Challenging Behaviours In Dementia: Mechanisms, Assessment And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
This research program focuses on the behavioural symptoms of dementia. These symptoms are common, and can range from reduced motivation and empathy to overeating, gambling and socially-inappropriate or repetitive behaviour. Notably, these behaviours are challenging for carers and families to cope with, and often lead to patients being placed into aged care facilities. My research aims to understand why these symptoms develop and how we can manage these behaviours effectively.
Assessing The Impact Of A Multi-component Intervention To Improve Dietary Intake Of Indigenous Australian Children And Their Families Living In Remote Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,455,043.00
Summary
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption seems to contribute to obesity and diabetes. We aim to test the impact of multi-component intervention including a school-based nutrition education program combining high levels of parental involvement plus a supportive environment to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and improve healthy eating among Indigenous Australian children and their families living in remote communities.
Association Of Retinal Vascular Calibre With Physical Activity And Sedentary Behaviour In Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$104,664.00
Summary
The back of the eye provides a unique window to the health of the body's veins and arteries. The diameter of its blood vessels can be measured using photographs. Studies have shown that these measurements can help identify a person's risk of high blood pressure, diabetes or stroke. This project aims to see if the state of health of these blood vessels are related to a person's level of physical activity and television viewing time using data from a large-scale Australian study.
Implementing Population-specific Psychosocial Interventions To Optimise Treatment, Care And Support Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Who Use Methamphetamine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,068,044.00
Summary
Methamphetamine dependence is a key public health priority and men who have sex with men are identified as a priority population. Our partnership will develop interventions which will be linked to the cohort data to permit us to monitor the impact on health outcomes and access to care and support over time. The findings will support the process of creating and evaluating innovations with the ultimate goal of improving access to care and support and reducing dependence and its harmful outcomes.
A Family-centred Intervention To Reduce Challenging Behaviours In Children With Acquired Brain Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$87,926.00
Summary
Children with acquired brain injury (ABI) are at risk of behavioural and social difficulties. Parental distress compromises parenting abilities, with adverse effects for the child with ABI. This project investigates the applicability of a family-centred program for parents to manage the difficult behaviour of their children. It is expected that parents of children with ABI will benefit from the parenting skills taught in the program, and prevent difficult behaviour occurring in the future.
Sitting Less And Moving More: Population Health Research To Understand And Influence Sedentary Behaviour
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,367,518.00
Summary
The majority of Australian adults spend most of their waking hours sitting: at home, at work, and in their cars; most do not participate in exercise or sport. This leads to weight gain and to diseases of inactivity (particularly diabetes, heart disease, cancer and depression). New research will measure sitting time and the physical activity in people's daily lives, what factors encourage inactivity, and how to increase activity levels, especially among the ageing 'baby boomer' population.
The Ecstasy Check-Up: A Multi-site Trial Of A Brief Intervention For Ecstasy Use Among Regular Ecstasy Users
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,432.00
Summary
Rates of ecstasy use have continued to rise rapidly over the past 10-15 years, particularly among young people. This is of concern, as several studies indicate that ecstasy is associated with a range of short- and long-term harms. Although many users acknowledge risks associated with ecstasy use, few users seek treatment. Therefore, the current project will aim to reduce ecstasy use and harm by providing non-treatment seeking ecstasy users with a brief motivational intervention.
Efficacy Of Prism Adaptation For Recovery Of Brain Function In Unilateral Spatial Neglect
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,690.00
Summary
Damage to the brain’s attention network causes profound impairments of visual and sensory perception. These deficits are frequently long-lasting, and are a major factor in preventing patients from regaining functional independence. This project will use a combination of behavioural and brain imaging techniques to determine whether a promising new treatment involving visual retraining can improve function and reduce perceptual impairments after unilateral brain lesions.
Bringing Fields Together: Identifying Individuals At Risk Of Eating Disorders In Weight Management Programs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,144.00
Summary
A major barrier in improving obesity and eating disorder care is the hotly debated issue of eating disorder risk following weight management. Using 'big data' methods and international collaborations, we will analyse individual-level data from weight management trials with eating disorder assessments, and deconstruct these complex interventions into their smallest 'active ingredients'. We will translate findings into recommendations so that treatment approaches can be tailored to individuals.
Centre Of Research Excellence In The Early Prevention Of Obesity In Childhood -Translate (EPOCH-Translate)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
Overweight & obesity affect 1:4 Australian children by the time they start school. The Centre of Research Excellence in the Early Prevention of Obesity in Childhood: Translate (EPOCH-translate) brings together researchers from across Australia and New Zealand to work out how best to prevent obesity in children aged 0-5 years. We will look at what works in the long-term, what is the best value for money, and what works for parents as well as health professionals.