Overview

Helen Brooker is a specialist in cognitive test development and aging. Helen has spent more than 15 years under the mentorship of Professor Keith Wesnes. Having worked in the private sector for most of her career (CDR ltd, UBC, Wesnes Cognition) she has also built up a network of academic research partners and collaborations. Through her career she has worked to progress the role and reputation of computerised cognitive assessment in clinical trials and more general research, working with the most widely used and sensitive cognitive tests. Helen has spent a great deal of her career thus far looking at digital solutions that will empower early detection of cognitive decline and allow for early affordable intervention to change the way we all manage our brain health.

In 2015 Helen joined Clive Ballard and Anne Corbett on the PROTECT project and developed an online set of tests to be used in the platform to sensitively assess cognition.

She has expertise in neuropsychological assessment, clinical trial delivery, digital and translational research and online software solutions.

Helen’s research at the University of Exeter focuses on two broad areas. The first is cognitive ageing and brain health (the PROTECT study). The second is affordable interventions, focusing on brain training, lifestyle and nutrition to improve the quality of aging. Helen has published widely, including over 50 peer reviewed publications and several book chapters.

Qualifications

BSc (hons) University of Wales Psychology and Sociology

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Research

Research interests

Helen’s research at the University of Exeter focuses on two broad areas. Firstly, Helen plays a key role on the development, data management and analysis of the large-scale online Platform for Research Online to Investigate Genetics and Cognition in Ageing (PROTECT) study (www.protectstudy.org.uk). PROTECT is a longitudinal cohort of over 20,000 people over 50 that seeks to explore the various genetic, lifestyle, environmental and medical factors involved in cognitive health and dementia risk in older adults. PROTECT is also an online clinical trials platform which has already delivered a large trials.

Helen’s research at the University of Exeter focuses on two broad areas. The first is cognitive ageing and brain health (the PROTECT study). The second is affordable interventions, focusing on brain training, lifestyle, and nutrition to improve the quality of aging. Helen has published widely, including over 50 peer reviewed publications and several book chapters.

Research projects

• The PROTECT study
• ILISI Nutrition and Brain Health
• Ncog – Nutrition and Cognition
• PD MIND  

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