Glucose facilitation of cognitive function: Effects of effort, age and glucose control. Age-related decline in mental capacity contributes to the economic (estimated at over 2 trillion AUD by 2050), social and human costs of an increasingly older Australian population. The studies in this program aim to understand the role of poor control of blood glucose in age-related cognitive deficits. The role of individual differences in biological (hormonal responses) and psychological (stress and appetit ....Glucose facilitation of cognitive function: Effects of effort, age and glucose control. Age-related decline in mental capacity contributes to the economic (estimated at over 2 trillion AUD by 2050), social and human costs of an increasingly older Australian population. The studies in this program aim to understand the role of poor control of blood glucose in age-related cognitive deficits. The role of individual differences in biological (hormonal responses) and psychological (stress and appetite) factors will also be assessed. A better understanding of the nature of age-related cognitive decline as it relates to biological processes such as blood glucose control will help to develop tangible strategies to combat age-related cognitive decline and dementia (which has been described as Type 3 diabetes).Read moreRead less
Cognitive, behavioural and educational outcomes of fetal antiepileptic drug exposure. The study falls within the National Research Priority of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health, in particular the Priority Goal - A Healthy Start to Life. The research will yield information crucial to our understanding of the effects of fetal AED exposure on cognitive and behavioural development in the significant number of affected Australian children born each year. It will enhance the nation's ability to de ....Cognitive, behavioural and educational outcomes of fetal antiepileptic drug exposure. The study falls within the National Research Priority of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health, in particular the Priority Goal - A Healthy Start to Life. The research will yield information crucial to our understanding of the effects of fetal AED exposure on cognitive and behavioural development in the significant number of affected Australian children born each year. It will enhance the nation's ability to develop strategies for prevention, surveillance and remediation of adverse outcomes in early childhood, thus supporting the Government's National Agenda for Early Childhood initiative. As a consequence educational assistance can be targeted for those children likely to experience difficulties. Read moreRead less
Biomarkers and objective assessment of cognitive and brain effects of fish oil dietary supplementation. There are potential widespread community benefits from knowing whether consuming fish oils will improve cognitive function. This is mainfest in children and even more so in those suffering attention deficits at a time when inattention and hyperacitvity is likely to permanently lower their overall career prospects.
Integrative brain imaging technologies. This project aims to develop quantitative metabolic imaging using simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). The current generation of MR-PET scanners are capable of simultaneously acquiring MRI and PET data to enable quantitative anatomical, physiological and metabolic imaging. The project aims to develop new MRI methods for quantitative anatomical mapping, MR-based motion correction of dynamic PET scan data, and ....Integrative brain imaging technologies. This project aims to develop quantitative metabolic imaging using simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). The current generation of MR-PET scanners are capable of simultaneously acquiring MRI and PET data to enable quantitative anatomical, physiological and metabolic imaging. The project aims to develop new MRI methods for quantitative anatomical mapping, MR-based motion correction of dynamic PET scan data, and joint estimation of physiological and metabolic organ activity. These advances will create innovative imaging technologies for advanced biomedical imaging research with a particular emphasis in healthy ageing.
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Assessment and treatment software for developmental disabilities based on neuroscientific theories for information processing. Performance on tasks relating to fluency of reading, language and sensory motor integration is impaired to some degree in children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and intellectual disability (ID). Thus our aim is to develop and test, to the point of commercial release, software for assessment of visual and auditory performance relating to social, language and literacy diff ....Assessment and treatment software for developmental disabilities based on neuroscientific theories for information processing. Performance on tasks relating to fluency of reading, language and sensory motor integration is impaired to some degree in children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and intellectual disability (ID). Thus our aim is to develop and test, to the point of commercial release, software for assessment of visual and auditory performance relating to social, language and literacy difficulties for young children. Furthermore software which aims to train attention and improve speed of visual object recognition will be developed and if effective as a treatment to improve reading and social interactions in ID, will be released by Fildes Foundation as an easily accessible multi-media based home/school therapy.Read moreRead less
Using musical training to examine brain plasticity and cognitive skill development. Until recently, the brain was likened to a computer - hard-wired with minimal response to injury. Exciting new research is altering this view, showing that the brain can change in response to the environment. This study will use sophisticated brain scanning techniques with musicians who have rare, absolute pitch ability. This ability develops with exposure to early training during a critical time period. We will ....Using musical training to examine brain plasticity and cognitive skill development. Until recently, the brain was likened to a computer - hard-wired with minimal response to injury. Exciting new research is altering this view, showing that the brain can change in response to the environment. This study will use sophisticated brain scanning techniques with musicians who have rare, absolute pitch ability. This ability develops with exposure to early training during a critical time period. We will test the relationship between this exposure and changes in brain shape and function. The results will tell us about the interaction between genes and environment, and the way normal development can be enhanced by early experiences.Read moreRead less
Modelling and manipulating brain network dynamics across the lifespan. This project aims to integrate advanced computational modelling and state-of-the-art recording techniques to generate new knowledge on the neural basis of ageing. People are said to grow wiser as they grow older, though more likely they will experience cognitive slowing and reduced memory functions that interfere with their daily lives. The anticipated goal of the project is to develop techniques to predict the personalised e ....Modelling and manipulating brain network dynamics across the lifespan. This project aims to integrate advanced computational modelling and state-of-the-art recording techniques to generate new knowledge on the neural basis of ageing. People are said to grow wiser as they grow older, though more likely they will experience cognitive slowing and reduced memory functions that interfere with their daily lives. The anticipated goal of the project is to develop techniques to predict the personalised effects of brain stimulation on the ageing brain. The outcomes of this research could significantly improve understanding of brain ageing, and advance the fields of systems neuroscience, network science, and brain stimulation.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100406
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,936.00
Summary
Cognitive Compensation in Ageing. Decline in cognitive control can have a devastating effect on an individual's capacity to live a high quality and safe independent life. It is an untested assumption that older adults can compensate for age-related changes in cognitive control function to perform at the same level as younger adults. This project aims to be the first to test this widely-held assumption and will examine changes in cognitive control and the emergence of compensation over the adult ....Cognitive Compensation in Ageing. Decline in cognitive control can have a devastating effect on an individual's capacity to live a high quality and safe independent life. It is an untested assumption that older adults can compensate for age-related changes in cognitive control function to perform at the same level as younger adults. This project aims to be the first to test this widely-held assumption and will examine changes in cognitive control and the emergence of compensation over the adult lifespan (20 to 90 years). The project aims to establish whether cognitive compensation is an effective mechanism to maintain cognitive control function into old age and will inform future strategies to help older individuals live more successful and productive independent lives for longer.Read moreRead less
Continuity and change in the development of young children with autism. Autism is a severe condition affecting social interaction, communication, behaviour and interests. Parents of children with autism experience high levels of stress associated with the burden of caring. There is a high societal cost associated with the care of people with autism. Research shows outcome in autism is poor, but that early intervention may improve outcome. This project will identify specific early precursors of a ....Continuity and change in the development of young children with autism. Autism is a severe condition affecting social interaction, communication, behaviour and interests. Parents of children with autism experience high levels of stress associated with the burden of caring. There is a high societal cost associated with the care of people with autism. Research shows outcome in autism is poor, but that early intervention may improve outcome. This project will identify specific early precursors of autism which predict outcome. This will allow the development of targeted intervention to give children the best possible start in life and improve longterm outcome. Improvement to the outcome of people with autism will considerably reduce parental and family burden and cost to the community.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.