Local Sleep In The Awake Brain: An Underlying Cause Of Neurobehavioural Deficits In Sleep Apnea?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$582,330.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder which significantly impacts daytime functioning leading to excessive sleepiness, and problems with attention and thinking. Currently, the causes for cognitive impairment in OSA (including attentional lapses and performance deficits) are poorly understood. In the awake state, groups of neurons can briefly go “offline” as they do in sleep. These periods of “local sleep” may explain impaired task performance in OSA.
Addressing Therapeutic Challenges In Sleep Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$851,980.00
Summary
The aim of this fellowship is to improve the health and well-being of Australians by reducing the burden of sleep and disorders that disrupt the body clock such as shift work. My program will involve different fields of research combining their efforts together to understand more about sleep apnea and insomnia, the two most common sleep disorders. By this strategy, better treatment for sleep disorders will be found with particular impact on our aging population
Mothers' Sleep In The Postpartum Period: Effects On Safety-sensitive Tasks
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$71,252.00
Summary
Mothers' elevated sleepiness levels in the postpartum period and their exposure to safety-sensitive tasks is a significant issue that requires investigation. Research suggests that elevated sleepiness levels are associated with reduced cognitive and motor performance, which are vital when performing tasks with safety implications. This study will determine whether mothers' risk of injury, due to sleepiness, can be significantly reduced via improved knowledge and an evidence based intervention.
A New Clinical Tool To Assess Fitness-to-drive In Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$727,963.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affects 1 in 4 middle aged adults. OSA results in impaired neurobehavioral function, excessive sleepiness, and more than 2-fold increased motor vehicle crash risk and workplace accidents. However, not all patients are impaired and identifying patients at risk is a daily clinical challenge. This project proposes new and simple measures that can accurately identify patients with OSA who are most vulnerable to alertness failure and motor vehicle accident risk.
Modafinil For Neurobehavioural Dysfunction In Sleep Apnea Patients Who Cannot Use Standard Device-based Treatments.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$505,830.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is often caused by obesity and can result in fall-asleep car crashes. It is often treated by mechanical devices that keep the sleeping airway open. Unfortunately, around half of all patients cannot tolerate these treatments. We propose to help patients reduce obesity with a lifestyle intervention program whilst testing whether their daytime symptoms of sleepiness and poor driving ability can be treated with a wake-promoting drug called modafinil.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects 800,000 Australians and cost the country billions of dollars per year. Immediate daytime consequences of OSA are neurocognitive impairments leading to 200-700% increase in accident risks and a low quality of life. Longer-term consequences include high risk for diabetes and heart disease. There are no simple tests for assessing neurocognitive impairment in OSA. The project develops an automated test to administer neurocognitive functions.
Circadian Mechanisms For Sex Differences In Shift Work Tolerance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,002.00
Summary
It is well-established that women respond more poorly than men to shift work schedules, having more health complaints, more drowsiness and more accidents at work than men. The physiological cause of this sex difference is not known. Our research suggests that differences in the circadian rhythms of women and men may promote shift work intolerance in women. This study is designed to examine sex differences in the effect of office-level light on the biological clock during a simulated night shift.
The Clinical Effectiveness Of A Simple New Treatment For Supine-dependent Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$529,178.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnoea is a common and debilitating breathing problem in sleep with serious effects on sleep and health. A third of patients could be very simply treated by avoiding sleeping on their back. Existing treatments are uncomfortable, often not used and better options are needed. This project will test symptom relief and treatment adherence with a new comfortable low cost supine avoidance therapy against current best practice treatment.
Assessment Of Novel Biomarkers That Are Related Neurobehavioural Dysfunction In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Anoea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$312,941.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea is recognised as a common condition that has a clearly measurable impact on public health. However it is often difficult for doctors to decide which patients have problems with driving or day to day brain functioning. This study will measure driving and memory during an extended period of waking in patients with sleep apnea. Special markers of brain function will be correlated with performance results during this extended wakefulness challenge.