Low Dose Aspirin And Age-related Macular Degeneration: Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,043,189.00
Summary
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of visual impairment in advanced countries, responsible for nearly half of all legal blindness in Australia. Due to increased life expectancy, the number of people with this progressive late onset disease will double by 2025. Aspirin could prevent or delay the onset of AMD in older persons but its bleeding risk also needs to be considered. This project will determine whether treatment with low dose aspirin reduces incidence or progression o ....Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of visual impairment in advanced countries, responsible for nearly half of all legal blindness in Australia. Due to increased life expectancy, the number of people with this progressive late onset disease will double by 2025. Aspirin could prevent or delay the onset of AMD in older persons but its bleeding risk also needs to be considered. This project will determine whether treatment with low dose aspirin reduces incidence or progression of AMD.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Etiology Of Psychiatric Disorders Through Whole Genome Analyses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
Psychiatric disorders exert a huge social and economic burden on society. In recent years, large genetic studies have led to important new insights into these disorders. Major new human genomics resources will soon become available. My research will take advantage of these datasets to investigate the genetic basis of key epidemiological features of psychiatric disorders, including risk due to parental age and sex-biased prevalence, and to identify novel risk genes for schizophrenia and autism.
The Healthy Brain Project: A Prospective Cohort Study To Examine How Later-life University Education May Affect The Trajectory Of Ageing-related Cognitive Decline
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,085,742.00
Summary
Previous research has indicated that higher levels of education in early adulthood are associated with lower risk for dementia in older adults. This world-first project will examine if older adults who undertake university education have reduced rates of age-related cognitive decline than older adults who do not undertake further education. This would support the notion that boosting cognitive reserve in later life is protective against age- and disease-related neurodegenerative change.
The Nutritional Geometry Of Ageing In A Rodent Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$979,269.00
Summary
A central belief in ageing research is that eating fewer calories prolongs life, and that the source of calories (carbohydrate, fat or protein) is irrelevant. However, a critical assessment indicates that this conclusion is premature. We will use recent techniques in nutrition to define for the first time in mammals the relationship between diet and ageing in a normal and a prematurely ageing strain of mice. The project will provide a novel nutritional approach for promoting healthy ageing.
Characterizing Novel Therapeutic Interventions In A New Model Of Focal Retinopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$536,794.00
Summary
Focal retinopathies such as age-related macular degeneration pose an immense burden on our society, both socially and economically. We have recently developed an animal model that allows us to investigate for the first time, drugs and therapies that might be used to treat AMD both after its onset, and more significantly, in at-risk populations before onset of the disease.
The Effect Of Selected Nutraceuticals On Brain Blood Vessels And Memory.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,206.00
Summary
The human brain receives 1000L of blood per day, distributed through minute vessels called capillaries. The integrity and function of brain capillaries is compromised with aging and this may contribute to memory disturbances. Our laboratory has identified several naturally occurring compounds that prevent age-associated defects of brain capillaries. The primary aim of this project is to explore if these agents are beneficial for restoring brain capillary function and memory.
Circuit Class Therapy For Rehabilitation Clients. A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial Of Therapy Intensity (CIRCIT).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$526,361.00
Summary
Loss of independence is common after stroke, and may lead to reduced quality of life and admission to nursing home care. We will investigate if an increased amount of rehabilitation following stroke leads to improved mobility. Two ways of delivering more intense rehabilitation will be compared with usual care to find out which leads to improved physical mobility, and how they compare economically. This will allow health service providers to optimise services and will benefit people with stroke.
The Fetal And Early Childhood Origins Of PCOS: A Prospective Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,116.00
Summary
The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age, which translates into around 350,000 women in Australia. It is the most common hormonal disorder in women. The syndrome has far-reaching adverse implications for general and reproductive health, including menstrual disorder, obesity, infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy complications, increased risk of diabetes and possibly heart disease. PCOS also commonly causes cosmetic problems such as excess body hair and ac ....The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age, which translates into around 350,000 women in Australia. It is the most common hormonal disorder in women. The syndrome has far-reaching adverse implications for general and reproductive health, including menstrual disorder, obesity, infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy complications, increased risk of diabetes and possibly heart disease. PCOS also commonly causes cosmetic problems such as excess body hair and acne. The underlying causes of PCOS are not known but are thought to arise during intrauterine (fetal) life and to be modified by aspects of childhood health, particularly overweight and obesity. Using a large and well established cohort of adolescents followed up since fetal life and throughout childhood and currently aged 13-15 years old (the Raine cohort), we will define for the first time the intrauterine and early childhood correlates of PCOS. PCOS will be diagnosed by a specialist gynacologist using current international criteria. We will then utilise extensive existing data from this cohort combined with new measurements on existing samples to determine the contribution of key factors including fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, fetal androgen exposure, rapid postnatal growth, childhood adiposity, elevated fasting glucose and insulin and age at menarche to PCOS. In this way, we will address for the first time the hypothesis that PCOS arises as a result of events during fetal life and is affected by factors during childhood. The results from these studies will improve our understanding of PCOS and eventually improve reproductive and metabolic health for a substantial population of women internationally. It is essential that these studies are conducted as soon as possible or the opportunity will be missed. Girls with persistent menstrual irregularity are likely to be commenced on hormonal treatments which will make the diagnosis of PCOS impossible.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of Lipid Metabolism By AMP Activated Protein Kinase
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$478,776.00
Summary
Western communities are experiencing an epidemic of overweight and obesity that is contributing to diabetes, heart disease, and premature death. This project is investigating an enzyme, called AMP-activated protein kinase, that plays a pivotal role in controlling how our bodies control energy metabolism in response to exercise. Improved understanding about how this enzyme regulates the body's storage and breakdown of fat and responsiveness to insulin will enable the development of new medicines ....Western communities are experiencing an epidemic of overweight and obesity that is contributing to diabetes, heart disease, and premature death. This project is investigating an enzyme, called AMP-activated protein kinase, that plays a pivotal role in controlling how our bodies control energy metabolism in response to exercise. Improved understanding about how this enzyme regulates the body's storage and breakdown of fat and responsiveness to insulin will enable the development of new medicines for the treatment of obesity and the prevention of diabetes.Read moreRead less
A Cognitive And Neuroimaging Study Of Exceptionally Old Individuals: Sydney Centenarian Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$857,197.00
Summary
Australia has an ageing society. Individuals over the age of 95 years are the fastest growing proportion of this population. Many of these individuals retain good cognitive function. The Sydney Centenarian Study will recruit all individuals 95 and over in 7 local government areas in Sydney to assess their brain function to determine which cognitive faculties are more or less affected, and how this relates to changes on brain scans. This will be related to neuropathology.