Cerebral blood flow measurements with arterial spin labelling in a tri-ethnic population cohort: associations of cardiovascular risk factors and MR imaging markers of brain ageing

Differences in cerebral blood flow (CBF) have been identified between older individuals in good cognitive health and those experiencing cognitive decline and dementia. Previous studies have shown that the aetiology of dementia includes a substantial vascular component and there is evidence that CBF decline in old age may be linked to cardiovascular disease. Although the incidence, prevalence and impact of vascular risk varies by ethnicity and gender, many previous studies have focused on participants of white European origin or have pooled ethnically diverse samples, while differences between sexes have been under-investigated. This thesis used arterial spin labelling (ASL) to measure cortical CBF in an elderly tri-ethnic population cohort and examined its relationship with vascular risk and the brain ageing markers of cortical volume and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Chapter 4 showed that use of the currently recommended mean haematocrit (Hct) value in equations that calculate CBF from ASL underestimated CBF in women and non-European ethnicities. The alternative method of substituting individually measured Hct into the equation was implemented in the following chapters. Results from Chapter 5 indicated that increased vascular risk factors were associated with lower CBF, but these relationships varied by ethnicity and sex. Ethnicity and sex also modified the strength of associations of increased vascular risk with decreased cortical tissue volume and increased volume of WMHs examined in Chapter 6. However, there was no evidence of any association of CBF with the MRI markers of brain ageing

Colleagues in collaboration:The story behind Newbolt's Committee

This chapter focuses on the work and publications of the members of Newbolt's Committee. Through an exploration of their roles (variously as teachers, members of His Majesty’ Inspectorate, university lecturers, authors, etc.) and their writing, the chapter demonstrates that there was a broad consensus across the field of English education (maintained public elementary schools; grammar and independent schools) about both the role of English in education and of what the subject should consist. Using intertextual analysis, it examines English Association pamphlets and other publications produced by Fowler, Dover Wilson, Quiller-Couch and George Sampson. The chapter particularly highlights the similarities between these texts and The Newbolt Report, suggesting that The Committee members drew on existing funds of knowledge in developing their humane, child-centred view of English teaching, reflecting acknowledged good practice of the time

Diet behaviour among young people in transition to adulthood (18–25 year olds) : a mixed method study

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