Development of a digital behavioural intervention to reduce dementia risk in ageing adults

行为和痴呆症之间的相互作用一直是我的核心研究兴趣，因为在杜塞尔多夫的HHU大学临床神经科学系实习，并研究运动对帕金森病痴呆症的影响。这启发了我从事UCL心理学硕士学位，并发展了我的研究兴趣，技能和专业经验，我希望在痴呆症预防方面追求数字健康策略。 这个iCASE哲学博士与我的研究兴趣密切相关，我对它解决痴呆症预防创新国际战略（例如世界卫生组织全球行动计划）的前景感兴趣。结果将是以证据为基础，以人为本，具有成本效益和可扩展性，从而促进更健康的生活，我发现这是非常激励人心的。重要的是，预防和减轻不良副作用在紧急药物治疗的整体策略中仍然至关重要。 我把我的研究重点放在从分子到心理领域的痴呆症上，我在这些领域的熟练程度通过神经退行性疾病的神经生物学，认知神经科学，人类记忆和精神病学模块的一流课程分级证明：当前痴呆症研究。我努力培养强大的分析能力，这一点在高级多元统计学中得到了第一名的证明，并且正在通过高级建模和深度学习模块进一步发展这一点。 在过去的两年里，我在斯皮尔斯教授的空间认知实验室担任研究助理，由两项研究奖学金资助，这使我在多个方面为博士学位做好了准备。我现在独立思考和工作，我目前对海马处理的研究已经超过了“硕士学位水平”。在之前的一项研究中，我开发了一个用户界面来提高记忆性能（与谷歌地图合作），我开发了与这个项目相关的技能，即将理论研究成果应用于现实世界的干预和学术创业。 在专业经验方面，例如作为UCL Boat Club主席和前福利官，我在以健康为重点的任务交付和管理方面经验丰富，这将有助于我与团队和Five Lives有效合作。在微软的工作让我意识到数字健康的未来;同时，在主持#MadeAtUCL播客时，我培养了科学沟通技能，这对教育远程数字干预的参与者至关重要。 反思我的学习和专业经验，我喜欢将研究转化为基于证据的服务。最大的挑战将是创造性地实现有意义的长期参与者参与。对丰富数据集的查询和与学科专家的合作将创造机会，使干预措施适应个体差异，如文化背景、地理和财政手段。由于这个项目可能产生的影响，作为开发干预措施的团队的一员，并在随后证明我们在正确的时间支持处于风险中的个人，这将是令人满意的。 痴呆症是我们最大的公共卫生问题，现在是释放数字干预力量的时候了。我希望运用我的学术和专业知识，同时与团队巧妙合作，提供可行且有效的解决方案。为减少痴呆症做出贡献是一个令人兴奋的挑战，我的目标是发展技能，以推进数字健康事业。

The interaction between behaviour and dementia has been my core research interest since interning at Dusseldorf's HHU University Clinical Neuroscience department and studying the effects of exercise in Parkinson's disease dementia. This inspired me to undertake the UCL Psychology MSci and having developed my research interest, skill and professional experiences, I wish to pursue digital health strategies in dementia prevention. This iCASE DPhil closely aligns with my research interests and I am interested by its prospects of addressing international strategy for innovation in dementia prevention (e.g. WHO Global Action Plan). Outcomes will be evidence-based, person-centred, cost-effective and scalable, thereby facilitating healthier lives and I find this deeply motivating. Importantly, prevention and mitigation of adverse side-effects remain crucial in a holistic strategy alongside emergent pharmacological therapies. I have focused my studies on dementia from molecular to psychological domains and my proficiency in these areas is evidenced by First-class course grading in Neurobiology of Neurodegenerative Disease, Cognitive Neuroscience, Human Memory and provisionally in the psychiatry module: Current Research in Dementia. I work hard to develop strong analytical skills, demonstrated by a First in Advanced Multivariate Statistics, and am furthering this with advanced modelling and deep learning modules. My work as a research assistant in Professor Spiers' Spatial Cognition Lab over the last two years, funded by two research scholarships, has prepared me for a DPhil in multiple ways. I now think and work independently and my current study on hippocampal processing has been described as beyond 'Master's Degree level'. In a previous study developing a user interface to improve memory performance (in collaboration with Google Maps), I developed skills relevant to this project, namely applying theoretical findings to real-world interventions and academic entrepreneurship. In terms of professional experience, for example as UCL Boat Club President and previously Welfare Officer, I am experienced in health-focused task delivery and management, which will help me collaborate efficiently with the team and Five Lives. Work at Microsoft allowed me to realise digital health's future; meanwhile, in hosting the #MadeAtUCL podcast, I develop science communication skills, essential to educating participants of remote digital interventions. Reflecting on my studies and professional experiences, I enjoy translating research into evidence-based services. The greatest challenge will be creatively achieving meaningful long-term participant engagement. Interrogation of rich datasets and collaboration with subject experts will create opportunities to tailor intervention to individual differences, such as cultural context, geography and financial means. Due to the impact this project could have, it would be fulfilling to be part of a team developing the intervention and later demonstrating that we supported at-risk individuals at the right time. Dementia is our greatest public health problem and now is the time to unlock the power of digital interventions. I hope to apply my academic and professional learning, whilst working skilfully with the team to deliver a feasible and impactful solution. Contributing to reducing dementia is an exciting challenge in which I aim to develop skills to carry forward into a career in digital health.