burden on public health services of age-associated diseases and help overcome health inequalities.
“The Silver Santé Study is unique in several ways – it is the first to take into account the emotional dimension of ageing, it uses a complete and unique set of measurements to assess volunteers – including neuroimaging scans – and it also has the longest ever meditation and language-learning interventions.”
By carrying out clinical trials on volunteers aged 60+ presenting with varying health profiles, including patients at memory clinics, the research is measuring the effectiveness of a range of interventions. The five-year study, launched in 2016, involves research partners in France, the UK, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany.
ESOF 2018 (www.esof.eu ), which took place 9-14 July in Toulouse, is Europe’s largest interdisciplinary science meeting.
June 2018
Silver Santé to host session at Europe’s biggest interdisciplinary science event
The Silver Santé Study has been chosen to host an interactive workshop as part of the prestigious science programme at EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) in Toulouse on 12th July.
Delegates from all over the world will get the chance to try out some of the mental training activities being trialled as part of the Silver Santé Study’s investigations into mental health and well-being in the ageing population. The 75 minute session, which takes place at the Pavillon Exterieur room in the Conseil Départemental building, Boulevard de la Marquette, Toulouse, at 17:00, is called ‘The Magic of Memory: Can brain training techniques help boost memory and improve mental health in later life?’ and will include a presentation about the project as well as an engaging magic show.
Dr Géraldine Poisnel, of the Silver Santé Study’s coordinating team at Inserm, France, who will be speaking at the event, said: “We are delighted that our submission to host a session has been chosen. ESOF provides a fantastic opportunity to share our work and we are looking forward to welcoming a wide cross-section of delegates to our fun and interactive session where they will get the chance to try out some of the techniques we are trialling in our study and to enjoy a magic show.
“Our study is unique in several ways: it is the first to take into account the emotional dimension of ageing; it is using a complete and unique set of measurements – including neuroimaging scans – to assess our volunteers; and it also has the longest ever meditation intervention.”
ESOF 2018, which takes place from 9-14 July in Toulouse, France, is the largest interdisciplinary science meeting in Europe and attracts around 4,000 delegates. It is dedicated to scientific research and innovation and offers a unique framework for interaction and debate for scientists, innovators, policy makers, business people and the general public. For further information visit www.esof.eu
Major French TV documentary features Silver Santé research
The Silver Santé Study’s research into mediation and its impact on the brain in later life was featured in a major French documentary that was broadcast on France 5 in May.
Project Coordinator, Dr Gaël Chételat, was interviewed in the hour-long ‘Enquete de Santé’ programme called ‘Médiation: Une revolution dans le cerveau’ which explored the potential health benefits of meditation.
Dr Chételat explained how the Silver Santé study is investigating whether mental training techniques, such as meditation and language-learning, can help improve mental health and well-being in later life. She also took part in a studio discussion with other experts and answered questions about meditation from viewers. Dr Antoine Lutz, who leads the meditation work package of the Study, was also interviewed during the programme.
To watch the French language documentary click here.
Volunteers take part in a meditation session as part of one of the Silver Santé Study’s clinical trials.
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.
