A Multicentre Randomised Clinical Trial Of Physical Activity For The Treatment Of Patients With Alzheimers Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$773,752.00
Summary
The number of older adults living with Alzheimer's disease (AD) will increase from 26.6 million to 106.2 million by 2050. In the absence of curative treatment options it is important to focus on non-pharmacological interventions such as physical activity. We propose to investigate whether a home-based physical activity program of 24 weeks for patients with AD can successfully decrease the rate of cognitive and functional declince and improve quality of life and psychological well-being.
Eco-RESIDE: An Economic Evaluation Of Urban Design As A Means Of Promoting Physical Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$422,612.00
Summary
The significance of this project lies in the health problem that it seeks to address and the intervention that is being evaluated. Physical inactivity ranks second only to tobacco use in terms of the costs of diseases associated with behavioural risk factors. Declining rates of physical activity have been associated with increasing rates of obesity and overweight in Australian children and adults. The association that one sees between features of the urban environment and physical activity level ....The significance of this project lies in the health problem that it seeks to address and the intervention that is being evaluated. Physical inactivity ranks second only to tobacco use in terms of the costs of diseases associated with behavioural risk factors. Declining rates of physical activity have been associated with increasing rates of obesity and overweight in Australian children and adults. The association that one sees between features of the urban environment and physical activity levels suggests that urban planning guidelines may be a cost-effective means of promoting health and achieving other social objectives such as sustainable use of natural resources. Furthermore, not enough is known about the economic value of investing in health promoting interventions and this project is among the first to measure the costs and benefits of intervening at the environmental level. The information that it provides will be highly useful for local government and health service planners alike.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Clinical Trial Of Physical Activity For The Treatment Of Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$280,250.00
Summary
Australia's population is aging rapidly and so is the frequency of age-related diseases. Dementia and depression are the most frequent mental health disorders of older people. They are also the leading causes of years of life lost due to disability in Australia. The results of recent studies have shown that memory difficulties and dementia are associated with potentially modifiable risk factors, such as physical activity. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a physical activity pr ....Australia's population is aging rapidly and so is the frequency of age-related diseases. Dementia and depression are the most frequent mental health disorders of older people. They are also the leading causes of years of life lost due to disability in Australia. The results of recent studies have shown that memory difficulties and dementia are associated with potentially modifiable risk factors, such as physical activity. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a physical activity program for older adults decreases cognitive decline and conversion to dementia in a population at risk: mild cognitive impairment (MCI). 168 subjects with MCI will be randomised (by chance, like the flip of a coin) to either the intervention program of physical activity or usual care - their cognitive (such as memory) performance will be compared at the end of 24 months.Read moreRead less
A Multilevel Study Of Socioeconomic Position And Physical Activity: Environmental And Individual-level Determinants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,000.00
Summary
Regular physical activity offers many health benefits, whereas inadequate activity is a leading cause of premature death and disability and a major contributor to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are least likely to be physically active, and they experience higher rates of death and morbidity for conditions directly linked to inactivity. Currently, our understanding of why socioeconomic groups differ in their physical activity is limited ....Regular physical activity offers many health benefits, whereas inadequate activity is a leading cause of premature death and disability and a major contributor to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are least likely to be physically active, and they experience higher rates of death and morbidity for conditions directly linked to inactivity. Currently, our understanding of why socioeconomic groups differ in their physical activity is limited, and very little research has investigated this issue. This study will investigate why socioeconomic groups differ in their physical activity, by examining the influence of neighbourhood and individual-level factors. Neighbourhood factors include people's access to recreational facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, golf clubs, gyms, local parks, walking and bicycle paths; prices for entry to recreational facilities and opening hours; physical characteristics of the neighbourhood including public transport, presence of footpaths and street lighting, speed limits on local streets, availability of local services such as shops and schools, and; aesthetic characteristics, such as the presence and size of parks and green spaces, and traffic density. Individual factors include personal enjoyment, knowledge, confidence, type of occupation and hours worked, family responsibilities, age, health status, and whether other family member or friends engage in physical activity. A major aim of the study is to determine whether environmental or individual factors are more important in influencing participation in physical activity. The study will produce new knowledge to inform future public health strategies directed at increasing physical activity among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, and these will have the potential to reduce socioeconomic health inequalities, as well as contribute to an overall reduction of the disease burden attributable to chronic conditions.Read moreRead less
Physical Activity Restores Energy Homeostasis In Obesity Through Hypothalamic Neurogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$334,053.00
Summary
The sensing of blood-borne signals by the brain is an important event in regulating appetite and energy expenditure. This sensing is blunted in obesity and contributes to over-eating. The aim of this research is to determine whether the sensing of these blood-borne signals can be restored in obesity by creating new cells in the key appetite controlling centres of the brain. The outcomes of this research will lead to a better understanding of how feeding behaviour can be modified to treat obesity ....The sensing of blood-borne signals by the brain is an important event in regulating appetite and energy expenditure. This sensing is blunted in obesity and contributes to over-eating. The aim of this research is to determine whether the sensing of these blood-borne signals can be restored in obesity by creating new cells in the key appetite controlling centres of the brain. The outcomes of this research will lead to a better understanding of how feeding behaviour can be modified to treat obesity.Read moreRead less
