# Cohort profile: the Resilient Minds national study of mental health and cognitive resilience in community dwelling adults aged 18 to 93

## TL;DR

The Resilient Minds study tracks mental health and cognitive resilience in adults aged 18–93 using remote data collection and explores factors like genetics, lifestyle, and environmental influences.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel, fully remote longitudinal cohort with diverse age and background representation to investigate resilience and cognitive decline.

## Key findings

- The cohort includes 1,640 participants with diverse demographics and health profiles.
- Initial findings show significant prevalence of hypertension, high cholesterol, and cognitive decline markers in older adults.
- The brain-health substudy collects neuroimaging and biomarker data to assess cognitive resilience.

## Abstract

The Resilient Minds (ReMind) cohort was established to investigate cognitive and mental health resilience across the life course, addressing a gap in longitudinal evidence about resilience. The study collected data on traditional medical and lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease, genetics, and a range of mental health and cognitive outcomes. It also aimed to explore contemporary contextual influences on resilience, including internet use, social engagement, environmental exposures, and life course adversities such as perceived discrimination.

The cohort included 1,640 adults aged 18–93 years, recruited through social media and community groups, to participate in a fully remote, two-year health study. Participants completed online surveys, cognitive and sensory testing, and intensive “sprints” occurring approximately every three months, during which daily surveys and digital health data were collected. A brain-health substudy (BHS) is being conducted for participants aged 50 years and older (current n = 184/400 planned), involving to evaluate neuroimaging, blood and ocular biomarkers to assess resilience and cognitive decline.

Thirty percent of participants were born overseas, and the average years of education were 14.7, 15.0 and 14.1 for young, middle aged and older adults, respectively. Among adults aged 65 years and older, 41.9% reported hypertension, 39.1% high cholesterol, 7.1% diabetes, and 22.4% obesity. In the BHS, 18% met criteria for Subjective Cognitive Decline, and 15% met criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment.

The initial study duration is 2 years, with plans to seek funding for extended follow-up to identify long-term predictors of cognitive and mental health resilience and the development of cognitive impairment in ageing.