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Outcomes Of Best Practice Diagnosis And Management Of Dementia In General Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$826,744.00
Summary
The outcome of this study will be new Australian data on what happens to people with dementia under the care of their GP, followed up for two years. In addition we will test the results for patients and carers of GP adherence to best practice for diagnosis and management of dementia. This is a 3-state randomised intervention trial in general practice which aims to add an extra year to an already funded study examining the outcomes for carers and patients of training GPs with extra skills in deme ....The outcome of this study will be new Australian data on what happens to people with dementia under the care of their GP, followed up for two years. In addition we will test the results for patients and carers of GP adherence to best practice for diagnosis and management of dementia. This is a 3-state randomised intervention trial in general practice which aims to add an extra year to an already funded study examining the outcomes for carers and patients of training GPs with extra skills in dementia screening and management guidelines. Outcomes for those GPs who adhere to the guidelines will be compared to outcomes for those GPs who do not. Patient and carer outcomes – include quality of life, depression, satisfaction with care and referral indicators, and patient pathways of care over the 24 month period will be recorded. In addition the study will examine barriers and enablers to GP best practice in dementia care.Read moreRead less
Understanding Frailty In Older People: An Epidemiological Insight
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
We need to find better and more efficient ways to identify older people at risk of poor outcomes. The measurement of frailty, a key concept in geriatric medicine, may provide this exact information. The proposed research will investigate frailty in large-scale population datasets across both community and hospital settings. Results can be used to guide patient management, influence public health policy and inform future intervention studies.
Health, Wellbeing, Disability And Service Pathways In Older (80+) Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,792.00
Summary
Over the next 40 years there will be a rapid increase in the numbers of people aged 80 year and over. In this study we will examine the health status and service use needs and patterns of a sample of older Australian who form part of an existing 12 year longitudinal study on ageing and who are now moving intoold-old age. The study will provide inmportant insights for service planners and older people themselves about the health and community service needs for people in the study age group.
Prevention And Management Of Mental Disorders In Older Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,486,509.00
Summary
Dementia, mild cognitive impairment and depression are the major neuropsychiatric problems that Australia’s ageing population will face in the next 50 years. With the rapid advances in neuroscience, we need a cohort of young researchers who can translate this knowledge into better health outcomes for older Australians. The Brain and Ageing Program (B and AP) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has identified potential future leaders who will develop key research themes to improve the men ....Dementia, mild cognitive impairment and depression are the major neuropsychiatric problems that Australia’s ageing population will face in the next 50 years. With the rapid advances in neuroscience, we need a cohort of young researchers who can translate this knowledge into better health outcomes for older Australians. The Brain and Ageing Program (B and AP) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has identified potential future leaders who will develop key research themes to improve the mental health of older Australians. This grant will enable them to take on this challenge.Read moreRead less
The Development And Evaluation Of Management Strategies Designed To Address Poly-morbidity In Older People: Implications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,150,705.00
Summary
Medicines are used to prevent or manage the symptoms of chronic disease, and thus their appropriate use impacts significantly on the quality of life of the elderly. Poly-morbidity, multiple chronic health problems affecting the one individual, is a common and increasing issue in our ageing population. In Australia, 60% of 65 year olds have 2 or more chronic conditions, while 80% of 85 year olds have 4 or more chronic conditions. As a result, medicine use is almost universal in the older populati ....Medicines are used to prevent or manage the symptoms of chronic disease, and thus their appropriate use impacts significantly on the quality of life of the elderly. Poly-morbidity, multiple chronic health problems affecting the one individual, is a common and increasing issue in our ageing population. In Australia, 60% of 65 year olds have 2 or more chronic conditions, while 80% of 85 year olds have 4 or more chronic conditions. As a result, medicine use is almost universal in the older population and it is common for older patients to take multiple medications concurrently. There are no studies which report on current patterns of care and their outcomes in these patients. The use of individual disease-specific management guidelines may be problematic for those with poly-morbidity. Disease specific treatment guidelines often fail to take into account complexities that arise when patients suffer from more than one chronic disease particularly when it is common for one treatment to be both beneficial and harmful in the same person. In addition, the evidence for medicine-based treatment often comes from studies on younger people. Consequently, older patients with lower tolerance are at a greater risk of adverse drug reactions and are admitted to hospital as a result of such reactions at a disproportionately high rate. The aim of this study is to establish a methodology, by examination of two health databases, for developing guidelines to achieve the best possible outcomes for older Australians with common combinations of chronic conditions. This research will provide a better understanding of the consequences of current patterns of care for older people with multiple chronic conditions, and enable the development of improved approaches to care. We will demonstrate the methodology using selected commonly occurring combinations of chronic conditions in older Australians. More realistic guidelines generated by undertaking this analysis in these major population databases will reduce the extent to which the elderly are placed at risk of adverse drug reactions, and better enable health care practitioners, in consultation with their elderly patients, to ensure the best possible health and quality of life outcomes for many older Australian patients who suffer from two or more chronic conditions.Read moreRead less
Predicting Health And Disease In Australian Men Over The Age Of 80 Years - The Health In Men Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$528,754.00
Summary
Australia is ageing rapidly but we still do not know whether the risk factors, such as health and lifestyle, that predict ill health in middle aged people, apply to people as they reach old age. This study of a large group of older men will examine the type and level of risk factors that apply to men aged beyond 75 years. It will not only determine rates of disability and mortality but also health service outcomes, including hospitalisation, and residential and community care usage.
