CADR Conference 2024 Dr Claire Hanley Stimulating the Ageing Brain

Dr Claire Hanley, Stimulating the Ageing Brain

Brains are brilliant - it would be hard to argue otherwise. As we get older, our brains attempt to compensate for anatomical changes to maintain resources and keep us functioning adequately (referred to as plasticity). It’s all pretty impressive but what happens once resources run low and demand starts to exceed supply? Recent evidence indicates that we can give our neurons a much needed jump-start with non-invasive brain stimulation methods, which I use as part of research to understand the ageing process. This session will focus on one of the most promising techniques, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): what it is, how it works, and why it is particularly valuable in the context of boosting brain plasticity.