The Voice As A Behavioural Probe Of Patient Functioning In Disorders Of The Central Nervous System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$29,255.00
Summary
Health conditions like pain and depression are difficult to measure, yet we can hear in someone’s voice if they are upset or distressed. This study is looking to develop ways the voice can be used to track changes in a patient’s condition. By recording a speech sample and analyzing parts of the signal, we may be able to tell if a drug treatment for depression is working, or if a patient is experiencing less pain after therapy.
The Effect Of Adenotonsillectomy On Neurocognitive Functioning In Children With Upper Airway Obstruction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$185,850.00
Summary
Upper airway obstruction during sleep affects up to 3% of all children and is very frequently unrecognised. If severe it causes growth failure, developmental delay and heart failure. However, there is little information on the effects of less severe degrees of upper airway obstruction in children but recent work suggests that reduced academic performance may also be present in children with relatively mild degrees of upper airway obstruction. In particular, the areas most affected appear to be i ....Upper airway obstruction during sleep affects up to 3% of all children and is very frequently unrecognised. If severe it causes growth failure, developmental delay and heart failure. However, there is little information on the effects of less severe degrees of upper airway obstruction in children but recent work suggests that reduced academic performance may also be present in children with relatively mild degrees of upper airway obstruction. In particular, the areas most affected appear to be intelligence, memory, behaviour and attentional capacity . Currently it is unclear whether these deficits are due to sleep disruption or reduced nocturnal oxygen levels. The treatment of upper airway obstruction is the removal of adenoids and tonsils, however, it is unknown whether or not this improves the child's intellectual capacity. This study aims to be one of the first to critically evaluate the impact of upper airway obstruction during sleep on children's intelligence, memory, behaviour and attentional capacity, and the improvements wrought by the removal of the child's tonsils and adenoids.Read moreRead less
If Childhood Primary Snoring Resolves, Do Neurocognition And Behaviour Also Improve?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$568,067.00
Summary
Sleep breathing disorders (SBD) are common and affect around 10% of all children. Previous research however has shown that sleep disorders are often not recognised or considered important enough to report to general practitioners. Thus, the true incidence of sleep disorders in Australian children is not known. Nevertheless, even the mildest SBD, primary snoring, has been associated with significant deficits in daytime learning, memory, intelligence, attention and problematic behaviour. In severe ....Sleep breathing disorders (SBD) are common and affect around 10% of all children. Previous research however has shown that sleep disorders are often not recognised or considered important enough to report to general practitioners. Thus, the true incidence of sleep disorders in Australian children is not known. Nevertheless, even the mildest SBD, primary snoring, has been associated with significant deficits in daytime learning, memory, intelligence, attention and problematic behaviour. In severe cases of childhood SBD (i.e. sleep apnoea syndrome), removal of the tonsils and adenoids has been shown to improve the learning and behaviour problems. Thus there is increasing pressure on doctors to treat primary snoring in children with surgery to improve their intellectual functioning. However, recent evidence in children has shown that snoring may resolve naturally in up to 50% of cases over one to two years. In addition to the risks of surgery, the large number of children who may have a natural resolution of snoring suggestst that the pressure to treat primary snoring in may not be justified. This study will be the first to determine the prevalence of childhood snoring and associated problems in the Australian community. We also aim to discover whether snoring and the associated intellectual deficits persist over time during childhood. We will identify frequent snorers and healthy non-snorers in children aged 5-10 years old, using parental questionnaires. We will then study 75 snorers and 75 non-snorers in more detail, monitoring them with overnight sleep studies and questionnaires 2 years apart, to see if snoring, intellectual function and behavioural problems persist over time. This information will improve the health of Australian children by determining the prevalence of childhood SBD and persistence of associated deficits such as in learning, memory and behaviour.Read moreRead less
Disentangling Aphasic Syndromes In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,936.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease, the main cause of disability in older Australians, can present with diverse and complex manifestations. Language disturbances are not entirely characterised and raises diagnostic difficulties. By development of novel clinical tools and cutting-edge structural brain imaging, this project aims to refine the spectrum of language disturbances, analyse the pattern of brain atrophy and investigate susceptibility factors across Alzheimer's presentations.
Magnetic Seizure Therapy:The Neural Correlates And Neurocognitive Outcomes Of A Novel Therapeutic Approach To Depression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$231,147.00
Summary
Depression is a substantial clinical problem for which ECT is the most efficacious treatment. However, ECT has cognitive side-effects which limit its applicability and acceptance by patients. The development of a new treatment with similar efficacy but which minimizes these side effects would have great clinical value. One promising possibility is magnetic seizure therapy (MST). This project will investigate the neurological outcomes of MST in depression, focusing on the cognitive outcomes.
ASPREE- NEURO; Aspirin And Cerebral Microhaemorrhages
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$989,195.00
Summary
Cerebral Microhaemorrhages (CMH) are tiny areas of blood vessel breakdown commonly found on brain MRIs in the elderly. Their clinical significance is not clear- prior studies have linked them to use of blood thinning medications, cognitive decline and risk of stroke. This randomised controlled trial will determine whether low dose aspirin increases the number of CMH on brain MRI in the healthy elderly after 1 and 3 years, and whether the number and location of CMH affects cognitive function.
Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome And Neurocognitive Dysfunction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,608.00
Summary
In this study, we will assess neurocognitive function in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS – too slow or too shallow breathing) using a battery of tests including driving simulation, before and after 3 months of positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP). This will assess if chronically raised carbon dioxide levels contribute to impaired thinking capacity in addition to low oxygen levels.