Investigation Of Comorbid Anxiety And Depression In Older Adults (aged 60 Years And Above).
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,874.00
Summary
This project is concerned with improving understanding of anxiety and depression in older adults. The project includes investigation into methods for better assessment and detection, and examination of the effectiveness of psychological treatments for these problems. The project also includes experiments to investigate the factors that cause and maintain anxiety and depression in older adults, and how anxiety and depression might present differently from younger adults.
An Intervention Trial To Prevent Cognitive Impairment And Depression In Older Men
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,018.00
Summary
A gradual decline in the thinking processes, dementia and depression are major health issues for older people. There is already some evidence that deficiency in certain vitamins may be contributing to these problems. This project seeks to evaluate an inexpensive and simple vitamin supplement which may provide a highly cost-effective method of preventing cognitive decline, dementia and depression in older people. This research will also allow the evaluation of the role of certain biological and g ....A gradual decline in the thinking processes, dementia and depression are major health issues for older people. There is already some evidence that deficiency in certain vitamins may be contributing to these problems. This project seeks to evaluate an inexpensive and simple vitamin supplement which may provide a highly cost-effective method of preventing cognitive decline, dementia and depression in older people. This research will also allow the evaluation of the role of certain biological and genetic risk factors which may also impact on these problems. This project seeks to do a trial of these vitamins in older men who are at particular risk for these problems. The men in this project will be monitored by simple tests of their thinking and evaluating any symptoms of depression.Read moreRead less
RISK AND PROTECTION FACTORS FOR NORMAL AND ABNORMAL BRAIN AGEING: A LONGITUDINAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL MRI STUDY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$153,020.00
Summary
Brain is considered the last frontier of medicine, and ageing the major challenge to health care in the 21st century. In this proposal, we bring these two challenges together in a major new longitudinal study of ageing in Canberra that has recently been initiated. This is a longitudinal study of a random community sample covering 3 age groups - 20-24 years, 40-44 years and 60-64 years, with at least 2000 participants in each age group - who are being assessed in 1999-2001, and will be followed u ....Brain is considered the last frontier of medicine, and ageing the major challenge to health care in the 21st century. In this proposal, we bring these two challenges together in a major new longitudinal study of ageing in Canberra that has recently been initiated. This is a longitudinal study of a random community sample covering 3 age groups - 20-24 years, 40-44 years and 60-64 years, with at least 2000 participants in each age group - who are being assessed in 1999-2001, and will be followed up at 4-yearly intervals for 20 years. The focus of the study is on neuropsychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression, substance use and cognitive disorders). In this application, we propose to perform MRI scans and blood tests on a quarter (n-500) of the 60-64 sample to obtain an epidemiological sample for brain morphology. Not only will we be able to study changes in brain morphology over time, and relate it with cognitive function and psychiatric disorder, we will also be able to assess the role of risk and protection factors. We are particularly interested in brain reserve, dietary factors (anti-oxidants, omega 3, wine and folate) and drugs (anti-inflammatory drugs, hormone replacement and vitamin supplements) as protection factors, and hypertension, homocysteine levels, white matter lesions on MRI and low hippocampal volumes as risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia. We also want to study the brain morphological correlates of Depression in a community sample. The study will enhance our understanding of the ageing brain, both in health and disease, and identify factors that increase or decrease the risk of cognitive impairment and psychiatric disorder in old age.Read moreRead less
Effects Of Oestrogen On Mood, Memory And Quality Of Life Of Women Aged 70 Years Or Over
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,990.00
Summary
Oestrogen has a number of actions that extend well beyond the regulation of the reproductive cycle and sexual behaviour. The results of recent studies indicate that oestrogen may influence mood and a number of intellectual abilities such as memory and language. In addition, oestrogen replacement therapy seems to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease (the most frequent cause of dementia in Western societies) amongst postmenopausal women. The present study aims to: (1) investigate the association ....Oestrogen has a number of actions that extend well beyond the regulation of the reproductive cycle and sexual behaviour. The results of recent studies indicate that oestrogen may influence mood and a number of intellectual abilities such as memory and language. In addition, oestrogen replacement therapy seems to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease (the most frequent cause of dementia in Western societies) amongst postmenopausal women. The present study aims to: (1) investigate the association of depression and memory performance with physiological levels of oestrogen in women aged 70 years or over; and (2) investigate the evolution of depression and memory scores in old women treated with oestrogen replacement therapy as compared to placebo. The results of the present study may have important implications in the prevention and management of two of the most relevant mental health disorders of later life: depression and Alzheimer's disease.Read moreRead less