People aged 50 and older who are living in Cork are being invited to take part in innovative brain health research, which could improve their quality of life.

The Mallow Primary Healthcare Centre (MPHC) is to become the first satellite site of the NEIL (Neuro Enhancement for Independent Lives) Memory Research Unit at Trinity College Dublin.

Reduced cognitive function prevents millions of people worldwide from living independently and the aim of the NEIL Programme is to improve quality of life by enabling independent living, as well as trying to prevent dementia.

The NEIL Memory Research Unit at TCD has already collected data on 860 participants, and Mallow will become the unit's first satellite site.

"We place great importance on building long-term relationships with our research participants, inviting them to take part in follow-up assessments on an ongoing basis. Our research volunteers are very important to us, because without them we cannot further our understanding of memory and ageing.

"We really look forward to this new collaboration which will allow us to engage with many more members of the general public," explained NEIL co-director, Prof Sabina Brennan.

Speaking at the launch of the satellite unit in Mallow, Prof Brennan explained how research has already shown that ‘modifiable' lifestyle factors, such as physical exercise and social engagement, can help to protect the brain.

Meanwhile, according to Dr Cormac Sheehan of the HSE, who will oversee the running of the Mallow unit, its aim is to ‘develop ways to help people to protect their memory and other aspects of brain function as they age'.

"We are delighted to be opening the first satellite study site for the NEIL Memory Research Unit in MPHC. The main study at TCD is already very successful with over 800 participants. This study will provide an accurate baseline of the cognitive functions of healthy adults over the age of 50," he noted.

If you are aged 50 or older and would like to take part in a comprehensive study on memory and attention at the MPHC, call 086 412 8797 or email mrumallow@gmail.com, leaving your name, address and phone number.

Each participant will be provided with a personalised feedback report, which will contain information on how to ‘stay sharp' as you get older.