One of the great challenges facing humankind in the 21st century is preserving healthy brain function in our aging population. Individuals over 60 are the fastest growing age group in the world, and by 2050, it is estimated that the number of people over the age of 60 will triple. The typical aging process involves cognitive decline related to brain atrophy, especially in frontal brain areas and regions that subserve declarative memory, loss of synaptic connections, and the emergence of neuropathological symptoms associated with dementia. The disease-state of this age-related cognitive decline is Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, which may cause older adults to lose their independence and rely on others to live safely, burdening family members and health care systems in the process. However, there are two lines of research that offer hope to those seeking to promote healthy cognitive aging. First, it has been observed that lifestyle variables such as cognitive leisure activities can moderate the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, which has led to the development of plasticity-based interventions for older adults designed to protect against the adverse effects of cognitive decline. Second, there is evidence that lifelong bilingualism acts as a safeguard in preserving healthy brain function, possibly delaying the incidence of dementia by several years. In previous work, we have suggested that foreign language learning programs aimed at older populations are an optimal solution for building cognitive reserve because language learning engages an extensive brain network that is known to overlap with the regions negatively affected by the aging process. Here, we will outline potential future lines of research that may uncover the mechanism responsible for the emergence of language learning related brain advantages, such as language typology, bi- vs. multi-lingualism, age of acquisition, and the elements that are likely to result in the largest gains.

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Background: The contraceptive implant is a long-acting, effective method of contraception. Low uptake in Australia may be partially due to limited clinicians trained in implant procedures. Internationally, nurse-led implant procedures are accepted practice; however, this is not common in Australia. Aim: An evaluation was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of implant training for nurses and consider the implications for clinical service delivery. Methods: Participating nurses (n = 5) completed pre-and post-training surveys, and three were subsequently interviewed. Supervising doctors and nurses (n = 5) were also interviewed. A file audit was conducted to review implant procedures undertaken post-training. Findings: Nurses undertook implant training to acquire new skills and meet patient demand. After the training, all nurses self-reported feeling 'very confident' in inserting the implant and at least 'a little confident' in removing the implant; the latter had minimal impact on removal success, as indicated in the file audit. Overall, nurses and supervising doctors and nurses felt that nurses could play a greater role in the provision of contraceptive implant procedures in Australia. Discussion: Nurse-led procedures would increase access to the contraceptive implant for women, and have a positive impact on service delivery in different healthcare settings; however, funding constraints for nurses remain a significant barrier. Conclusion: Nurses are well placed to undertake contraceptive implant procedures. This would increase access to this method of contraception for women. These findings may inform models of care that promote nurse-led contraceptive procedures in Australia.

BackgroundEvidence that autism often manifests differently between males and females is growing, particularly in terms of social interaction and communication, but it is unclear if there are sex differences in restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests (RRBIs) when rigorously focusing on the narrow construct level (i.e., stereotyped behaviour, restricted interests, insistence on sameness, and/or sensory experiences).MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and four random effects meta‐analyses investigating sex differences in narrow construct measures of RRBIs in autistic children, adolescents, and adults (Prospero registration ID: CRD42021254221). Study quality was appraised using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.ResultsForty‐six studies were narratively synthesised and 25 of these were included in four random effects meta‐analyses. Results found that autistic males had significantly higher levels of stereotyped behaviours (SMD = 0.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.09, 0.33], p < .001) and restricted interests (SMD = 0.18, 95% CI [0.07, 0.29], p < .001) compared to autistic females. In contrast, there were no significant sex differences for sensory experiences (SMD = −0.09, 95% CI [−0.27, 0.09], p = .32) and insistence on sameness (SMD = 0.01, 95% CI [−0.03, 0.05], p = .68). The findings from the narrative synthesis were generally consistent with those from the meta‐analyses and also found qualitative sex differences in the way RRBIs manifest.ConclusionsOur findings show significant differences in narrowly defined RRBIs in males and females. Practitioners need to be aware of such differences, which could be contributing to the under‐recognition of autism in females and may not be captured by current diagnostic instruments.