The effect of mitochondrial and nuclear-cytoplasmic variation on longevity, metabolism and stress resistance in Drosophila. Much research points to a major role of free radical damage in aging, thus the belief that antioxidants might be beneficial in delaying aging. Free radicals are mostly formed in the subcellular organelles which consume oxygen and produce energy, and this may be the major site of age-related damage. This project seeks to understand the degree to which variation among these ....The effect of mitochondrial and nuclear-cytoplasmic variation on longevity, metabolism and stress resistance in Drosophila. Much research points to a major role of free radical damage in aging, thus the belief that antioxidants might be beneficial in delaying aging. Free radicals are mostly formed in the subcellular organelles which consume oxygen and produce energy, and this may be the major site of age-related damage. This project seeks to understand the degree to which variation among these subcellular organelles affect free radical damage and aging, using the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism.Read moreRead less
How critical is the inflammatory response in senile plaque formation in a mutant APP transgenic mouse model? The aims of this project is to examine the brains of mice genetically engineered to produce a human mutant form of insoluble beta amyloid protein known to play a critical role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). If the "trigger" for AD is an inflammatory reaction, then the relevant examination of the early stages of senile plaque formation in these animals could lead to pharma ....How critical is the inflammatory response in senile plaque formation in a mutant APP transgenic mouse model? The aims of this project is to examine the brains of mice genetically engineered to produce a human mutant form of insoluble beta amyloid protein known to play a critical role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). If the "trigger" for AD is an inflammatory reaction, then the relevant examination of the early stages of senile plaque formation in these animals could lead to pharmaceutical intervention to delay the development of this debilitating disease. A 5 year delay would significantly reduce the number of people with AD, not only adding years of improved quality of life, but also saving hundreds of millions of Australian dollars in health costs.Read moreRead less
Sensory impairments and driving: can older drivers cope with distracters? This research adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate the problems of older drivers, and drivers in general. The research will provide a clear understanding of how visual and auditory distracters impact upon the driving behaviour and safety of individuals with vision and hearing impairment and those experiencing age-related declines in cognitive skills. The research is highly significant in terms of improving o ....Sensory impairments and driving: can older drivers cope with distracters? This research adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate the problems of older drivers, and drivers in general. The research will provide a clear understanding of how visual and auditory distracters impact upon the driving behaviour and safety of individuals with vision and hearing impairment and those experiencing age-related declines in cognitive skills. The research is highly significant in terms of improving our understanding of how sensory impairment and age-related changes impact upon driving performance, the impact of an increasingly complex driving and in-vehicle environment and will provide tangible benefits for the road safety of the wider community.Read moreRead less
From Suspician to Intervention : Improving responsiveness to abuse of the elderly in acute and sub-acute health care. Early identification of risk and an integrated multidisciplinary response across the health service would be effective in responding to the multiple and complex behavioural and social issues which contribute to aged abuse as it presents in emergency, acute and sub-acute care, but are currently often ignored in health services and the literature. We propose that effective use of ....From Suspician to Intervention : Improving responsiveness to abuse of the elderly in acute and sub-acute health care. Early identification of risk and an integrated multidisciplinary response across the health service would be effective in responding to the multiple and complex behavioural and social issues which contribute to aged abuse as it presents in emergency, acute and sub-acute care, but are currently often ignored in health services and the literature. We propose that effective use of this "window of opportunity in health care" could extend the level of community response to this vulnerable group of people. Read moreRead less