Machine Learning-Driven Insights into Cognitive Aging and Behavioral Changes

  • 635

    Total views and downloads

About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

  1. Manuscript Submission Deadline 31 March 2025

  2. This Research Topic is still accepting articles.

Background

Aging is a complex process that affects our physiological and cognitive functions. As the global population ages, it has become increasingly important to understand the mechanism of underlying cognitive decline and behavioral changes. Recent advancements in machine learning have opened new avenues for studying aging. Machine learning algorithms can analyze large datasets to identify patterns and predict outcomes related to cognitive decline and aging. These technological advancements offer the potential to develop personalized interventions to promote healthy cognitive longevity. By leveraging recent machine learning approaches, researchers can gain deeper insights into the factors influencing cognitive aging and design targeted interventions to support cognitive health in older adults.

Age-related changes can significantly impact the quality of life and independence. A significant challenge lies in comprehensively understanding and effectively addressing the multifaceted changes associated with cognitive function and behavior change as individuals age. Researchers are leveraging advancements in machine learning to develop predictive models to tackle age-related cognition and behavior changes. These models aim to detect early signs of cognitive decline and anticipate behavioral changes associated with aging. By analyzing extensive datasets encompassing cognitive assessments, neuroimaging scans, and behavioral data, machine learning algorithms can identify subtle patterns and correlations that may indicate future cognitive impairment. Recent research in this field highlights the use of deep learning models to process intricate neuroimaging, cognition, and behavior-related data. This allows for the detection of structural and functional alterations in the aging brain, body, and mind. Furthermore, researchers are exploring innovative techniques like reinforcement learning to elucidate how environmental factors and lifestyle choices influence cognitive health in older adults. By integrating insights from cognitive science, neuroscience, and machine learning, the ultimate goal is to devise personalized interventions and support systems. These interventions aim to mitigate the impact of cognitive decline and foster healthy aging. This interdisciplinary approach holds promise for enhancing diagnostics, treatment strategies, and support services tailored to the needs of aging populations worldwide.

The scope of research in Cognition, Behavior, and Machine Learning concerning aging encompasses the interdisciplinary study of cognitive processes, behavioral patterns, and machine-learning techniques as they relate to aging populations. Machine learning methodologies are employed to analyze vast datasets, predict cognitive decline, develop personalized interventions, and enhance the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. The research aims to improve diagnostics, treatment strategies, and support systems for aging individuals, ultimately promoting healthy aging and enhancing quality of life.

Specific Themes

•Early Detection of Cognitive Decline: Developing machine learning algorithms to identify subtle cognitive changes indicative of early-stage neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
•Predictive Modeling for Health Outcomes: Utilizing machine learning to forecast health outcomes based on cognitive function and behavioral patterns in aging populations.
•Personalized Interventions: Tailoring cognitive interventions and behavioral therapies using machine learning algorithms to meet the specific needs of aging individuals.
•Social Interaction and Loneliness: Investigating the impact of social interaction on cognitive health and leveraging machine learning to identify strategies to combat loneliness among the elderly.
•Neuroimaging Analysis: Advancing machine learning techniques for the analysis of neuroimaging data to detect structural and functional brain changes associated with aging and cognitive decline.
•Assistive Technologies: Developing AI-driven assistive technologies to support independent living among aging populations, including smart homes, wearable devices, and virtual assistants tailored to cognitive needs.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and brief research reports.

Research Topic Research topic image

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

  • Brief Research Report
  • Clinical Trial
  • Editorial
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory
  • Methods
  • Mini Review
  • Opinion
  • Original Research

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Keywords: cognitive, behavioural gerontology, machine learning, healthy cognitive longevity, aging interventions

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

Manuscripts can be submitted to this Research Topic via the main journal or any other participating journal.

Impact

  • 635Topic views
  • 33Article views
View impact