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
Centre Of Research Excellence In Cognitive Health: Evidence, Intervention And Population Modelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,499,872.00
Summary
Cognitive health is essential for productivity at all ages. Common chronic diseases such as diabetes, and risk factors such as smoking, can reduce cognitive function and increase risk of cognitive decline. Our Centre aims to build evidence about the things that impact on cognitive health and lead to cognitive decline; to develop methods of reducing cognitive decline; and to measure the impact of cognitive impairment at the national level to inform the government on costs and planning.
Modifying The Trajectory Of Insidious Late Life Cognitive Decline Using Computerised Cognitive Training
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,152.00
Summary
Supervised, group-based computerised cognitive training (CCT) is a safe and effective intervention to maintain cognition in healthy older adults. This project will examine the extent to which CCT can attenuate or even reverse the rate of decline in older people with previously documented cognitive decline, as well as strategies to maintain CCT effects in the long term.
Neuroimaging After Traumatic Brain Injury: What Best Relates To Outcome?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$402,287.00
Summary
Brain injury often results in physical difficulties plus cognitive and behavioural problems. Computerised tomography (CT) is the most used form of scanning used after brain injury but does not reveal as much as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Electrovestibulography (EvestG) also offers great potential to reveal brain-related information related to injury and depression. This study aims to assess and compare CT, MRI and EvestG to establish the extent to which each can help in predicting outcome ....Brain injury often results in physical difficulties plus cognitive and behavioural problems. Computerised tomography (CT) is the most used form of scanning used after brain injury but does not reveal as much as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Electrovestibulography (EvestG) also offers great potential to reveal brain-related information related to injury and depression. This study aims to assess and compare CT, MRI and EvestG to establish the extent to which each can help in predicting outcome in people who have had a brain injury.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
Long Term Follow-up Of Two Randomised Controlled Trials Of Treatment For Depression And Alcohol-other Drug Comorbidity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$252,925.00
Summary
This study proposes the long term follow-up of participants in two of the first and largest studies of psychological treatment for people with co-occurring depression and alcohol-other drug use problems ever conducted. This is a crucial next step in research on the effectiveness of psychological treatment among this highly prevalent yet often neglected section of the community.
Simple Cognitive Behavioural Treatment Of The Symptoms Of Trauma In First Episode Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$173,898.00
Summary
Psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia) are some of the most severe forms for mental disorder. Many people with psychosis have experienced trauma in childhood or as a result of their psychosis, and have developed post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. The aim of the proposed study is to test whether a simple psychological intervention is effective in reducing trauma symptoms in FEP. This has the potential to significantly improve outcomes in FEP.
Skill Building Interventions To Address Barriers To Social Inclusion For People With Schizophrenia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$251,715.00
Summary
People with a psychotic illness often experience unemployment, social isolation and difficulty living independently. Social and cognitive (e.g. thinking and memory) skill difficulties contribute to this, however, most psychiatric treatments fail to improve the underlying skill problems. This program of research will measure whether computer-assisted cognitive remediation and social skill training can effectively improve everyday living and social participation in people with a psychotic illness.
Selective Attention And Fear Avoidance In The Maintenance And Management Of Pain Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$195,660.00
Summary
Despite advances in the treatment of RA, the condition continues to have a chronic course for the majority of patients. Research has established that the way in which people think about pain and illness influences their responses to symptoms. In turn, these factors can impinge on quality of life and disability. For people with chronic pain problems, those who are fearful of pain and concentrate on symptoms have a poorer outcome in the long-term. In RA, striking a balance between rest and exercis ....Despite advances in the treatment of RA, the condition continues to have a chronic course for the majority of patients. Research has established that the way in which people think about pain and illness influences their responses to symptoms. In turn, these factors can impinge on quality of life and disability. For people with chronic pain problems, those who are fearful of pain and concentrate on symptoms have a poorer outcome in the long-term. In RA, striking a balance between rest and exercise is thought to be crucial. As such, ignoring the pain can lead to overactivity and subsequent joint damage and may be as unhelpful as underactivity. This project aims to investigate the relationship between people's fear of pain and the degree to which they attend to pain. It is suggested that those with very high or very low levels of fear towards the pain will either over-attend or under-attend to pain in comparison to healthy controls and patients with a moderate level of fear. Optimum levels of fear avoidance are expected to be associated with less disability and improved joint function. These findings have implications for the management of RA. Psychological treatments for patients with RA have been found to be effective in reducing pain, disability and improving mood. Treatments usually focus on a combination of changing people's attitudes and behaviours. However, whether strategies that aim to change attitudes or those targeting behaviour are more successful or have specific treatment effects is unknown. The present project will compare a treatment targeting behaviours associated with RA and encouraging a balanace between rest and exercise, with a treatment targeting patient's beliefs about the illness. It is expected that the treatments will have specific effects, which may better allow tailoring of psychological management to patient's individual needs.Read moreRead less