Dr Carol Opdebeeck
Senior Lecturer
My profile
Biography
Academic and professional qualifications
I obtained my MSc in Foundations of Clinical Neuropsychology (2012) and PhD (2016) from Bangor University. My PhD thesis was entitled ‘Cognitive Reserve, Mood and Cognitive Function in Later Life’.
Expert reviewer
Invited reviewer for Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, PLOS One, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, International Psychogeriatrics, European Journal of Ageing
Teaching
Why study…
As the proportion of our populations aged over 65 continue to grow, there is a key focus on helping people to age well and enjoy their later years. As we all hope to grow old and make the most of our later years, identifying ways in which we can help maintain our cognitive function and enhance our wellbeing as we age can be a rewarding area of research. I am particularly interested in research identifying lifestyle factors associated with ageing well and in improving the lives of older people and those living with dementia.
Postgraduate teaching
Biological Mechanisms and Neuropsychological Health (Unit lead)
Subject areas
Cognitive ageing and wellbeing in later life
Research outputs
My research focuses on cognitive health and well-being in later life. I am particularly interested in why some people experience more successful ageing than others and what lifestyle factors and individual differences influence cognitive function and well-being in older people.
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Journal articles
Bibbo, J., Connell, C.M., Yeung, P., Opdebeeck, C. (2024) 'Editorial: The benefits and challenges of pets for adults with disability or long-term health conditions.' Frontiers in Psychology, 15
Collins, R., Owen, S., Opdebeeck, C., Ledingham, K., Connell, J., Quinn, C., Page, S., Clare, L. (2023) 'Provision of Outdoor Nature-Based Activity for Older People with Cognitive Impairment: a scoping review from the ENLIVEN Project.' Health and Social Care in the Community, 2023
Sabatini, S., Turner, S.G., Morris, R.G., Opdebeeck, C., Thom, J.M., Hunt, A., Allan, L., Pentecost, C., Clare, L. (2023) 'Correlates of felt age in caregivers of people with dementia: findings from the IDEAL study.' Frontiers in Psychology, 14
Harding, A.J.E., Morbey, H., Ahmed, F., Opdebeeck, C., Elvish, R., Leroi, I., Williamson, P.R., Keady, J., Reilly, S.T. (2021) 'A Core Outcome Set for Nonpharmacological Community-Based Interventions for People Living with Dementia at Home: A Systematic Review of Outcome Measurement Instruments.' Gerontologist, 61(8) pp. E435-E448.
Opdebeeck, C., Katsaris, M.A., Martyr, A., Lamont, R.A., Pickett, J.A., Rippon, I., Thom, J.M., Victor, C., Clare, L. (2020) 'What Are the Benefits of Pet Ownership and Care Among People With Mild-to-Moderate Dementia? Findings From the IDEAL.' Journal of Applied Gerontology, 40(11) pp. 1559-1567.
Opdebeeck, C. (2020) 'Self-reported memory and depression over time.' International Psychogeriatrics, 32(6) pp. 681-683.
Harding, A.J.E., Morbey, H., Ahmed, F., Opdebeeck, C., Lasrado, R., Williamson, P.R., Swarbrick, C., Leroi, I., Challis, D., Hellstrom, I., Burns, A., Keady, J., Reilly, S.T. (2019) 'What is important to people living with dementia?: the ‘long-list’ of outcome items in the development of a core outcome set for use in the evaluation of non-pharmacological community-based health and social care interventions.' BMC Geriatrics, 19(1)
Opdebeeck, C., Yates, J.A., Kudlicka, A., Martyr, A. (2018) 'What are subjective cognitive difficulties and do they matter?.' Age and Ageing,
Harding, A.J.E., Morbey, H., Ahmed, F., Opdebeeck, C.A., Wang, Y.Y., Williamson, P., Swarbrick, C., Leroi, I., Challis, D., Davies, L., Reeves, D., Holland, F., Hann, M., Hellstrom, I., Hyden, L.C., Burns, A., Keady, J., Reilly, S. (2018) 'Developing a core outcome set for people living with dementia at home in their neighbourhoods and communities: study protocol for use in the evaluation of non-pharmacological community-based health and social care interventions.' Trials, 19
Opdebeeck, C., Matthews, F.E., Wu, Y.T., Woods, R.T., Brayne, C., Clare, L. (2018) 'Cognitive reserve as a moderator of the negative association between mood and cognition: evidence from a population-representative cohort.' Psychological Medicine, 48(1) pp. 61-71.
Opdebeeck, C., Martyr, A., Clare, L. (2016) 'Cognitive reserve and cognitive function in healthy older people: a meta-analysis.' Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 23(1) pp. 40-60.
Opdebeeck, C., Quinn, C., Nelis, S.M., Clare, L. (2015) 'Is cognitive lifestyle associated with depressive thoughts and self-reported depressive symptoms in later life?.' European Journal of Ageing, 13(1) pp. 63-73.
Opdebeeck, C., Quinn, C., Nelis, S.M., Clare, L. (2015) 'Does cognitive reserve moderate the association between mood and cognition? A systematic review.' Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 25(3) pp. 181-193.
Opdebeeck, C., Nelis, S.M., Quinn, C., Clare, L. (2014) 'How does cognitive reserve impact on the relationships between mood, rumination, and cognitive function in later life?.' Aging and Mental Health, 19(8) pp. 705-712.