Suboptimal Sleep And Unhealthy Brain Ageing: Improving Outcomes Through Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$632,705.00
Summary
My research will address limitations in our understanding of the impact of sleep characteristics on memory and thinking abilities and biological markers of brain health in older adults, by; 1) exploring these relationships over time, and 2) enabling direct assessment of the effect of improved sleep on memory and thinking, and markers of brain health, following sleep-improvement therapy. My results will contribute to the development of strategies aimed at promoting healthy brain ageing.
The Impact Of The Environment And Pollution On Cognitive Health (EPOCH): Building The Knowledge Base Through International Collaboration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$681,240.00
Summary
Neighbourhood environments can impact on the health of their residents. However, not much is known about their effects on cognitive decline in late life. This project will link environmental data to existing studies on ageing to examine how the neighbourhood built environment (e.g., access to services), natural environment, air pollution and noise may impact on cognitive decline and the risk of dementia in older adults and whether these effects differ in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Pathogenic Repeat Expansions In Ataxia: Advancing Gene Discovery And Genetic Diagnosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
Hereditary ataxia is a severe neurological disorder that results in impaired coordination and balance and affects 1 in 20,000 Australians. Ataxias are often caused by complex genetic mutations called repeat expansions (RE), which are difficult to detect. Therefore, genetic diagnosis of ataxia remains limited and poorly accessible, leading to a gap in clinical care. In this study, we will utilise modern advances in genetic sequencing technology to diagnose and discover ataxias caused by REs.