Age-related Changes In Vision And Cognitive Performance: Are There Cognitive Benefits From Cataract Surgery?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$101,074.00
Summary
It is possible that some of the confusion and memory loss experienced by older people is due to perceptual errors resulting from poor vision. If this is the case, then treating visual impairment may improve everyday cognitive functioning in some older people. This study aims to find out if the improvement in vision experienced after cataract surgery leads to improvement in memory and cognitive processing among older persons. The study will follow a group of adults aged 70 and older who are about ....It is possible that some of the confusion and memory loss experienced by older people is due to perceptual errors resulting from poor vision. If this is the case, then treating visual impairment may improve everyday cognitive functioning in some older people. This study aims to find out if the improvement in vision experienced after cataract surgery leads to improvement in memory and cognitive processing among older persons. The study will follow a group of adults aged 70 and older who are about to undergo cataract surgery and test them on measures of cognitive performance before surgery, and 3 and 12 months after surgery. Another group of older adults with cataracts who have not yet had surgery and a non-cataract group will also be studied over the 12 month period. The hypothesis of the study is that the group who have had cataract surgery will show greater improvement on the measures of memory and cognitive processing over the follow-up period than the other two groups. The design of the study will allow us to determine whether improvement is due to either; a) simply being able to see the tests better, b) improvement in mood and social participation as a result of cataract surgery; c) changes in the brain that occur from increased sensory stimulation; or d) a combination of these factors.Read moreRead less
Longitudinal Brain Changes In First-episode Psychosis: A 10 Year Follow-up MRI Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$165,250.00
Summary
It is now widely accepted that schizophrenia is associated with changes in the structure of the brain. Until recently these structural changes were considered to predate the onset of illness and to remain static. However, our own work has suggested an alternative model, which relates schizophrenia to brain changes at specific life stages. In order to demonstrate this, we intend to acquire repeat brain images on 100 patients who were initially scanned 10 years ago at the start of their psychotic ....It is now widely accepted that schizophrenia is associated with changes in the structure of the brain. Until recently these structural changes were considered to predate the onset of illness and to remain static. However, our own work has suggested an alternative model, which relates schizophrenia to brain changes at specific life stages. In order to demonstrate this, we intend to acquire repeat brain images on 100 patients who were initially scanned 10 years ago at the start of their psychotic illness. This would be the largest follow-up study of first episode psychosis in the world, with the longest interval between the first and second brain scan. Further, for a proportion of patients we will have 3 MRI scans, at illness onset, 2-4 years post-onset, followed by a third scan at 10 years, thereby providing unique follow-up brain imaging data. Based on our own and other research, we intend to explore the relationship between progressive brain change over a ten year period and: (i) the diagnosis of the patient (schizophrenia or other disorder), (ii) the clinical and functional outcome of the patient (still chronically ill or with no further episode of psychosis), and (iii) the cognitive state of the patient (their ability to perform well on tests of memory, planning and so on). We are able to conduct this study because of the existence of an infrastructure developed to follow-up patients, with a recontact rate of 70% of those patients admitted in 1992 and 1993. In this study we seek to implement these strategies for the patients identified after 1994. The results of this study will test our ideas derived from our model of the major psychotic illnesses and may identify the structural brain changes which are associated with the development of chronic schizophrenia and other psychoses. A further novel outcome will be the inclusion of patients who have remained well and identiifying the structural correlates of a good prognosis.Read moreRead less
Aspirin For The Prevention Of Cognitive Decline In The Elderly: A Neuro-Vascular Imaging Study (ENVIS-ion) From ASPREE
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,341,232.00
Summary
The ENVIS-ion trial will examine whether Aspirin is effective in delaying the onset of worsening of thinking and memory abilities in healthy older adults. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain structure will detect markers of early worsening of thinking and memory abilities. Blood vessels in the back of the eye (retina) share many features with vessels in the brain. We will compare whether aspirin lessens changes over time of features shown with brain MRI and retinal photography.
Prevalence And Genetic Mechanisms Of Neurological And Gynaecological Changes In Women Carrying Small FMR1 Expansions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$411,895.00
Summary
Fragile X syndrome is one of the commonest genetic forms of mental retardation. The abnormal gene is passed from mothers to their sons or daughters, on their X chromosome. The gene abnormality is unstable, tending to worsen each time it is passed on. But if this gene abnormality is passed from fathers to their daughters, it does not worsen. Therefore, grandfathers of the affected children on their mother's side, as well as the mothers, may carry a mildly abnormal gene (a premutation), insufficie ....Fragile X syndrome is one of the commonest genetic forms of mental retardation. The abnormal gene is passed from mothers to their sons or daughters, on their X chromosome. The gene abnormality is unstable, tending to worsen each time it is passed on. But if this gene abnormality is passed from fathers to their daughters, it does not worsen. Therefore, grandfathers of the affected children on their mother's side, as well as the mothers, may carry a mildly abnormal gene (a premutation), insufficient to cause mental retardation. However, it has recently been discovered that these grandfathers may develop a syndrome (FXTAS) of tremor, incoordination, slowness of movements and mild dementia in their later years. Women were thought to be protected, as they carry TWO X chromosomes, one of which is normal even if the other has a premutation. But very recent reports suggest that they may also develop the FXTAS syndrome, as well as early menopause. This study aims to see how common and severe these abnormalities are in women who carry the premutation, using clinical, MRI and electronic measurements, and to relate the abnormalities to the severity of the gene malfunction and familial predisposition.Read moreRead less
Finding The Optimum Target And Predictors Of Outcome In Deep Brain Stimulation Of Older Patients With Parkinsons Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,392.00
Summary
Parkinson's disease treatment has been revolutionised by the advent of deep brain stimulator surgery. The major benefits come from improved motor function and quality of life. We aim to test the relative benefits of two different targets for brain stimulation and compare their effects on quality of life and cognition. We will also use some of Australia's expertise in brain scanning technology to look for pre-operative predictors of treatment outcomes in this group of older patients with PD.
