We are the next revolution in health care.

Research & Innovation

Evidence-based Activity for Healthy Ageing

Every day at Goldster, we ask “What is the evidence?” In other words, what is the evidence that underpins the types of activities offered on Goldster to promote healthy ageing which is defined by the World Health Organization as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age”. What is clear from the research evidence is that healthy ageing requires a multifaceted approach which is why we look at factors to promote healthy ageing from the physical, cognitive and emotional wellbeing perspectives, or Body, Mind and Soul. 

Our Approach to Evidence

We take a scientific, systematic and rational approach to finding, assessing, mapping and reviewing the evidence from the published research literature.

Our Geek Notes

We summarise the research evidence for each type of activity for your benefit at the bottom of each class page and in Geek Notes. The star gradings are our simple point system, based on the available research evidence, that indicate the potential level of effect that activity can have on: physical health (fitness, strength and daily functioning), cognitive health (brain function) and emotional wellbeing (mental health).

 

Each class has been assigned points relating to potential benefit (or impact) from the activity type based on the underlying research evidence.

 

If no impact points are listed, it means there is no known benefit for that category.

Our Pathways

Our research work constantly feeds into the development of a unique healthy ageing ‘pathway’ called the Systematic Wellness Intervention Pathway that provides the backbone of evidence for all the classes and activities offered on the Goldster platform. Our research and innovation team started the work within our parent company, Care Visions Healthy Ageing where for the last 7 years the team have focused on non-medication interventions and activities to help people age more healthily and prevent physical and cognitive decline in communities in the UK and China.

Research Team

The Goldster pathways and programs are built upon the evidence collated by our Research and Innovation department here at Goldster and our parent company, Care Visions Healthy Ageing. We believe an important part of our mission includes sharing what we’ve learnt along the way, by regularly publishing papers for the common good. Dr Zara Quail, Dr Charles Young and Mark Carter are amongst the esteemed co-authors of the published papers below. 

Dr Zara Quail (Research)
Dr Zara Quail Clinical Scientific Research Lead (Chief Geek)
Dr Zara Quail works on the research, development and publications for the Pathways, classes and programs. You can also enjoy her weekly Newsletter.
Dr Charles Young (Research)
Dr Charles Young Non-executive Director
Dr Charles Young supervises and guides the research and innovation programs.
Mark Carter (Research)
Mark Carter Managing Director
Mark Carter develops and implements our innovative pathways and wellness and clinical programmes

Expert Panel

So you don’t just take our word for it, it is very important to us at Goldster that all the information we put together is also reviewed by experts. We are privileged to have 4 global authorities on healthy ageing on our expert panel. We also conduct extensive peer review projects of our mapped evidence by approaching healthy ageing experts all over the world to review our work.

Professor James Vickers (Research)
Professor James Vickers Wickings Dementia Research Center Director and Dean of Medicine
Prof Sir Muir Gray (Research)
Professor Sir Muir Gray Professor of Public Health and NHS knowledge expert
Dr Zoe Wyrko (research)
Dr Zoe Wyrko Geriatrician
Reinhard Guss (Research)
Reinhard Guss Clinical Psychologist

Published papers

Development and Peer Review of an Evidence-Based Decision-Support Tool for Non-Drug Prescribing for Healthy Ageing.
How Does Participation in Formal Education or Learning for Older People Affect Wellbeing and Cognition? A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.
Digital delivery of non-pharmacological intervention programmes for people living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Case Reports.
A Structured Cognitive Intervention Pathway as a decision-support tool for non-pharmacological interventions within a dementia care service (Innovative practice). Dementia (London, England).
UTAS MOOC makes its mark in China. Australian Journal of Dementia Care.
Online therapeutic activity programmes for people living with dementia during COVID-19. The Journal of Dementia Care (UK).
Feedback process for online therapeutic activities. The Journal of Dementia Care (UK).
Management of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease using a non-pharmacological intervention program: A case report. Medicine.
Meeting psychosocial needs in multicultural groups. The Journal of Dementia Care (UK).
Barriers to dementia diagnosis and care in China. BMJ Case Reports.
An individualised, non-pharmacological treatment strategy associated with an improvement in neuropsychiatric symptoms in a man with dementia living at home. BMJ Case Reports.