A Multicentre Randomised Clinical Trial Of Physical Activity For The Treatment Of Patients With Alzheimers Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$773,752.00
Summary
The number of older adults living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) will increase from 26.6 million to 106.2 million by 2050. In the absence of curative treatment options it is important to focus on non-pharmacological interventions such as physical activity. We propose to investigate whether a home-based physical activity program of 24 weeks for patients with AD can successfully decrease the rate of cognitive and functional declince and improve quality of life and psychological well-being.
Gene-environment Interaction In Healthy Brain Ageing And Age Related Neurodegeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,162,805.00
Summary
Healthy ageing is characterised by low level of disability, high cognitive and functional capacity, and an active engagement in life. The most important ingredient of healthy ageing is a healthy brain, bereft of age-related diseases and dysfunction. Brain ageing and brain diseases are determined by multiple genetic factors that interact with environmental influences. The genes are multiple, the majority of which have a small influence. This study is an attempt to identify some of these genes and ....Healthy ageing is characterised by low level of disability, high cognitive and functional capacity, and an active engagement in life. The most important ingredient of healthy ageing is a healthy brain, bereft of age-related diseases and dysfunction. Brain ageing and brain diseases are determined by multiple genetic factors that interact with environmental influences. The genes are multiple, the majority of which have a small influence. This study is an attempt to identify some of these genes and investigate their interactions with environmental factors. It will use a unique resource, the NHMRC Australian Twin Registry (ATR) to identify elderly twins, and will also include the siblings of these twins so as to increase the ability to identify the important factors. The participants, who are listed on the ATR and recruited from NSW, Queensland and Victoria, will receive detailed neurological, psychiatric and cognitive assessments, and will undergo brain MRI scans. Their blood samples will be used to measure key chemicals that may affect brain ageing and to extract DNA for genetic tests. They will be followed-up every two years thereafter, and changes in their brain structure and cognitive functioning will be examined. Available statistical models will be used to examine gene-environment interactions and specific genes will be explored for their contribution to the additive genetic effects. This study will yield an important resource for national and international collaborations and has the potential to discover new genes.Read moreRead less
Early Intervention For Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment : A Randomised Trial Of Memory Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$577,556.00
Summary
It is increasingly recognised that Alzheimer’s disease can emerge slowly over years and persons presenting with memory impairment, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Following diagnosis of MCI, active management through symptomatic drug treatment remains equivocal, therefore, memory impairment continues to be troublesome and patients and families are seeking interventions that offer improvement in quality of life. Cognitive interventions ....It is increasingly recognised that Alzheimer’s disease can emerge slowly over years and persons presenting with memory impairment, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Following diagnosis of MCI, active management through symptomatic drug treatment remains equivocal, therefore, memory impairment continues to be troublesome and patients and families are seeking interventions that offer improvement in quality of life. Cognitive interventions are low cost and, where effective, can provide a stand-alone intervention or add value to the pharmacological approach. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate whether an early intervention program of memory training is effective in improving use of memory strategies in everyday life, and whether this has psychological and emotional benefits for individuals with MCI and their families. We will evaluate through a randomised controlled trial the efficacy of a memory-group program which will involve the family and patient, rather than just the person with MCI, in developing increased awareness of memory issues and specific strategies to prevent memory failures. Over successive cohorts recruited from memory clinics, families will be randomly assigned to either an immediate intervention or a delayed intervention (waiting-list control) group. We will also recruit a sample of healthy older adults who will be similarly randomised into early and late intervention groups. Healthy older adults will provide a means of establishing whether any improvements in the MCI groups are (i) to the same extent as healthy older adults and (ii) to normative levels. Evaluation will be at pre- and post-intervention and at six months follow-up on tests of memory, questionnaires of knowledge and use of memory strategies in everyday life, and appraisal of level of wellbeing. Information about memory and systematic training in compensatory memory skills are expected to significantly improve the capacity of patients and families to cope with everyday memory difficulties. Through active participation in the management of memory impairment, it is expected that the level of wellbeing will increase, for both patient and families.Read moreRead less