A Telehealth Intervention To Delay Functional Decline In Community-dwelling People With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,399.00
Summary
Telehealth programs are becoming increasingly popular as a way to increase the accessibility of services and reduce the costs associated with health professionals travelling to the client's home. This project will examine whether an evidence based intervention that delays functional decline can be delivered via videoconferencing and whether this method of delivery is as effective.
Understanding And Preventing Physical And Cognitive Decline And Falls In Older People With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$509,626.00
Summary
Falls are common in people with dementia and are more likely to result in injury, death and institutionalisation. There is limited evidence that falls can be prevented in this group. Strategies aimed at maintaining independence and preventing decline and falls are urgently needed. This research will a) further our understanding of fall risk and functional decline and b) explore novel fall and decline prevention programs, including the use of technology in older people with dementia.
Optimising Functional Independence Of Older Persons With Dementia: Implementation And Evaluation Of The Interdisciplinary Home-bAsed Reablement Program (I-HARP)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,864,345.00
Summary
We propose to trial a practical, evidence based model, called the Interdisciplinary Home-bAsed Reablement Program, I-HARP, designed to improve functional independence of community dwelling older people with dementia. I-HARP will be implemented and evaluated, for its effectiveness and implementation outcomes in two different settings of hospital and community aged care. Ultimately, the program will help them live well and stay at home, while delaying entry into higher home or residential care.
‘Agents Of Change’: Improving Post Diagnosis Care For People With Dementia And Their Carers Through The Establishment Of A National Quality Collaborative To Implement Guideline Recommendations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$770,518.00
Summary
This project aims to improve outcomes for people with dementia and their carers by focussing on three areas of post diagnostic care: exercise, multicomponent occupational therapy to promote independence and carer support programs. We will establish networks with health professionals at a variety of organisations across Australia and work with these health professionals to improve care practices within their organisation.
Moving Behavioural Neuroscience & Neuroeconomics Into Dementia Prevention: Spatial Tracking And Economic Decision-making As New Sensitive Measures Of Daily Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$595,588.00
Summary
This project will aim to develop new measures for clinical trials by learning the relationship between older people's movements around the house, ability to make decisions about their health and finance and their cognitive performance. These instruments may aid future trials of drugs and other interventions for preventing dementia by indicating how basic behavioural patterns respond to interventions.
The Role Of Intense Physical Activity In Protecting The Ageing Brain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,079.00
Summary
Previous research supports the notion that physical activity plays a role in maintaining brain health and preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Nevertheless, the type of activity (i.e. intensity of physical activity) that is of greatest benefit to the brain is yet to be established. This project aims to identify the most beneficial exercise intensity, in terms of brain health, measured utilising brain imaging technology.
Improving Human FMRI Through Modeling And Imaging Microvascular Dynamics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,144.00
Summary
In this project we aim to establish a reliable vascular baseline to improve mapping of both small-scale functional architecture and large-scale brain networks in functional human brain mapping using MRI. By mapping the grey matter vasculature with high detail in both humans and animals, and by computing and matching of these atlases across species we will be able to validate this approach in vivo to confirm the better spatial specificity of the newly developed approach.