ASPREE is the largest clinical trial ever conducted in Australia and will determine whether daily low dose aspirin prevents disease in healthy older people. The study was well-funded initially but will require additional support to complete the vital final stage of data collection and analysis. This will enable the study to answer important questions about the benefits and risks of aspirin in this age group and its effect on disability free survival.
There’s recent evidence that children get leaner and fitter during the school term, but become fatter and less fit over the summer holidays. This may be because of differences in activity and diet: on holidays, children may eat more, be less active and have more screen time. We propose to track the time use, diet, fitness and fatness of 9-11 year old children across three school years. If the pattern is confirmed, we should focus more on the home environment, or perhaps encourage summer camps.
Participate-CP: Optimising Participation In Physically Active Leisure For Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,014,872.00
Summary
In Australia, 35,000 people have cerebral palsy, who compared to able-bodied peers, are less active with a greater risk of chronic, life-limiting health conditions. There are currently no effective interventions for children with cerebral palsy to increase their physical activity and participation in active leisure activities. We have promising data about a new intervention, called Participate-CP, which we will test in 80 children with cerebral palsy and compare results to usual therapy care.
Fall Prevention And Physical Activity Promotion For Older Adults: Cluster Trial Of Effectiveness And Cost-effectiveness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,291,950.00
Summary
This cluster randomised controlled trial will establish the impact on physical activity and falls of an intervention program that targets both physical activity and falls using assessment, advice and health coaching. The trial will involve 60 established groups of older people, recruited from local chapters of community organisations including Probus, the Older Women’s Network, registered clubs and church groups (estimated average group size of 10; total n = 600).
Active Team – Examining An Online Social Networking Intervention To Increase Physical Activity In Controlled (RCT) And Ecological (ET) Settings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$814,041.00
Summary
Lifestyle diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, are key health problems facing Australia. Effective, low-cost, mass-reach physical activity interventions are urgently needed. This project uses online social networks to deliver an innovative physical activity intervention. This project will determine how effective the software is in changing people’s lifestyle over 12 months, and whether viral marketing techniques can be used to disseminate the program on a mass scale.
A Scalable Intervention For Increasing Vigorous Physical Activity Among Older Adolescents: The ‘ Burn To Learn ’ Cluster RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$636,912.00
Summary
Physical inactivity has been described as a global pandemic and only 15% of Australian adolescents are sufficiently active. The pressure to perform in major school assessments drives many older adolescents to sacrifice physical activity to maximise academic performance. Our team has designed a time-efficient solution to increase physical activity in senior high school students using high intensity interval training which will be evaluated using a cluster randomised controlled trial.
A Randomised Controlled Trial To Improve Depression In Family Carers Through A Physical Activity Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$727,745.00
Summary
This RCT of a physical activity intervention for carers and care recipients aims to determine whether physical activity (designed for carer and care recipient to do together) can reduce depression in older carers. The intervention includes a physiotherapist assessment, Otago and Otago-Plus exercise programs in carer/care recipient’s home over six-months. An economic evaluation will be undertaken. If successful, the intervention could be broadly applied within the carer support service system.
Improving Weight Loss By Intermittent Use Of Very Low Energy Diet: The TANGO Diet Trial (Temporary Phases Of Accelerated Weight Loss For Noticeably Greater Outcomes)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$660,736.00
Summary
Very low energy diet (VLED) is being increasingly used for the treatment of obesity, but the resultant weight loss is usually transient, partly because it induces powerful adaptive responses that inhibit weight loss and promote regain. We have shown that 'taking a break from dieting' for 2 weeks reduces these adaptive responses. In this project we will thus test whether weight loss outcomes with VLED can be improved via intermittent use, where periods on the VLED are alternated with 'breaks'.
A Life Course Approach To Characterising And Predicting Inactivity And Sedentary Behaviour Of Young Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,006.00
Summary
Poor activity habits are expected to overtake smoking as the leading preventable cause of health burden in Australia. Poor activity habits increase the risk for a shorter life and many health problems such as heart disease, some cancers and diabetes. Young adulthood is an important time for individuals to develop their lifestyle habits. This study will provide the first detailed description of the inactivity habits of Australians in their early 20s and factors we can target before adulthood to e ....Poor activity habits are expected to overtake smoking as the leading preventable cause of health burden in Australia. Poor activity habits increase the risk for a shorter life and many health problems such as heart disease, some cancers and diabetes. Young adulthood is an important time for individuals to develop their lifestyle habits. This study will provide the first detailed description of the inactivity habits of Australians in their early 20s and factors we can target before adulthood to encourage healthy habits.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Clinical Trial Of Physical Activity To Delay The Progression Of Cerebrovascular Pathology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$654,613.00
Summary
The aim of this randomised clinical trial is to establish whether a 24 months physical activity (PA) program for older adults with memory problems can delay the progression of damage to the blood vessel system in the brain, measured on an MRI scan. It also will investigate whether cognition, mood, quality of life, functional level, fitness and biological markers will improve with the intervention. If successful this PA program could become part of clinical care for adults at risk of dementia.