Professor Dr Suzana Shahar is an expert in ageing, geriatric nutrition and epidemiology. Her research outcomes have contributed to advancing scientific knowledge and innovation in the fields of ageing and nutrition. She successfully led the nationwide Neuroprotective Model for Healthy Longevity among Malaysian Elderly (LRGS TUA) project and is currently leading the MyAgeless Trial, a clinical trial aimed at reversing cognitive frailty in older adults. She led the development of Salt Reduction Policy for Malaysia under the Newton Impact Fund Scheme, which successfully produced a supplementary document to support the national policy on salt reduction strategy. She is working closely with local policymakers, industries, and international experts to reformulate products that are identified as high in salt and to set maximum salt targets for reformulation through a project funded by Resolve to Save Life, USA, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Professor Dr Suzana’s influence on national policies and guidelines is evident through her involvement in key government committees, including the Ministry of Health Malaysia’s National Coordinating Committee on Food and Nutrition, and the Disease Prevention Unit, highlighting her commitment to fostering impactful change at the national level. Prof Suzana’s work pioneering multidomain lifestyle approach to reduce the risk of dementia has been recognised through invitations for her to speak in several countries in the region. This approach has also been highlighted as a key strategy for dementia prevention in the recently launched Dementia Action Plan for Malaysia. Her research on Polygonum minus (kesum), where two randomised clinical trials demonstrated its potential health benefits, promoted it as a valuable addition to the daily diet. Establishment of the National Kesum Initiative, chaired by Professor Dr Suzana, which aims to foster further research on kesum among Malaysian researchers. Since its launch in 2020, the initiative has successfully supported at least 30 researchers from diverse fields in studying this local herb.

She has 35 innovations filed for copyright, trademarks or patents, two formulations for the improvement of oxidative stress and cognitive function in the ageing population, i.e. TP 3 in 1 juice (a mixture of tropical juice) and Cosmos Caudatus (ulam raja) powder have been licensed and commercialised. She has published more than 200 scientific journal articles, and her Google Scholar h-index is 57, with a citation of 10,619.

Multidomain Intervention to Reduce Risk of Dementia: What is the evidence?

Abstract

Malaysia is aging and  the number of people who live with dementia continues to rise. The irreversibility and high cost and also burden of dementia emphasised the  need to identify and implement prevention approaches. Dementia Lancet Commission 2024 stated that 45% of dementia cases are linked to lifestyle and environmental factors which are modifiable. FINGER,  the world’s first randomized trial to demonstrate that multidomain lifestyle interventions can prevent cognitive decline and dementia. Research teams all over the world have built further on the FINGER study, and are adapting and testing the FINGER model in different settings and with different focuses; and the World-Wide FINGERS network was established in 2017 to unite these teams. Malaysia through iAGELESS has joined the network and completed multidomain trials to reduce risk of dementia by targeting  predementia state, cognitive frailty. This approach could be delivered face to face or online or hybrid depending on the availability of resources and acceptability