There are increasing numbers of elders in the UK population, and the problems of ageing are deservedly attracting more research interest [1]. Cognitive decline is the single most feared aspect of growing old [2]. Identifying the cerebral basis for age-related cognitive decline is amongst the greatest challenges to improving the health of older people [3]. Age-related cognitive decline reduces quality of life, is an increasing burden to sufferers and their families, and places a massive financial load on society [4]. The spectrum of decline ranges from normal cognitive ageing, through Mild Cognitive Impairment, to the dementias [5]. The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study addresses the milder end of the spectrum. This is an especially important problem because it involves such large numbers of people compared with the dementias.
