A European DNA Bank For Deciphering The Missing Heritability Of Alzheimer's Disease (EADB)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,556,995.00
Summary
Understanding the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the best ways of improving our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of disease development. There is evidence that genetic factors account for up to 80% of the risk for AD. Recent advances in genetics still explain <50% of this risk. This proposal will help two major Australian studies to partner with a large European consortium in trying to understand the “missing” heritability, using existing and novel genetic data.
Relationship Between Head Injury And Cognitive, Neurological And Biological Variables Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$252,849.00
Summary
This project will investigate in people over the age of 60 whether the features which predispose to Alzheimer’s disease are more prevalent in individuals who have sustained a head injury previously in their lives. If our findings suggest that a history of head injury increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, we will be able to evaluate relationships with other medical and social variables and with lifestyle and dietary factors which may reduce this risk.
Genetic Mechanisms That Moderate Effects Of Aβ Accumulation In Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,525.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and the number of people living with it will triple by 2050. There is currently no cure for AD, and the only means of slow the growing epidemic is to delay onset. We propose to understand the complex interplay between genetic, cognitive, neuroimaging and biological markers of AD in order to better understand the disease process, and in turn identify high-risk individuals for clinical trials and uncover disease-modifying strategies.
Using Diffusion MRI For Understanding The Relationship Between Memory Decline And Corticothalamic Tracts
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$57,578.00
Summary
Stroke populations are at a risk of dementia. Structural changes have been demonstrated to precede cognitive changes, providing a potential for early diagnosis and intervention. Magnetic resonance imaging markers of structural connectivity are powerful predictors of dementia. As a longitudinal study, this proposal has the unique advantage that I will be able to detect changes in post-stroke brain networks in the 3 years after stroke. This raises the potential for future clinical application.
Is Stroke Neurodegenerative? A Longitudinal Study Of Changes In Brain Volume And Cognition Following Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,946.00
Summary
There is no direct evidence linking Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and stroke. It is unknown whether stroke can trigger progressive dementia in the same way as AD. In a group of stroke patients, I will measure MRI brain volume and cognition in the 5 years after stroke. These findings will be critical for identification of those patients most at risk of dementia after stroke. This may allow future early intervention for these patients, via promising AD disease-modifying therapies.
A Longitudinal Neuroimaging Study Investigating Reorganisation Of Cerebellar-cerebral Networks In Friedreich Ataxia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$816,908.00
Summary
Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) causes debilitating motor and cognitive deficits. We propose a longitudinal multi-modal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging study to measure different types of tissue in the brain in this disease. We seek to understand how the brain reorganises itself due to cell loss in the spinal cord, cerebellum and cerebral cortex. This study will establish sensitivity of a range of MR imaging measures as potential biomarkers for use in large multi-centre drug trials in this disease.
Utilising Advanced Functional MRI Techniques To Explore Attentional Network Dysfunction In Visual Hallucinations Across Disorders Of Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$427,682.00
Summary
Parkinson’s disease is a devastating neurological disorder that places a massive burden on society, but we know frustratingly little about the brain mechanisms underlying the disorder. My fellowship will enable me to learn cutting-edge functional brain imaging analysis techniques, and upon return to Australia, to apply those tools to reveal the dysfunctional brain mechanisms underlying visual hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease, facilitating earlier diagnosis and targeted therapies.
A Multi-cohort Investigation Of The Effects Of BDNF Val66Met On Tau, Neurodegeneration And Cognition In Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,758.00
Summary
There are currently no disease modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease. We will elucidate the role of a genetic polymorphism that has previously been shown to exert neuroprotective effects on memory decline and brain volume loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease. By studying the role of this gene in multiple cohorts of individuals with varying degrees of Alzheimer’s disease risk, this study has high potential to uncover novel disease-modifying strategies for the treatment of the disease.
Structural Connectomes In Traumatic Brain Injury: Can Secondary Disease Progression Be Stopped And Cognitive Deficits Be Reversed?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Many people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience cognitive problems, including poor memory and concentration. TBI is often referred to as a ‘hidden disability’ because the overwhelming majority of patients with TBI show no abnormalities on standard MRI or CT scans. In my project, I will delineate the mechanisms of secondary injury in finer detail through enhanced neuroimaging techniques, resulting in new assessment and treatment modalities for individuals with TBI.
A Randomised Controlled Study Of An Upper Limb And Cognitive Intervention In Friedreich Ataxia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
Friedreich ataxia is a progressive, life shortening neurological condition. The main study in this Fellowship will examine the effect of movement and cognitive training on improving arm function and cognitive skills in people with Friedreich ataxia. Four groups of 10 people with Friedreich ataxia will each be exposed to different interventions and the outcomes will be assessed by a series of tests of upper limb function and cognition as well as magnetic resonance imaging.