
Welcome to the Nutrients Special Issue webinar, Trace Elements for Brain Health and Cognitive Ageing. This webinar brings together leading researchers to discuss the latest evidence on the role of trace elements in maintaining brain health and preventing cognitive decline across the life course. Through expert presentations on iodine, lithium, vitamin A, and n-3 PUFA–ApoE interactions, we will explore the emerging findings from nutritional epidemiology, biomarker research, and public health nutrition, highlighting both current evidence and future research directions. We hope that this webinar provides a valuable platform for scientific exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and discussion on how trace element research can contribute to healthier brain ageing and improved population health.

Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing, School of Health and Social Wellbeing, College of Health, University of the West of England, Bristol ;
Doctor Zheng Feei Ma is an Associate Professor of Public Health and Nutrition at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), the United Kingdom. His research focuses on public health nutrition, with particular expertise in iodine nutrition, trace elements, brain health, cognitive ageing and nutritional epidemiology. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers, including collaborative research in The Lancet, and he is a collaborator in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study Collaborator Network. Doctor Ma has been recognised among Stanford University's world's top 2% scientists for his research impact. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the World Iodine Association and holds editorial roles with several international nutrition and public health journals. His research aims to generate high-quality evidence that informs clinical practice, public health policy and healthy ageing, with a particular focus on the role of trace elements across the life course.
LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal;
Agostinho Almeida is a Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal, in the fields of Analytical/Bioanalytical Chemistry and Instrumental Methods of Analysis. He graduated in Pharmaceutical Sciences (1986), with specialisation in Clinical Analysis, and received his Ph.D. degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Porto in 2000. He is a researcher at LAQV/REQUIMTE, a Portuguese research centre for Sustainable Chemistry, where he leads a unit of trace element analysis. His main research interests are trace elements in health and disease, focusing on the development and validation of analytical procedures using atomic spectrometry and plasma mass spectrometry, microwave-assisted sample preparation, and environmental, pharmaceutical, clinical/toxicological, and forensic applications. For the last 10 years, he has been a researcher in 15 projects with competitive funding. He is the author of more than 170 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, and he presented about 100 lectures and oral communications in scientific events. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of several journals.
School of Science, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich, Chatham, UK;
Doctor Shaobo Zhou is an Associate Professor in Human Nutrition and Health and Programme Leader for BSc Human Nutrition and Health at the University of Greenwich. His research focuses on nutrients, nutraceuticals and functional food bioactives in relation to chronic disease prevention, brain health, and ageing. His work integrates human population studies, nutritional biomarkers, cellular and animal models, and mechanistic approaches to investigate the effects of micronutrients, vitamins, fatty acids, and bioactive compounds on cognition, Alzheimer’s disease-related mechanisms, epilepsy, neuroinflammation, lipid metabolism, and metabolic health. He has particular interests in personalised nutrition, micronutrient balance and evidence-based functional food strategies for healthy ageing.
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Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
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|
Speaker/Presentation |
Time in CEST |
Time in EDT |
|
Chair Introduction Dr. Zheng Ma |
3:00 - 3:15 pm | 9:00 - 9:15 am |
|
Closing of Webinar Iodine and Cognitive Health in Older Adults: Current Evidence, Challenges And Future Directions Dr. Zheng Ma |
3:15 - 3:40 pm | 9:15 - 9:40 am |
|
Natural Exposure to Lithium and Suicide Rate Dr. Agistinho Almeida |
3:40 - 4:05 pm |
9:40 - 10:05 am |
|
Closing of Webinar Micronutrient Balance in Cognitive Ageing: Insights from Nutrintional Biomarkers, Vitamin A, and n-3 PUFA-ApoE Interactions Dr. Shaobo Zhou |
4:05 - 4:30 pm | 10:05 - 10:30 am |
|
Q&A |
4:30 - 4:50 pm | 10:30 - 10:50 am |
|
Closing of Webinar Dr. Zheng Ma |
4:50 - 5:00 pm | 10:50 - 11:00 am |
Trace Elements for Brain Health and Cognitive Ageing
Edited by: Dr. Zheng Ma and Dr. Agostinho Almeida
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 25 November 2026