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Profile

Alan Gow

Professor

Campus
Edinburgh
Department
Psychology
Research profile
Alan J. Gow

Biography

Alan’s research identifies the lifestyle factors that protect or harm the ageing brain. He focuses on modifiable factors including activity engagement and social connections, as these provide targets for intervention.

He leads The Ageing Lab and directs activities via wattAGE, the research network focused on healthy ageing within the University’s Global Research Institute in Health and Care Technologies. Ensuring research has impact is a priority, and Alan has contributed to SAPEA’s 'Transforming the Future of Ageing' report and the Global Council on Brain Health. Alongside his research, Alan leads various outreach activities sharing what we think benefits brain health, ranging from talks with older people’s groups, performances at festivals and science events, and media contributions. Those activities were recognised by the British Psychological Society Public Engagement and Media Award in 2016, and as one of two runners-up in the 2019 Nature Research Awards for Driving Global Impact.

Areas of interest

  • Cognitive ageing
  • Brain health
  • Healthy ageing
  • Ageing
  • Older people
  • Longitudinal studies
  • Interventions
  • Life course
  • Protective and risk factors
  • Lifestyles and behaviours