The Lifespan, Policy, and Health Lab & the Center for Research on Inequality and Health at Vanderbilt University invite submissions for the interdisciplinary conference Cognitive Aging and Dementia in Policy Contexts: Life Course Perspectives, to be held at Vanderbilt University on May 28th and 29th. This event will bring together scholars from sociology, public health, medicine, economics, demography, and related disciplines to examine how structural and policy contexts shape cognitive aging across the life course.
Thematic Areas
(2) Policy-focused research and natural experiments;
(3) Demographic and epidemiological studies of inequality in cognitive aging;
(4) Projects translating research into practice or policy;
(5) Studies of early-life conditions, family structures, caregiving, and cross-national perspectives.
Submission Guidelines
- Submit an extended abstract of 1,200–1,500 words (excluding references) or a full paper. The full paper does not need to be within the abstract limits and can be at any length.
- Submissions should clearly state the research question, data and methods, key findings, and policy relevance.
- Include a brief author bio (2–3 sentences) and indicate whether the presenting author is a graduate student, postdoc, or early-career scholar.
- Submissions will be reviewed by the organizing committee, with attention to quality, interdisciplinarity, policy relevance, and balance across topics.
Timeline
Submission deadline: December 31, 2025
Notification of acceptance: February 15, 2026
Conference dates: May 28–29, 2026, Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)
Funding and Support
Lodging and meals will be covered for all participants. Limited airfare support will be available for early-career participants based on need.
How to Submit
Please submit your extended abstract or paper here.
For questions, please email: lifespan-lab@vanderbilt.edu