Investigating Biometal Dyshomeostasis In Dementia With Lewy Bodies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$554,644.00
Summary
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD). Very little is known about what causes DLB and there are currently no effective therapeutics. An imbalance in naturally occurring biological metals such as iron and copper have been implicated in AD and Parkinson’s disease so this project will investigate if metals are involved in DLB. The ultimate goal of this project is to identify if metals are a valid target for future drug development.
Lewy Bodies In Patients With Dementia – Determining Common And Unique Mechanisms In Relation To Alzheimer’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$604,644.00
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia but often has multiple mixed pathologies. For example, Alzheimer post mortem brains may have abnormal accumulation of Lewy bodies in certain parts of the brains, and could be diagnosed as Lewy body disease. This may represent a skewed representation of some dementia subtypes. This project will identify the biological determinants of dementia patients with Lewy body disease for better understanding and future therapeutic targeting.
Non-Alzheimer’s Disease Degenerative Dementias: Identifying Prodromal Genetic/familial Phenotypes, Modifying Factors, And Protein Variations Involved In Progression
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,449,246.00
Summary
This proposal will generate new knowledge necessary for advancing the diagnosis of the non-Alzheimer’s disease dementias. We will identify the preclinical forms of frontotemporal dementia and Lewy body dementia using similar methods to those successfully employed to advance diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Importantly, our team has the capacity to translate these protocols into clinical practice and into further advances in biological knowledge that is necessary for future therapeutic targeting
Discovery Of Novel Neurodegeneration Genes Via Next-generation Sequencing Technologies And High-throughput Cellular Assays
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$715,144.00
Summary
My research program aims to discover genes that are mutated in dementia, by identifying gene variants present in patients and absent in healthy people, and examining how these variants affect the function of cells. Identifying new dementia genes will reveal the biological processes that lead to brain cell death. Knowledge of these processes is crucial for the development of new treatments for the many people affected worldwide with dementia.
DUAL AND MULTIPLE PROTEINOPATHIES IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DEMENTIAS – RISK FACTORS, PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS AND CLINICAL RAMIFICATIONS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$604,644.00
Summary
Dementia is the umbrella term used to refer to a number of different clinical presentations,each associated with distinct histopathological signatures of protein aggregates and spread.However, converging evidence now suggests the common co-occurences of dual/multiple proteinopathies across dementia syndromes.The present study will identify the clinical ramifications and factors that are most predictive for such proteinopathies in a large cohort of longitudinally-studied patients with dementia.
Vascular Mechanisms Of Neurodegeneration: Drivers And Determinants Of Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$6,421,722.00
Summary
The evidence is compelling: vascular burden is the greatest determinant of late life cognition. The volume of evidence linking vascular risk and dementia is conclusive. All late-onset dementia syndromes, especially Alzheimer’s disease, are driven or exacerbated by vascular brain burden. We aim to examine how vascular burden causes dementia. Understanding the mechanisms means that we can prevent and treat the global epidemic of dementia.
Optimising The Management Of Comorbidities In Dementia: Reducing Disparaties And Improving Clinical Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,894.00
Summary
Many individuals with dementia also have other chronic medical conditions. This research will help us better understand the comorbidities experienced by people with dementia and the impact these have on clinical outcomes This can lead to the development of consumer-centred management strategies. By ensuring the appropriate, equitable and timely treatment of comorbidities in people with dementia, there is potential to optimise the quality of life and health of people with dementia.
At the moment, people with dementia are not offered rehabilitation, even though this may help them communicate, function and live better. I will test and advocate for rehabilitation interventions immediately post-diagnosis and as part of home and residential care. As a leader in dementia research at the University of Sydney I will grow my research team and lead new cross-disciplinary collaborations. I will also continue to influence policy and services.
Vascular Contributions To Dementia: Prevention In Those At High-risk
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$718,105.00
Summary
10,000 older adults undergo surgeries on their heart every year. These adults are at high risk for dementia, as the factors that bring them to cardiovascular surgery are the same as those that associate with dementia: hypertension, type II diabetes, etc. This population is in fact not only at increased risk of dementia due to vascular ill-health, but also because of undergoing the surgery itself. This project aims to prevent dementia in this vulnerable group.
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.