Projects
Assessment of Cognitive Performance in Elderly Life via Meaningful Play KU Leuven
Cognitive decline is the deterioration of one or more cognitive functions such as attention, memory, or processing speed. Inherent to aging, most people will encounter some form of cognitive decline during their lifetime while retaining the ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living. However, beyond this age-related cognitive decline due to aging, some people will experience pathological cognitive decline: an abnormal rate of ...
The impact of a vestibular dysfunction on the cognitive performance in adults Ghent University
This research project aims to develop a test protocol, including a dual-task paradigm, to investigate the impact of a vestibular dysfunction on the cognitive performance. This protocol will be validated in a group of patients with complete bilateral vestibular failure and, consequently, will be applied to
a group of patients with a variety of vestibular disorders.
Cognitive brain circuits and the spread of tau in vivo in humans KU Leuven
Alzheimer disease (AD) is pathologically defined by selective neuronal loss and decrease in synaptic density, the accumulation of fibrillar β amyloid plaques and intra- and extraneuronal deposition of phosphorylated tau as neurofibrillary tangles, neuropil threads and dystrophic neurites [6]. Dementia has been recognized as a global health care problem associated with significant economic and social burden. It is therefore important to get a ...
An intergenerational, cognitively enriched physical activity program for grandparents with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their grandchildren. Ghent University
In 2018, about 50 million people were affected with dementia and this number is forecasted to triple by 2050. An important way to “curb this tidal wave of dementia” is to prevent cognitive decline in high-risk groups such as older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Recent work has shown that the combination of PA and cognitive activity may have beneficial effects on older adults’ cognitive health, but studying new and effective ways ...
The impact of a vestibular dysfunction on cognitive and motor performance in adults in single and dual-task condition Ghent University
Aside from typical symptoms such as postural imbalance, vertigo, dizziness, nausea, and problems with gaze stabilization, patients with vestibular disorders (VD) often suffer from cognitive impairment (memory loss, loss of concentration, inability to multitask, fatigue, and headaches). On the one hand, these cognitive symptoms may be directly related to altered (e.g. hippocampal) vestibular projections throughout the brain, which are also ...
Cognitively enriched walking interventions for older adults to boost cognitive plasticity Ghent University
Dementia currently affects more than 47 million people worldwide, is forecasted to triple by 2050 and is one of the most costly disorders in Belgium. There is good scientific evidence that the cognitive impairments associated with the development of dementia can be lessened or even reverse because of the plasticity of the brain (rewiring). Recent research has shown that engaging in regular physical activity combined with performing ...
Cognitive effort in context KU Leuven
Assessment & Training of Cognitive Performance in Elderly Life via Meaninful Play KU Leuven
Enhancing fraction understanding: the role of cognitive and noncognitive factors and the potential of educational games KU Leuven
Given the crucial role of fraction understanding for later mathematical proficiency, it is worrying that both cognitive and noncognitive difficulties may be a stumbling block to develop fraction understanding. In terms of cognitive factors, some individuals experience difficulties with both conceptual and procedural fraction knowledge. These cognitive difficulties are often attributed to the ‘natural number bias’, which refers to individuals’ ...