Healthy Ageing Research & Practice Group

MusiCare

The Dunhill Medical Trust funded the MusiCare project.

The project team included Dr Emma Ward, Dr Fabia Franco, Dr Anthony Mangiacotti, Prof Martin Van Puyvelde from the University of Brussels, Prof Gianfranco Gabai from the University of Padova, Dr Michele Biasutti from the University of Padova, Dr Mind Hung Hsu from Anglia Ruskin University, and Dr Giovanni Di Liberto from Di Liberato Lab.

The project assessed how different forms of music therapy affect cognitive function and wellbeing. Participants included healthy older adults living in the community and older adults with mild to moderate cognitive impairment living in care homes.

Dr Laura Wilson, Dr Luke Oates, and Dr Emma Ward are investigating the effectiveness of an STHA strategy in older people.

The research will provide evidence about the strategy’s effectiveness. It will also inform policies that protect older or vulnerable people from the harmful effects of extreme heat during heatwaves.

This project is a collaboration between the Jozef Stefan Institute in Slovenia and the Research Group on Development of Intelligent Environments.

It assesses complementary tools, methods, and datasets that can support emerging projects and initiatives. The Royal Society funded the project through the International Exchanges Scheme from 2023 to 2025.

The Independent Social Research Foundation funded this project. Dr Anastasia Christou works with Professor Domna Michail from the University of Western Macedonia and Dr Raymondos Alvanos from the Hellenic Open University in Greece.

The subject is historical, but the ethnography is contemporary. Researchers collect oral histories from first and later generations, including people aged over 90.

The research examines war, trauma, memory, and public history. It has particular links to gendered and generational experiences.

Dr Anne Elliott and Dr Laura Wilson examine several chronic conditions. Their research considers the rehabilitative effects and outcomes of rebounding.

The British Academy funded this project. The research team includes Prof George Dafoulas, Dr Akiko Ueno, and Prof Charles Dennis.

The project draws attention to digital exclusion in the UK, which increases almost exponentially with age.

Dr Emma Ward works with Dr Alexander Jones and Dr Jon Silas through the Jones, Silas, & Ward lab.

The Experimental Psychology Society, the Leverhulme Trust, and the Bial Foundation have funded this research.

The team examines changes in explicit and implicit memory across the lifespan. It studies the effects of cognitive processing, attention, and temporal expectation. It also investigates the underlying neural mechanisms.

Dance for Joy offers an authentic disco experience for older people in the community. It promotes health and wellbeing while reducing isolation.

The initiative takes inspiration from Japan and South Korea. In these countries, people continue to take part in dance and movement activities as they age. Evidence shows that this can benefit psychological and physical health.

Guests can dance to their favourite songs in a relaxed environment.

Contact: Dr Lucy Irving.

The Middlesex Psychology department has hosted annual speaker series for local U3A members in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Prof Antonia Bifulco, Dr Emma Ward, Dr Fabia Franco, and Dr Anthony Mangiacotti organised the events.

Academic talks covered:

• memory and cognition
• psychological wellbeing
• relationships across the lifespan
• physical activity and ageing
• artificial intelligence
• dyslexia
• dance and ageing.

Dr Emma Ward, Dr Chris Berry from the University of Plymouth, and Prof David Shanks from UCL secured a competitive six-week residency. It took place in the Live Science Gallery at the Science Museum in South Kensington.

Find out more: How much of what we see do we remember?