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
Troponin Rise After Emergency Orthopaedic-geriatric Surgery Randomised To Standard Care Versus Cardiology Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$87,193.00
Summary
This project will determine whether older patients who undergo emergency orthopaedic surgery who sustain cardiac injury (detected by means of a blood test called Troponin I) benefit from cardiology care as opposed to standard care. Troponin I is used to detect heart injury and can be elevated after surgery even if the patient is asymptomatic. Patients with a troponin elevation have a higher risk of death at 1 year. It is proposed that cardiology care and follow up might improve outcomes.
Epidemiology Of Osteoporotic Fractures In The Very Frail Elderly: Risk Factors, Quality Of Life And Mortality
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,550.00
Summary
Osteoporosis, a disease characterised by skeletal fragility, is a major public health problem. The direct costs alone of treating osteoporotic fractures have been estimated at more than $800 million in Australia. Hip fractures are the most costly to treat and are due to a fall or injury in over 90% of cases. The frail elderly are at particular risk of osteoporotic fractures but little is known about risk fractures in this 'at risk' group or the effect of fracture on quality of life. This study i ....Osteoporosis, a disease characterised by skeletal fragility, is a major public health problem. The direct costs alone of treating osteoporotic fractures have been estimated at more than $800 million in Australia. Hip fractures are the most costly to treat and are due to a fall or injury in over 90% of cases. The frail elderly are at particular risk of osteoporotic fractures but little is known about risk fractures in this 'at risk' group or the effect of fracture on quality of life. This study is examining risk factors for fractures in the frail and institutionalised older person by asessment of quantitative bone ultrasound, falls risk, vitamin D status and other biochemical markers of bone in an attempt to identify predictors that can be modified to reduce fractures, improve quality of life and reduce mortality due to osteoporotic fractures.Read moreRead less
Development Of Quality Indicators For The Frail Elderly In Acute Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,311.00
Summary
Frail older people are particularly vulnerable to a range of mishaps while in hospital. Good care can reduce the frequency and extent of these problems. Quality indicators (QIs) assist hospitals, and clinical service units within them, to appraise their performance, and to compare it to other hospitals. QIs for the measurement of outcomes for the frail aged in the acute care setting do not exist in Australia or overseas. We aim to develop these indicators during this study.
Pelvic Floor Muscle Training For The Management Of Urinary Incontinence In Elderly Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,240.00
Summary
Urinary incontinence is associated with significant personal shame and social stigma and affects around 10% of Australians. one-third of women over 60 years of age. Incontinence limits physical activity and this in turn can lead to loss of independence and poorer general health. Fewer than one-third of those with regular incontinence seek assistance. Pelvic floor muscle re-education by physiotherapists is the most commonly recommended method of conservative management for urinary incontinence. P ....Urinary incontinence is associated with significant personal shame and social stigma and affects around 10% of Australians. one-third of women over 60 years of age. Incontinence limits physical activity and this in turn can lead to loss of independence and poorer general health. Fewer than one-third of those with regular incontinence seek assistance. Pelvic floor muscle re-education by physiotherapists is the most commonly recommended method of conservative management for urinary incontinence. Pelvic floor muscle training is safe and effective and should thus be offered as the first choice of treatment for stress urinary incontinence. However there is still no strong evidence for the effectiveness of this intervention in the elderly and because of a perception by medical practitioners that pelvic floor muscle re-education is only effective in younger women, relatively few elderly women are referred to physiotherapy for management of incontinence. Although in clinical practice it is customary to complement pelvic floor muscle training with other forms of conservative management of incontinence such as bladder training, a recent influential study suggested that pelvic floor muscle training and bladder training were equally effective in patients with stress urinary incontinence. It is important to distinguish the relative effectiveness of these interventions used in isolation in order to ensure that urinary incontinence is managed in the most effective and efficient way. This project will therefore investigate the effectiveness of two conservative interventions, pelvic floor muscle training and bladder-behavioural training in women with stress urinary incontinence over 70 years of age. Moreover, strong evidence that conservative intervention is effective for urinary incontinence in the elderly will result in appropriate intervention being offered routinely as the first choice of treatment in older women.Read moreRead less
This project will improve our understanding of how painkiller medicines work in very old and frail people which will improve the use of these medicines in pain management. This study will carefully examine pain control with two of the most commonly used pain killer medicines - paracetamol and oxycodone. By understanding all the factors that influence an older persons pain control we will be able to improve the safe and effective use of painkiller medicines in this special group of people.