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The Art of Resilience for Successful Ageing

Understanding how the brain, body, behaviour, and environment interact to help people stay cognitively healthy across the lifespan.

Grandparents hugging their grandchildren

About

How do some people remain mentally sharp, socially engaged, and resilient as they grow older, while others experience cognitive decline?

Researchers from Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), the University of Sussex, and Birkbeck, University of London are exploring this question through a new interdisciplinary approach to resilience and brain health across the lifespan.

The Art of Resilience for Successful Ageing project brings together insights from neuroscience, psychology, public health, and behavioural science to understand how everyday factors such as sleep, social connection, movement, sensory health, and emotional wellbeing shape cognitive ageing.

At this exhibit, visitors will explore interactive activities that demonstrate how the brain adapts throughout life and how small lifestyle choices can help build cognitive reserve and resilience.

The project also introduces the ARISE Index (Resilience and Reserve for Ageing Index), a new research tool designed to help understand how different aspects of life contribute to healthy ageing and brain resilience.

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Why resilience matters for ageing

Two elderly people meditating

People are living longer than ever before. However, longer lives also increase the risk of age-related conditions such as dementia, depression, and cognitive impairment.

Research shows that ageing is not simply a process of decline. Instead, the brain remains capable of adaptation, plasticity and resilience throughout life.

Factors known to support healthy brain ageing include:

social engagement
cognitive stimulation
physical activity
sleep and stress regulation
sensory health such as hearing and vision
meaningful activities and purpose

Understanding how these factors interact may help people maintain independence and wellbeing for longer.

The science behind the exhibit

A scan of a brain in multiple colours

Our research integrates data from large population studies, neuroscience research, and behavioural experiments to understand how resilience develops across the lifespan.

The work builds on evidence from major ageing cohorts such as UK Biobank, ELSA, and other international studies examining the biological, psychological, and social pathways that shape cognitive ageing.

These studies show that resilience is influenced by complex interactions between:

brain structure and function
lifestyle and health behaviours
social relationships• environmental context
psychological coping and emotional regulation

Understanding these interactions can inform strategies to support successful ageing and dementia prevention.

Key references

Cadar, D; (2017) A Life Course Approach to Dementia Prevention. Journal of Aging and Geriatric Medicine, 1 (2)
Livingston et al., 2020, The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care
Stern et al., 2020, Cognitive reserve in ageing and Alzheimer’s disease
Nyberg et al., 2012, Brain maintenance and cognitive ageing

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Interactive experiences at the exhibit

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a series of short interactive activities designed to demonstrate how resilience works in everyday life.

ARISE Index Check In

A short interactive tool that shows how lifestyle, social engagement, and wellbeing contribute to resilience and brain health.

The Resilient Brain

A visual exploration of how different parts of the brain support memory, attention, and emotional regulation.

Reaction and Attention Challenge

A simple task showing how movement, attention, and distraction influence cognitive performance.

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The ARISE Index

The ARISE Index (Resilience and Reserve for Ageing Index) is a new research framework that integrates multiple dimensions of resilience.

It explores how:

lifestyle behaviours
social networks
psychological wellbeing
sensory health
cognitive activity

combine to influence long-term brain health.

Rather than focusing only on disease, the ARISE Index emphasises strengths and adaptive capacity across the lifespan.

A graphic showing the ARISE tool for research into ageing

Meet the research team

This exhibit is developed by researchers from:

Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS):
Centre for Dementia Studies and CEDAR Lab

University of Sussex

Birkbeck, University of London

The team includes scientists working across neuroscience, behavioural science, public health, and ageing research.

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Why this research matters

Two older people running together outside

Dementia currently affects more than 55 million people worldwide, and numbers are expected to increase with population ageing.

However, research suggests that up to 40 percent of dementia cases may be linked to modifiable risk factors.

Understanding how people build resilience across the lifespan could help:

reduce dementia risk
improve wellbeing in later life
support independent ageing•
inform public health policy

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Discover your own resilience

Visit our exhibit to explore how brain health develops across life and learn how everyday actions can help support successful ageing.