Sabina Brennan

Brennan is the youngest of five children. Her father worked for Irish Life and she followed him into this business after finishing school. She is married and has two sons.

Brennan's enthusiasm for acting was noted when she was eight years old by her drama teacher who suggested private lessons to her parents, and Brennan returned to this interest after taking voluntary redundancy from Irish Life. She studied for her teacher's diploma at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and spent ten years as a full-time actor.{{Cite web|url=http://www.universitytimes.ie/2018/01/from-acting-to-brain-research-trinitys-sabina-brennan-is-finding-her-way/|title=From Acting to Brain Research, Trinity's Sabina Brennan is Finding Her Way|website=www.universitytimes.ie|language=en-US|access-date=2 January 2020}} She appeared in over 160 episodes of the Irish television series Fair City as Tess Halpin.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/this-is-what-i-do-05czqlgh78v|title=This is what I do|last=Butler|first=Kate|date=16 March 2014|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=2 January 2020|language=en|issn=0956-1382}} Her character was fatally strangled as part of a high-profile domestic abuse storyline.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/leaving-soap-for-science-1.921495|title=Leaving soap for science|last=O'Connell|first=Claire|date=9 December 2008|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/from-electrocution-to-ecstasy-the-most-dramatic-fair-city-exits-ever-36251942.html|title=From electrocution to ecstasy - the most dramatic Fair City exits ever|website=Independent.ie|date=5 November 2017 |language=en|access-date=2 January 2020}}

After leaving Fair City, Brennan completed an undergraduate degree in psychology at Maynooth University before pursuing a PhD on changes in the brain associated with aging with Ian Robertson at Trinity College Dublin.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/former-fair-city-star-to-discuss-reducing-risk-of-developing-dementia-926281.html|title=Former Fair City star to discuss reducing risk of developing dementia|last=Quinlan|first=Áilín|date=23 May 2019|website=www.irishexaminer.com|language=en|access-date=2 January 2020}} She completed her PhD studies in 2011 on "Neurocognitive and electrophysiological indices of cognitive performance in ageing".{{Cite thesis|title=Neurocognitive and electrophysiological indices of cognitive performance in ageing|url=http://www.tara.tcd.ie/handle/2262/83142|publisher=Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland). School of Psychology|date=2011|degree=PhD|language=en|first=Sabina|last=Brennan|hdl=2262/83142 }} She has published over 40 articles on brain health, dementia and cognitive function in aging adults.{{Cite web|url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=v0u41ToAAAAJ&|title=Sabina Brennan - Google Scholar Citations|website=scholar.google.com|access-date=2 January 2020}} Through this work she has investigated the importance of building resilience for brain health through mental stimulation{{Cite journal|last1=Kelly|first1=Michelle E.|last2=Loughrey|first2=David|last3=Lawlor|first3=Brian A.|last4=Robertson|first4=Ian H.|last5=Walsh|first5=Cathal|last6=Brennan|first6=Sabina|date=1 May 2015|title=The impact of cognitive training and mental stimulation on cognitive and everyday functioning of healthy older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis|journal=Ageing Research Reviews|volume=15|pages=28–43|doi=10.1016/j.arr.2014.02.004|pmid=24607830|issn=1568-1637|hdl=2262/68232|s2cid=24089701 |hdl-access=free}} and exercise{{Cite journal|last1=Kelly|first1=Michelle E.|last2=Loughrey|first2=David|last3=Lawlor|first3=Brian A.|last4=Robertson|first4=Ian H.|last5=Walsh|first5=Cathal|last6=Brennan|first6=Sabina|date=1 July 2014|title=The impact of exercise on the cognitive functioning of healthy older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis|journal=Ageing Research Reviews|volume=16|pages=12–31|doi=10.1016/j.arr.2014.05.002|pmid=24862109|s2cid=205667565 |issn=1568-1637}} (amongst other factors), which has formed the foundations of much of her subsequent research. She was co-director of the Neuro-Enhancement for Independent Lives (NEIL) research programme granted by Atlantic Philanthropies to develop interventions to slow or halt cognitive decline.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/grants/neuro-enhancement-for-independent-lives-neil|title=Neuro-Enhancement for Independent Lives (NEIL) {{!}} Atlantic Philanthropies|website=The Atlantic Philanthropies|language=en|access-date=2 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsfilmtv/architecture-exhibition-entry-aims-to-show-how-planned-space-can-help-people-with-dementia-423068.html|title=Architecture exhibition entry aims to show how planned space can help people with dementia|last=Brennan|first=Marjorie|date=28 September 2016|website=www.irishexaminer.com|language=en|access-date=2 January 2020}}{{Cite journal|last1=Hannigan|first1=Caoimhe|last2=Coen|first2=Robert F.|last3=Lawlor|first3=Brian A.|last4=Robertson|first4=Ian H.|last5=Brennan|first5=Sabina|date=27 June 2015|title=The NEIL Memory Research Unit: psychosocial, biological, physiological and lifestyle factors associated with healthy ageing: study protocol|journal=BMC Psychology|volume=3|issue=1|pages=20|doi=10.1186/s40359-015-0079-y|issn=2050-7283|pmc=4486120|pmid=26131366 |doi-access=free }} She was a co-applicant of a successful European Union Framework Programme 7 funding project, which established the Hello Brain website and app to enable people to engage with brain research and to provide tips on protecting brain health.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hellobrain.eu/en/|title=Hello Brain|website=www.hellobrain.eu|access-date=7 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/brain-health-sabina-brennan-tcd|title=TCD researcher Sabina Brennan puts brain health on the radar|last=O’Connell|first=Claire|date=13 January 2017|website=Silicon Republic|language=en|access-date=2 January 2020}}

