Drivers of ageing and adaptive ageing in middle-aged and older adults. This project aims to answer crucial questions about how our early years influence our health and wellbeing in middle and later life. Drawing on one of Australia’s longest running studies of social and emotional development, we link decades of developmental data collected since 1983 to social, emotional, cognitive and physical wellbeing in participants turning 40 (midlife) and 70 (later life). It will provide insight into impo ....Drivers of ageing and adaptive ageing in middle-aged and older adults. This project aims to answer crucial questions about how our early years influence our health and wellbeing in middle and later life. Drawing on one of Australia’s longest running studies of social and emotional development, we link decades of developmental data collected since 1983 to social, emotional, cognitive and physical wellbeing in participants turning 40 (midlife) and 70 (later life). It will provide insight into important and largely unanswered questions about the way social factors in the first half of life shape our later selves. This study will inform government and health policy targeting ageing populations.
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Testing theoretical models of age and disease related changes to inform prevention. Pathological brain changes associated with future cognitive decline become detectable in the 40s or earlier. Yet little is known about what constitutes normal brain ageing in mid-life. Using a number of neuroimaging and epidemiological techniques this project will scrutinise brain and cognitive ageing in middle-age and their significance.
Ageing drivers: Cognitive ageing and technology. This project aims to enhance our understanding of whether cognitive changes associated with ageing impacts older drivers' use of emerging vehicle automation and assistive technologies. Through analysis of insurance claims databases, a large consumer survey and a naturalistic driving study, evidence will be obtained on how ageing and cognition interact with assistive technology. Findings will inform older drivers, government policy makers and indus ....Ageing drivers: Cognitive ageing and technology. This project aims to enhance our understanding of whether cognitive changes associated with ageing impacts older drivers' use of emerging vehicle automation and assistive technologies. Through analysis of insurance claims databases, a large consumer survey and a naturalistic driving study, evidence will be obtained on how ageing and cognition interact with assistive technology. Findings will inform older drivers, government policy makers and industry on ageing, cognitive changes and the use of assistive technology in vehicles. This will provide benefits for older drivers by promoting optimal driving which will enhance social engagement as well as safety. Read moreRead less
Enhancing learning capacity and academic outcomes using novel game technology in primary school children with developmental disabilities. Childhood inattention has been linked with poor academic outcomes and reduced social inclusion. In children with developmental disabilities improving poor attention skills is essential. The project aims to provide a novel and engaging evidence-based intervention program delivered as a portable, interactive game accessible in rural and urban communities.
Attentional mechanisms in the relationship between sleep disruption and academic outcomes in Australian school children. This project will assess the impact of sleep problems on attention and academic performance in primary school children. The project will investigate typically developing children and children with developmental disorders over 18 months. The research will advance knowledge of the interplay between sleep, attention and learning across development.
Day-to-day life of adults after age 85: the interplay of mood, engagement, cognition and health in the context of prior functioning. The research will offer considerable social benefits to the Australian community by providing a rare insight into how people over the age of 85 can continue to contribute actively to, and remain engaged with, society. It will improve knowledge and understanding of productive ageing by examining how everyday cognition and mood vary depending on different situational ....Day-to-day life of adults after age 85: the interplay of mood, engagement, cognition and health in the context of prior functioning. The research will offer considerable social benefits to the Australian community by providing a rare insight into how people over the age of 85 can continue to contribute actively to, and remain engaged with, society. It will improve knowledge and understanding of productive ageing by examining how everyday cognition and mood vary depending on different situational contexts and daily activities. It will offer information on the challenges and opportunities experienced by this group of older adults, and reveal the inter-relatedness of social networks, isolation, independence and health for this group of very old adults.Read moreRead less
The impact of female sex hormones on neurodevelopment. This project aims to characterise the contribution of sex hormones to the development of emotional brain circuits in female adolescents. Puberty is associated with profound changes in emotional behaviours in females, but we know little about the underlying brain mechanisms. In particular, research has neglected to consider the role of the sex hormones for which changes are a defining feature of female puberty (eg, oestradiol). This work will ....The impact of female sex hormones on neurodevelopment. This project aims to characterise the contribution of sex hormones to the development of emotional brain circuits in female adolescents. Puberty is associated with profound changes in emotional behaviours in females, but we know little about the underlying brain mechanisms. In particular, research has neglected to consider the role of the sex hormones for which changes are a defining feature of female puberty (eg, oestradiol). This work will be the first to comprehensively advance our understanding of the unique role of sex hormones in shaping the adolescent female brain. It will provide critical understanding of how individual differences in hormonal factors increase risk for emotional problems in females, and inform treatment strategies.Read moreRead less
The NSW child development study. Research shows that a child's development predicts health and social outcomes later in life. This Australian project will be the first to identify risk and protective factors associated with these outcomes in 87,000 children from birth to 10 years. The results will help inform governments to improve our children's health and educational achievements.
Into the thirties: Persistence and social consequences of risky drinking. The aim of this project is to investigate the social contexts, roles and consequences of problematic alcohol use in adults aged 30, using long term longitudinal resources able to observe the development and corollary of alcohol use over time. It is posited that such drinkers entering their third decade of life persist in levels of problematic alcohol use typically associated with younger ages and that this leads to social ....Into the thirties: Persistence and social consequences of risky drinking. The aim of this project is to investigate the social contexts, roles and consequences of problematic alcohol use in adults aged 30, using long term longitudinal resources able to observe the development and corollary of alcohol use over time. It is posited that such drinkers entering their third decade of life persist in levels of problematic alcohol use typically associated with younger ages and that this leads to social consequences, such as gender specific risks, relationship conflicts and more severe long term effects. Outcomes from this project are expected to inform the generation of relevant prevention and intervention strategies aimed to address problem drinking in adult Australians.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100080
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,352.00
Summary
Closing the Disadvantaged Gap: Self-Beliefs and Task Value as Drivers of Educational Choices During the Post High School Transition. Australia's economic future requires education to close the gap between disadvantaged and advantaged students. Even successful interventions, however, typically increase the gap with advantaged students benefitting more. Whilst most efforts focus on test scores, evidence suggests that non-cognitive outcomes (such as, self-concept, task value, motivation and social ....Closing the Disadvantaged Gap: Self-Beliefs and Task Value as Drivers of Educational Choices During the Post High School Transition. Australia's economic future requires education to close the gap between disadvantaged and advantaged students. Even successful interventions, however, typically increase the gap with advantaged students benefitting more. Whilst most efforts focus on test scores, evidence suggests that non-cognitive outcomes (such as, self-concept, task value, motivation and social context) are critical in closing the gap. This project will test these predictions for successful educational transitions by disadvantaged students, using an innovative blend of multiple large-scale primary and secondary data sources, and new, evolving statistical models. This project will provide potential actions for strengthening the economic and social future of disadvantaged youth in Australia and beyond.Read moreRead less