Tremor is the rhythmic shaking of a body part and is a common and disabling problem seen in diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Essential Tremor. At present there is no single diagnostic test to determine the cause of a person’s tremor. This project aims to combine the use of sensors that measure tremor and muscle activity with clinical assessment to develop new tests for reliably diagnosing and monitoring tremor, a key step to treating patients correctly and conducting future drug trials.
Predicting Treatment Response To Onabotulinumtoxin-a In MS-related Tremor: A Combined Clinical, Electrophysiological And Neuroimaging Approach.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$546,359.00
Summary
Shaking (tremor) of the upper limbs occur in many people with multiple sclerosis (MS). We have previously shown that botulinum toxin (Botox) injections could help reduce tremor. This study aims to study the effect of Botox in a larger group of people with MS and will include detailed MRI scans and electrical tremor monitoring tests to define the underlying changes in the brain that causes tremor. The results will help make Botox available as a tremor treatment for people with MS.
Tremor And Cognition In Multiple Sclerosis: Implementing Novel Treatments And Computerized Monitoring Strategies.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$303,014.00
Summary
This research program aims to study two disabling symptoms of multiple sclerosis namely upper limb shaking, or tremor, and memory dysfunction. The first project will develop a new treatment for MS arm tremor, Botulinum toxin injections, into routine clinical practice. The second project aims to make available a computerised test of memory that can be done in clinic waiting rooms or at home. This will help neurologists to rapidly pick up changes in memory in a person with MS and improve care.
Speech and chewing are accomplished automatically by the jaw muscles which have both the power to chew meat and even bone, and the precision to make extremely fine adjustments to the shape of the mouth that enable speech. The brain needs constant inputs from sensory receptors in and around the mouth to control these muscles. We will investigate how these sensory mechanisms automatically fine-tune the activity of the jaw muscles and the mechanisms that keep the jaw in its normal position when the ....Speech and chewing are accomplished automatically by the jaw muscles which have both the power to chew meat and even bone, and the precision to make extremely fine adjustments to the shape of the mouth that enable speech. The brain needs constant inputs from sensory receptors in and around the mouth to control these muscles. We will investigate how these sensory mechanisms automatically fine-tune the activity of the jaw muscles and the mechanisms that keep the jaw in its normal position when the subject is sitting quietly, or when the head is moving up and down during running. This normal rest position of the jaw is a vital point of reference for dentists who are making false teeth and for surgeons who are restoring damaged faces, but it is not known what mechanisms are responsible for it. Anyone who has experienced a sore tooth or sore jaw muscles will know that pain adversely affects normal chewing. A common symptom is limitation of jaw movements. We will determine how pain affects the control of jaw muscles. This is important for people with chronic facial pain from arthritis of the jaw joint or from grinding their teeth while they are asleep. Even if it is not possible to eliminate their pain, we hope to suggest approaches which will alleviate its effects. Another part of our study involves a computer model of the chewing system. Computer models enable scientists to examine the effect of various interventions such as surgery or orthodontics on a model before these are tried on humans. It is also possible to use such a virtual patient to answer important functional questions that cannot be examined in humans because the methods are unavailable, or because the procedures would be ethically unacceptable. The current version of the computer model is quite sophisticated anatomically, but lacks important information on the control systems that activate the muscles. We will collaborate with the developers of the model by providing this information.Read moreRead less
Understanding influences on physical activity and sedentary behaviour from preschool to preadolescence. While promotion of optimal levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviours during childhood is important for health, much remains unknown in this field. This study will extend an existing cohort of children, recruited at ages three to five years and followed up at six to eight years by reassessing these children at nine to eleven years. Novel additions to the cohort include long term foll ....Understanding influences on physical activity and sedentary behaviour from preschool to preadolescence. While promotion of optimal levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviours during childhood is important for health, much remains unknown in this field. This study will extend an existing cohort of children, recruited at ages three to five years and followed up at six to eight years by reassessing these children at nine to eleven years. Novel additions to the cohort include long term follow-up spanning preschool to preadolescence, application of an ecological framework, and collection of objective neighbourhood data using a Geographical Information System. Findings will provide important information for policy and interventions focused at the individual, family and neighbourhood level, to improve physical activity and sedentary behaviour levels across childhood.Read moreRead less
Providing children with a healthy start to life: promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviours during early childhood. Early childhood (0-5 yrs), when health behaviours develop and may track into later life, represents promise as a time to positively impact physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Yet study of these behaviours in 3-5 yr olds is only emerging, and is almost non-existent in younger children. This project aims to understand predictors of these behaviours using a s ....Providing children with a healthy start to life: promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviours during early childhood. Early childhood (0-5 yrs), when health behaviours develop and may track into later life, represents promise as a time to positively impact physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Yet study of these behaviours in 3-5 yr olds is only emerging, and is almost non-existent in younger children. This project aims to understand predictors of these behaviours using a suite of longitudinal studies, including objective measures, and will commence as early as 3-mths of age. It will study strategies for promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviours during early childhood, by investigating mechanisms of behaviour change in existing interventions to inform new strategies with potential to provide children with a healthy start to life.Read moreRead less
NaviGAIT: New Software To Simplify Interpretation Of Gait Analysis Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$179,905.00
Summary
NaviGAIT is a new software package to support interpretation of gait analysis data. It is based upon Gait Profiling, a new technique to reduce the complexity of such data. At present data intepretation is restricted to a few expert clinicians. The new software will allow non-expert clinicians to interpret data and hence make gait analysis more accessible, cheaper and more clincally useful. A module of NaviGAIT specifically for children with cerebral palsy will be the first to be developed.