Testing The Effect Of Long-chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Cognitive Ageing In The Elderly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$738,908.00
Summary
The ageing profile of our population holds challenges for society, with some of the major impact due to loss of independence and quality of life in older people, arising from decline in cognitive functioning. Evidence suggests a benefit of Omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive functioning in older people but claims that Omega-3 slows cognitive decline have not been adequately tested. This study tests the effect of Omega-3 supplementation on cognition in healthy older people, over an 18-month period.
A Longitudinal Study Of Depression, Anxiety, Substance Use And Cognitive Change: PATH Through Life Wave 3
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,068,954.00
Summary
The PATH Through Life study is a longitudinal study of depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug use. It is also a study of normal cognitive development, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. PATH involves three cohorts of adults who were aged 20-24, 40-44 and 60-64 at baseline. They are followed up at four yearly intervals. This application seeks funding for Wave 3 of the study, which will allow for 8 years of follow-up of the baseline sample to be conducted. The key aims are to discover the rela ....The PATH Through Life study is a longitudinal study of depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug use. It is also a study of normal cognitive development, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. PATH involves three cohorts of adults who were aged 20-24, 40-44 and 60-64 at baseline. They are followed up at four yearly intervals. This application seeks funding for Wave 3 of the study, which will allow for 8 years of follow-up of the baseline sample to be conducted. The key aims are to discover the relationships between biological and psychological processes in depression, anxiety, substance abuse and cognitive ageing; to identify the socio-demographic factors contributing to these disorders, and to quantify more fully the range of social and economic consequences of mental illness and cognitive decline. Such consequences include reduced workforce participation, relationship breakdown, family and carer burden, suicide attempts, use of health services and need for social welfare. Wave 3 will also focus on transitions into parenthood, fertility and mental health, menopause, and retirement. Factors in early and mid-adulthood that influence healthy ageing and cognitive decline in late life will be identified. Information is obtained on physical health, health habits , social networks, employment and work stress, lifestyle activities, personality, family structure, physical function and cognitive performance. DNA has also been obtained and a sub-sample of the oldest cohort also participate in a study of brain MRIs. Longitudinal analysis is the only means of distinguishing the causes of disorders and tracking their development within individuals. PATH is unique in its narrow age-group design and breadth of measures, allowing for detailed understanding of the pathways to mental health and illness, and for identification of how to prevent mental illness and dementia.Read moreRead less
The Impact Of Circadian Disturbances On Sleep Quality, Cognition And Psychiatric Symptoms In Neurodegenerative Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$496,340.00
Summary
There is an increasing awareness that neurodegenerative diseases are associated with disturbances in sleep. Our group have recognised that patterns of sleep disturbance in these patients are also related to problems with memory and mood. The proposed study will be the first of its kind to explore whether disruptions in the circadian system represent a common mechanism underlying these comorbid disease features. Understanding this pathology will hopefully lead to the development of new therapies.
Health Outcomes Of Older Indigenous Australians- A 5 Year Follow Up Study Of A Population At Risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$833,759.00
Summary
The health of Indigenous people is poor and a number of risk factors contribute to lower life expectancy and the development of 'aged care syndromes' such as falls, incontinence, and dementia at a younger age. The research team has described high levels of dementia in a population survey completed in 2005 on 363 older people from the Kimberley. This population will be re-surveyed to document ageing syndromes and determine factors that may improve health for this population at risk
It is known that about 10% of patients over the age of 55 have difficulty with cognition and thinking 3 months after surgery and anaesthesia. Over 2 million operations involving anaesthesia are administered in Australia every year and increasingly the patients are elderly and thus exposed to the risk of cognitive decline after surgery. We have preliminary data showing that people who have mild changes in cognitive function before the surgery (known as mild cognitive impairment) are susceptible t ....It is known that about 10% of patients over the age of 55 have difficulty with cognition and thinking 3 months after surgery and anaesthesia. Over 2 million operations involving anaesthesia are administered in Australia every year and increasingly the patients are elderly and thus exposed to the risk of cognitive decline after surgery. We have preliminary data showing that people who have mild changes in cognitive function before the surgery (known as mild cognitive impairment) are susceptible to further cognitive decline after anaesthesia and surgery. In order to explore the relationship between preoperative cognitive function and postoperative cognitive decline we plan to measure cognition in patients scheduled for elective hip replacement surgery. This is done by asking patients to complete a standard battery of cognitive tests. We will be then able to identify those patients who already have mild cognitive impairment before surgery and by repeated testing after the operation will be able to demonstrate if preoperative cognitive status is a determinant of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. The primary aim of the research is to test whether cognitive impairment before surgery leads to cognitive deficit after surgery in patients over the age of 65 undergoing total hip replacement surgery. The study will also establish the prevalence of pre-operative mild cognitive impairment and the magnitude of postoperative cognitive dysfunction after surgery in this patient group. The study will explore the relationship between preoperative cognitive status and postoperative cognitive deficit , providing information about the incidence, natural history and risk factors of postoperative cognitive deficit. This work will enable further research to isolate specific causative factors and identify therapeutic and prophylactic strategies.Read moreRead less