Reaching The Tenth Decade Of Life In Australia – A 20-year Longitudinal Study Of Older Men
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$890,063.00
Summary
There are increasing numbers of older people in Australia. A boy born in Australia in 2015 may expect to live to 92 years but how we will ensure that the health of these older men is maintained, and that ageing is a positive experience, is not yet known. We will study a large group of men initially aged over 65 years of age, and who have already been followed for 20 years, to work out how Australian men can reach the tenth decade of life, and how they can achieve this milestone successfully. .
CareTrack Aged: Appropriate Care Delivered To Australians Living In Residential Aged Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,157,722.00
Summary
Given Australia’s rapidly ageing population, keeping up with future demands and maintaining quality of care in residential aged care facilities (RACF) is vital. This study will assess whether care delivered is consistent with the evidence in 15 conditions that are frequently managed in RACFs. These will include delirium, dementia, depression, pain management and medication management. We will also assess the quality of life of residents in RACFs.
Intergenerational Change In Oral Health In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,827.00
Summary
Australia's population is ageing and Australians are retaining more teeth in later life. It is expected that as life expectancy increases, more years of life are spend in good health, with disease and disability being postponed to later years of life. No evidence is available to test the compression of morbidity hypothesis in relation to oral health in older Australians. This study will test whether these changes have resulted in more years in good oral health in an elderly population.
HARNESSING THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF STRONTIUM AND ZINC TO PRODUCE NOVEL BIOMATERIALS FOR ORTHOPAEDIC APPLICATIONS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,082.00
Summary
Large skeletal defects resulting from congenital defects or disease processes are challenging to regenerate and represent a major financial burden to our health system. Bone graft treatments are widely used but have considerable drawbacks. Available synthetic alternatives lack the physical-biological properties necessary. We have developed new scaffolds with improved mechanical-biological properties for bone regeneration.
Use Of Emergency Departments By Vulnerable Groups During Their Last Year Of Life
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Vulnerable people in their last year of life who attend Emergency Departments (EDs) could often be better cared for elsewhere. Our severely overcrowded EDs, and the staff who work in them, are poorly equipped to provide appropriate end-of-life care. This research describes how these groups use the ED, the impact of this use upon ED services and how the provision of adequate community care may be a more appropriate and economically viable option for people at the end-of-life.
Little evidence supports interventions to improve mobility outcomes in frail older adults hospitalised for movement rehabilitation. This large randomised controlled trial investigates whether increasing the amount of physical activity during inpatient rehabilitation improves mobility and is cost effective. Frail older Australians are very high users of health services. This study will provide evidence for intensive physical therapy that is easily delivered, with significant benefits to older adu ....Little evidence supports interventions to improve mobility outcomes in frail older adults hospitalised for movement rehabilitation. This large randomised controlled trial investigates whether increasing the amount of physical activity during inpatient rehabilitation improves mobility and is cost effective. Frail older Australians are very high users of health services. This study will provide evidence for intensive physical therapy that is easily delivered, with significant benefits to older adults and the aged care health system.Read moreRead less
A Cluster RCT Of A Novel Psychological Intervention To Reduce Depression Among At-risk Older Adults Transitioning To Residential Aged Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$893,152.00
Summary
Depression is common in aged care facilities, with many older adults finding the transition extremely difficult. We have developed a simple intervention to help new residents, including those with dementia, to adjust to life in aged care. This program focuses on key aspects of psychological wellbeing, and is designed for widespread use in aged care. We will evaluate the intervention to determine if it is superior to current care approaches in reducing depression and improving quality of life.
Molecular Pathways Linking Nutrition And Age-related Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,012.00
Summary
Nutrition is the major modifiable factor that influences age-related health. Yet the relationships between nutrition, age-related health and underlying biological mechanisms are complex and poorly understood. We will tame this complexity by applying nutritional geometry and systems biology to nutrient sensing pathways and ageing phenotype across a macronutrient landscape. This will allow us to optimise diets and develop drugs to improve age-related health and extend healthspan.
Organizational Change And Treatment Of Depression And Dementia In Aged Care Facilities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$567,052.00
Summary
Mental health disorders are common in aged care settings. However, these problems are not well managed. This situation results in distress for residents and family members, as well as high levels of burnout and turnover among staff. This project will address the organizational barriers with the aim of better managing and treating depression and behavioural problems associated with dementia.
Mapping The Dynamics Of Corneal Stem Cell During Aging And After Wounding And Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$548,403.00
Summary
Restoring vision in patients with corneal blindness is our focus. Before this can be achieved we need to understand how corneal stem cells function. For many reasons these studies cannot be performed in man, so we engineered a mouse in which the location, migration, division, differentiation, death of these cells can be followed indefinitely. This information will allow us to improve current therapeutic options and develop new clinical solution for patients with blinding corneal disease.