What Can Tau Deposition Tell Us About The Appearance Of Subjective And Objective Cognitive Decline In Older Adults?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$674,077.00
Summary
Subjective memory concerns are common in older adults, but it is uncertain how they relate to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers. Novel neuroimaging techniques have been developed for measuring tau deposition, a hallmark feature of AD. Using this technique, I aim to determine whether tau is sensitive to certain types of subjective concerns. My findings will reveal which concerns are indicative of AD risk, and which arise from unrelated factors, such as inattention or stress.
Ageing And Dementia In Aboriginal Australians: Promoting Vitality, Identifying Decline And Supporting Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,411.00
Summary
Dementia is a growing concern and burden on communities for Aboriginal Australians. This fellowship will develop effective, culturally appropriate, and accessible strategies to promote healthy brain ageing and prevent dementia in Aboriginal communities. It will also investigate better ways to assess memory and thinking in this population, in order to identify changes as early as possible for enhanced dementia research and treatment prospects.
Understanding And Preventing Physical And Cognitive Decline And Falls In Older People With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,626.00
Summary
Falls are common in people with dementia and are more likely to result in injury, death and institutionalisation. There is limited evidence that falls can be prevented in this group. Strategies aimed at maintaining independence and preventing decline and falls are urgently needed. This research will a) further our understanding of fall risk and functional decline and b) explore novel fall and decline prevention programs, including the use of technology in older people with dementia.
My research will explore the pathophysiological mechanisms that link disturbed sleep and circadian rhythm with cognitive impairment and dementia. I will explore how sleep and circadian disruption in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) impact on body and brain vascular function. I will also explore whether OSA treatment and light therapy in MCI patients can arrest or even improve brain vascular function through improved sleep/circadian function.
Can Music Mend Minds? Investigating The Mechanisms Underlying The Beneficial Effects Of Music On Persons With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$411,108.00
Summary
Music can have positive effects on persons with dementia. It be a powerful trigger of memories and emotions and provide a link to one's personal past and a form of communication with carers. Familiar songs can be recognised even in the late stages of dementia when verbal communication and memory for other things may be lost. There has been little scientific investigation of how and why music can help people with dementia and their carers. This research will address this issue.
Development Of A Unified List Of Drugs Associated With Drug-induced Cognitive Impairment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,573.00
Summary
This research will develop a comprehensive list of drugs probably impairing cognition. These drugs will be identified from a large spontaneous reporting system in combination with those from published literature. The association of identified drugs and cognitive impairment will be tested using prescription sequence symmetry analyses in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme claims database and validated through formal epidemiological studies in Australian ongoing longitudinal population-based cohorts.
A Multi-faceted Intervention To Enhance Cognition In Older People At Risk Of Cognitive Decline
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,224.00
Summary
There is an urgent need to investigate interventions which could reduce the number of people living with dementia in the future. This research aims to improve cognition in older people, experiencing early signs of memory decline, using a multi-modal exercise program combined with dietary supplements. Findings from this research will contribute to primary and secondary dementia prevention approaches.
‘Agents Of Change’: Improving Post Diagnosis Care For People With Dementia And Their Carers Through The Establishment Of A National Quality Collaborative To Implement Guideline Recommendations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$770,518.00
Summary
This project aims to improve outcomes for people with dementia and their carers by focussing on three areas of post diagnostic care: exercise, multicomponent occupational therapy to promote independence and carer support programs. We will establish networks with health professionals at a variety of organisations across Australia and work with these health professionals to improve care practices within their organisation.
Sleep, Plasticity And Neurodegeneration: Targeting Sleep To Improve Cognition In Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$525,116.00
Summary
Older individuals with mild cognitive impairment commonly experience disturbed sleep and about 50% will convert to dementia. It is unclear whether sleep disturbance mediates cognitive decline and progression to dementia. Optimising sleep presents a novel strategy to slow disease progression. This new research program explores links between sleep and dementia to identify new biomarkers of disease progression and new targeted therapeutic approaches to improve quality of life for older Australians.
Predicting Perioperative Cognitive Disorders In The Elderly Based On Cardiovascular Risk, AD Risk And New Biomarkers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$471,826.00
Summary
Anaesthesia and surgery are common in the elderly and are known to lead to memory and thinking problems. Why this happens is unclear. I plan to study confusion, memory and thinking problems before and after surgery and to determine if blood or cerebrospinal fluid tests or modifying cardiovascular disease can predict this happening. This work will lead to early identification of people who are at risk of cognitive problems following anaesthesia and surgery, and ways to prevent this happening.