Playing brain health roulette at the Edinburgh Fringe

When it comes to your brain health, are you aware there are things you can do to increase your odds of keeping sharp? Professor Alan Gow from Heriot-Watt University’s Ageing Lab, who will be exploring this subject in Brain Health Roulette at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this month, tells us more.

As we age, we are more likely to experience general declines in our thinking and memory skills (these are referred to as our mental or cognitive abilities). Some people experience noticeable changes in their thinking and memory skills across their 60s and beyond, while others maintain these into old age. This variation suggests a number of factors influence our brain health.

Knowing what factors might be ‘brain healthy’ is the first step, but doing something with that information is what really matters. Research studies suggest that although people often have concerns about brain health, we might not always be sure what protects or harms our brain as we age. And even when we do, there’s often a mismatch between knowing and doing.

In Brain Health Roulette, I will explore the things we might want to do more or less of to maintain our brain health as we age. Importantly, there’s no secret ingredient. Rather, it’s about understanding the many, many things are important, and rather than one big change it’s about making smaller, but hopefully more manageable, changes.

The team and I in the Ageing Lab at Heriot-Watt explore the factors that might protect thinking skills, and in the show you’ll hear about some of their own and others research focussing on brain health. (Photo of me on stage sharing tips above.) 

While the show is based on the latest research, this isn’t a traditional lecture. The show is part of The Provocateurs programme, previously known as The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas and a staple of the Fringe for 12 years! A comedian comperes proceedings, ensuring the audience get a chance to have their say too. No slides but plenty to make you think.

If you can’t make the show but want to know more, Age Scotland’s recently updated Health and Wellbeing in Later Life guide has a section on brain health.

Brain Health Roulette is on at The Stand 2, 16 North St Andrews Street, Edinburgh, on Thursday, August 14 at 11.25am and Thursday, 21 August at 5.40pm. Tickets available here