She is active in national and international media, particularly in discussions about dementia and ageing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/unless-you-make-the-most-of-your-life-you-waste-it-dr-sabina-brennan-on-why-shes-happiest-in-her-50s-38696304.html|title='Unless you make the most of your life, you waste it' - Dr Sabina Brennan on why she's happiest in her 50s|last=Brennan|first=Sabina|website=Independent.ie|date=18 November 2019 |language=en|access-date=2 January 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2016/apr/23/the-science-of-shakespeare-science-weekly-podcast|title=The Science of Shakespeare - Science Weekly podcast|last=Slaney|first=Rowan|date=23 April 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=2 January 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} With funding from the NEIL project, she developed a series of films addressing memory loss and brain health with Trinity College Dublin and Trinity Brain Health called Freedem.{{Cite web|url=http://freedemliving.com/|title=FreeDem Films|website=FreeDemLiving.com|language=en-US|access-date=7 January 2020}} In 2016, Brennan was a Trinity College Dublin candidate for a seat in Seanad Éireann but was unsuccessful.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/novices-offer-independent-expertise-as-tcd-seanad-candidates-1.2615358|title=Novices offer independent expertise as TCD Seanad candidates|last=O'Halloran|first=Marie|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2 January 2020}} In 2019, her book 100 Days to a Younger Brain was published by Orion Spring.{{Cite book|title=100 DAYS TO A YOUNGER BRAIN : improve your memory, fight dementia and ensure your future brain health.|last=BRENNAN, DR SABRINA.|date=2019|publisher=ORION SPRING|isbn=978-1-4091-8496-6|oclc=1035823234}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/the-rolling-benefits-of-banking-that-brain-health-1.3816560|title=The rolling benefits of banking that brain health|last=O'Connell|first=Claire|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2 January 2020}}

• 2018 Image Women of the Year{{Cite web|url=https://www.image.ie/life/introducing-image-ies-women-year-2018-136955|title=Introducing the IMAGE Women of the Year 2018|last=McMullan|first=Dominique|website=IMAGE.ie|date=14 December 2018 |access-date=2 January 2020}}
• 2017 Science Foundation Ireland Outstanding Contribution to Science Communication Award for her work on the 'Hello Brain' project{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/big-data-scientist-wins-researcher-of-the-year-award-1.2867845|title=Big data scientist wins researcher of the year award|last=Ahlstrom|first=Dick|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2 January 2020}}
• 2017 Trinity Innovation Award for Societal Impact{{Cite web|url=https://www.adaptcentre.ie/news/professor-sabina-brennan-receives-trinity-innovation-award-for-societal-imp|title=Professor Sabina Brennan Receives Trinity Innovation Award for Societal Impact|website=www.adaptcentre.ie|access-date=2 January 2020}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://www.sabinabrennan.ie/}}
• [https://www.tcd.ie/research/profiles/?profile=brennas7 Faculty profile] at Trinity College Dublin
• {{IMDB name|nm0107395}}

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Category:Irish neuroscientists

Category:Irish women neuroscientists

Category:Irish psychologists

Category:Irish women psychologists

Category:Irish women scientists

Category:Irish television actresses

Category:Science communicators

Category:21st-century Irish actresses

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin

Category:Alumni of Maynooth University

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)