Dissecting The Host X Diet X Microbiota Interactions Supporting Sustainable Weight Loss In Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$252,305.00
Summary
There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiome plays an important part in predisposing to obesity. This project seeks to identify whether such an obesogenic microbiota may also influence our ability to maintain weight loss after a period of caloric restriction. Further, we investigate whether dietary fibre can be used to reshape gut microbial population structure and function so as to support sustained weight loss on return to a normal dietary regimen using an obesogenic rat model.
Using Health Outcome Data From Pooled Longitudinal Studies Of Ageing To Develop Statistical And Microsimulation Models T
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,162,630.00
Summary
This project draws together data from nine Australian Longitudinal Studies of Ageing (LSAs), including 53484 participants, that will be used to identify factors capable of preventing disease, reducing ill-health, and promoting engaged and successful ageing for Australians. The focus is upon conditions that significantly contribute to the burden of disease including cognitive decline and dementia, sensory impairment, impairment in mobility and common mental disorders such as depression. Although ....This project draws together data from nine Australian Longitudinal Studies of Ageing (LSAs), including 53484 participants, that will be used to identify factors capable of preventing disease, reducing ill-health, and promoting engaged and successful ageing for Australians. The focus is upon conditions that significantly contribute to the burden of disease including cognitive decline and dementia, sensory impairment, impairment in mobility and common mental disorders such as depression. Although individual studies contain rich data on particular topics, there is only a small number of individuals in each study with specific medical conditions, or combinations of different conditions, especially at the older ages. Pooling data from nine studies will overcome this problem. This innovative and interdisciplinary study also involves development of the first Australian dynamic micro-simulation model of the health and social outcomes of the baby boomer and older cohorts. The simulation will allow for evaluation of the impact of modifying risk factors, and costs associated with different trajectories of health and ageing. Our program takes an interdisciplinary life course approach, incorporating interdependencies among demographic, behavioural, social, economic and health factors. Our multidisciplinary team and collaborative pooling of existing studies adds value and builds upon experience, as recommended in the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council 2003 report. The outcomes will direct health and social policy to promote health behaviour, and social and medical interventions to compress morbidity and optimize healthy ageing in Australian society over the next 40 years.Read moreRead less
Rolling It Out: Targeted Translation Intervention To Improve Driving Cessation Outcomes For People With Dementia Across Metropolitan And Regional Areas
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,644.00
Summary
This research addresses social, emotional and practical challenges that people with dementia face in dealing with stopping driving. A resource that provides practical and emotional support and education around stopping driving is required in primary care settings to improve quality of life of people with dementia and their carers, and support health professionals who monitor driving issues. This program will translate a research-based resource into GP clinics and community services in Australia.
Choir Participation To Improve Wellbeing And Relationship Quality For Community-dwelling People With Dementia And Their Primary Care-givers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$569,698.00
Summary
An estimated 300,000 Australians live with dementia and this figure is projected to triple by 2050. Aligning with government priorities to support primary caregivers to care for loved ones at home, this project investigates the effect of choir participation and familiar music for people with dementia and their caregivers. We expect to find evidence that active music participation enhances wellbeing, quality of life, and relationship quality for people with dementia and their caregivers.
Development And Implementation Of Evidence-based Deprescribing Guidelines To Guide Person-centred Care For People With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,363.00
Summary
Optimising medication use in people with dementia will include both initiation of necessary medications and withdrawal of unnecessary and harmful medications. Many guidelines exist to aid doctors when prescribing medication, however, no guidelines currently exist that detail when, or how to withdraw medications. Development and implementation of such guidelines into practice may lead to improved quality of life of people with dementia and their carers.
Development And Validation Of The First Culturally Based Quality Of Life Tool For Aboriginal Australians Living With Dementia Or Cognitive Impairment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$602,435.00
Summary
Enhancing quality of life (QoL) is the central goal of care providers for clients with dementia. A QoL tool identifies areas of need, enabling strategies to be planned and evaluated accordingly. Dementia is highly prevalent in Aboriginal Australians. There is no QoL tool for Aboriginal Australians living with dementia. This project will develop and test a QoL tool with Aboriginal Australians living with dementia or other cognitive impairment. The factors affecting QoL will also be identified.
This Fellowship will examine factors that contribute to depression and other behavioural symptoms in people with Alzheimer's type dementia. These symptoms are common and difficult to treat so it is extremely important that we gain a better understanding of why they develop and look at ways to prevent their occurrence. The study will also test a simple, safe and novel intervention aimed at altering the biases we have in our thought processes that may underlie the development of these symptoms.
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.
Optimising Medication Use To Maintain Or Improve Quality Of Life In Aged Care Facility Residents With And Without Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,627.00
Summary
This research aims to explore and understand how medications impact on the quality of life of aged care facility residents with and without dementia. The outcomes of this research will guide health professionals as they improve how medications are used in this population, with the aim of maintaining or improving quality of life. This research will also explore how these outcomes can be successfully included in regular practice and widely used nationally and internationally.
LIFECYCLE - Early Life Stressors And LifeCycle Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$453,811.00
Summary
Early in life is a period of time during which we can institute changes that can have long lasting benefits for asthma, obesity, diabetes mellitus and mental and cardiovascular health. The current project, LIFECYCLE is a cooperative project with a combined total of a quarter of a million participants, which will be the definitive study to determine, which early life events should be modified for improving health trajectories throughout life.