When I first started exploring ageing, I should have guessed it would lead straight to the brain. But I wasn’t prepared for how much the conversation is framed around dementia, as if that’s the only brain story in later life. It also often skips over the decades in between — the long, middle-aged stretch between our younger and much older selves.
And of course there’s a connection. We are all getting older (if we are lucky). It’s a process. And for some, that process includes living for many years with conditions like Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, or ongoing mental health challenges.
Yet when we talk about “ageing well,” we so often focus on our heart health, squats and Mediterranean diets. We marvel at the Blue Zones, noting their walking habits and herbal teas. We tend to skip over the habits that nourish our brains like reading books or meeting up with friends.
We often forget that what’s good for the body is also good for the brain – exercise, food, sleep, and social connection all help. But we could give more attention to brain health itself and to what’s emerging that might help us keep our brains functioning better for longer – whatever our starting point.
Because as we age, we are more likely to face disease and disability. Many neurological diseases from Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s, stroke to motor neurone disease become more common and more complex with age and many people will be navigating these conditions well before they reach old age.
That’s why I’m so curious about BrainTech! It can truly transform the potential of our silver futures – reshaping how we understand, protect, and care for our brains across our lifespans.
So on 30th October, 2025 we are inviting researchers, clinicians, startups, investors and thinkers to come and gather in Melbourne for BrainTech 2025. As a world leader in biomedical research, Melbourne is the perfect location.
I am so grateful to the speakers and supporters who are helping to make BrainTech 2025 happen. I know they share my passion to make sure Australia leads the way in building a future where better brain health is within reach for everyone.