There is increasing evidence that regular physical activity contributes considerably to better physical fitness and good health of individuals and nations. Unfortunately, many individuals in Australia are not regularly active. A sedentary lifestyle is associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Physical activity guidelines encourage participation in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, ....There is increasing evidence that regular physical activity contributes considerably to better physical fitness and good health of individuals and nations. Unfortunately, many individuals in Australia are not regularly active. A sedentary lifestyle is associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Physical activity guidelines encourage participation in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week. Walking is one of the most common forms of physical activity undertaken by adults, however there is a relatively poor understanding of the physiological demands of this task. A better understanding of walking for people of different age, gender, size and shape would provide for improvements in the categorisation of intensity of physical activity for use in population measures of physical activity and exercise prescription for individuals who are obese. The aim of the proposed study is to assess the relationship between energy cost of walking and body composition of adults. The main purpose is to consider how people of different age, gender, size and shape manage self-paced walking relative to maximal capacity. The energy cost of walking is an important determinant of a person's functional capacity, physical fitness and health status. The main outcomes of the study: An increased knowledge and understanding of the energy expenditure of self-paced walking relative to maximal aerobic power; More reliable assessment of physical activity status using a variety of commonly employed indirect assessment techniques; A comprehensive understanding of the inter-individual differences in walking characteristics based on age, gender or body fatness; A better understanding of the energy cost of walking and the subsequent promotion of this form of physical activity has potential to impact on the health of Australians, particularly those who are sedentary and overweight or obese.Read moreRead less
Efficacy Of Exercise Physiologist Counselling In Primary Care Patients: A RCT Of Two Pragmatic Approaches
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$940,925.00
Summary
Physical activity is one of the most powerful contributors to health, but population levels of activity are low. General practitioners (GPs) are well placed to provide physical activity counselling, but many are too busy. This project examines the effectiveness of referral of insufficiently active adults to an exercise physiologist (EP), using step counts from a pedometer as the outcome. We compare usual care from the GP with: (1) 5 EP visits, and (2) a single visit and telephone follow up.
Are The Energy Expenditures Of Household And Garden Chores Of Sufficient Intensity To Confer Health Benefits?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$322,110.00
Summary
Participation in regular moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity reduces risk for cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Recent epidemiological recommendations are that 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (e.g. brisk walking at 4.8-6.4 km-hr) on most days is sufficient to confer these significant health benefits. However, many Australians spend substantial amounts of time engaged in household chores and gardening - yardwork ....Participation in regular moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity reduces risk for cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Recent epidemiological recommendations are that 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (e.g. brisk walking at 4.8-6.4 km-hr) on most days is sufficient to confer these significant health benefits. However, many Australians spend substantial amounts of time engaged in household chores and gardening - yardwork activities but it is unknown whether the intensities of these activities are sufficient to confer the aforementioned health benefits. The aims of this study are therefore to: 1. Measure directly the energy cost of self-paced common household chores and gardening - yard activities. 2. Provide data that are required to estimate accurately the prevalence of 'adequate' levels of physical activity among adults. 3. Identify indirect methods (such as heart rate, motion and breathing frequency) which, in combination, are suitable for use in large scale surveys of activity levels. The outcomes of this study will be: 1. A greatly improved understanding of whether energy expenditure associated with self-paced household chores and gardening - yard activities is adequate to confer health benefits. 2. Our results will be used in key public health interventions which are aimed at modifying the physical activity levels of Australians. 3. If the public health message encourages some of the ~30% of sedentary Australians to undertake regular moderate intensity physical activity then this will: reduce the cost of the health care system, substantially reduce the premature loss of life and decrease morbidity and disability. 4. Our results will help public health epidemiologists to monitor the percentage of Australians who are adequately physically active.Read moreRead less
Estimation Of Transient Increases In Bleeding Risk Associated With Physical Activity In Children With Haemophilia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$102,143.00
Summary
Haemophilia A and B are genetic conditions which affect 1 in 7,000 males in Australia. These disorders cause frequent bleeding due to problems with the clotting factor in blood. Over the past decade there has been a move to administer clotting factor to children with haemophilia in order to prevent bleeds and the consequent damage to joints that occurs when bleeds occur in a joint. Participation in vigorous physical activity and sport is thought to increase the risk of bleeding. Because of this, ....Haemophilia A and B are genetic conditions which affect 1 in 7,000 males in Australia. These disorders cause frequent bleeding due to problems with the clotting factor in blood. Over the past decade there has been a move to administer clotting factor to children with haemophilia in order to prevent bleeds and the consequent damage to joints that occurs when bleeds occur in a joint. Participation in vigorous physical activity and sport is thought to increase the risk of bleeding. Because of this, children are often given clotting factor prior to playing sport. However clotting factor is extremely expensive. For example, a boy wanting to play tennis three times a week would require three injections of cIotting factor per week at a cost of approximately $250,000 a year. To date there is no good evidence about which physical activities are likely to increase the risk of bleeding. If this information was available clinicians would be able to optimise timing of administration of clotting factor so that it is administered prior to activities associated with high risk of bleeds. Another reason to quantify risk of bleeds associated with activity is to inform decisions about participation in physical activity. Every boy with haemophilia wants to know if he can play sport or ride a skateboard or jump on a trampoline. Informed decisions about participation require accurate estimates of risk. This study will use an innovative design to provide, for the first time, accurate estimates of the risk of bleeding associated with physical activity. This information will form the basis for clinical practice guidelines regarding participation in physical activity.Read moreRead less