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Music Therapy Interventions For Dementia: Cluster Randomised Control Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,014,430.00
Summary
Music therapy interventions are increasingly used in aged care facilities across Australia, however Australian-based research that tests its effectiveness is scarce. In this study, we track the impact of group music therapy and group singing on levels of depression, cognitive function, quality of life, and other symptoms of dementia. By providing music therapy programs across sites in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, we will also evaluate the cost effectiveness of the intervention.
Promoting Independence Through Quality Dementia Care At Home (PITCH)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,541,611.00
Summary
Many people with dementia live at home with support from both paid and unpaid carers. There are currently limited opportunities for carers of people with dementia to receive education and training in how to communicate, manage symptoms and deliver person-centred care. This project will develop and trial a education and training program for front-line home care workers that aims to improve quality of care and quality of life for people with dementia and their carers.
Improving Detection And Management Of DEmentia In Older Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islanders Attending Primary Care (IDEA-PC)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,172,422.00
Summary
This project will co-design, implement and evaluate a nationwide culturally responsive model of care for primary care professionals to optimise the detection and management of dementia and cognitive impairment in older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Rates of dementia are triple those of other communities and this research aims to optimise the well- being for older people with dementia, their families and communities throughout their journey of care.
Vascular Cognitive Risk Score: Quantifying The Vascular Burden In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$627,180.00
Summary
What causes dementia in a patient presenting to a clinic is often uncertain. While there are exciting potential treatments in the pipeline, we need to understand the cause of the disease in a specific patient to make correct treatment decisions. Stroke and other vascular diseases of the brain cause a significant proportion of dementia in the community. Using MRI scanning technology, this project will quantify this burden in a given patient by developing a ‘vascular cognitive risk' (VCR) score.
A Pilot Dementia Clinical Quality Registry To Improve Dementia Clinical Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,571,501.00
Summary
Clinical Quality Registries collect health data about the quality of clinical care and assist the implementation and monitoring of clinical guidelines into practice. Registries can identify variations in clinical care across geographical areas, facilitate further research into a condition, and help refine and develop new guidelines over time. This proposal will test procedures and pilot a clinical quality registry for dementia, using data from a well-characterised cohort.
Novel Assessment And Intervention For Dementia: An Inter-disciplinary Translational Approach
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$720,021.00
Summary
This program of research focuses on i) a highly novel internationally competitive program of work focusing on the neural network correlates of sleep in dementia, sleep as a risk factor and the efficacy of sleep-wake interventions in reducing cognitive decline; ii) Innovative technologies for widespread screening of preclinical dementia and early intervention and iii) clinical trials focused on the testing of a of novel, highly translatable dementia risk reduction interventions.
The Role Of Oligodendrocytes In Frontotemporal Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$625,292.00
Summary
Dementia affects 35.6 million people world-wide; this number is projected to double every 20 years. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common type and has been found to have similar cause and pathology to common neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We ultimately require treatments to slow, stop and repair the damaged brain of FTD patients and this is only possible by understanding the mechanisms involved in the onset and progression of disease.
Optimising Speech Assessment And Treatment In Frontotemporal Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$722,210.00
Summary
Frontotemporal dementia has a devastating impact on our ability to speak and understand others. This proposal aims to improve our understanding of how to best assess, diagnose and treat these debilitating impairments. By bringing together an international consortium of clinics, these findings will lead to significant advances in our understanding of disease progression and patient care.
ELders AT Ease Program (ELATE): A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Sustainable And Scalable Mental Health Service For Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$999,551.00
Summary
Elders living in residential facilities suffer significant levels of depression or anxiety. This study examines an innovative program to improve mental health of residents living in such facilities. The program involves counselling, staff training and family support. The study uses a cluster randomised controlled trial of facilities to evaluate the impact of ELATE: Elders at Ease Program” on residents’ psychological wellbeing, staff knowledge, family carer stress and, health care costs.
What Can Tau Deposition Tell Us About The Appearance Of Subjective And Objective Cognitive Decline In Older Adults?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$674,077.00
Summary
Subjective memory concerns are common in older adults, but it is uncertain how they relate to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers. Novel neuroimaging techniques have been developed for measuring tau deposition, a hallmark feature of AD. Using this technique, I aim to determine whether tau is sensitive to certain types of subjective concerns. My findings will reveal which concerns are indicative of AD risk, and which arise from unrelated factors, such as inattention or stress.