Blog: The Brain Dialogues, filtered by tag: Professor Henry Brodaty AO

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au Proceeds from the sale of a rich body of artwork by Sydney-based painter Naomi Lewis, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013 and passed away in 2017, have been donated to research at UNSW Sydney’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA). “Clearly this cause is an important one for me,” said Michelle McEwing, daughter of Naomi Lewis and coordinator of the art show held at the Ewart Gallery, Workshop Arts Centre in Willoughby. Mum’s great passions were her family, her community and painting. She would have wanted her final show to benefit a… Read More

DR STEPHANIE WARD, Monash University and Visiting Fellow with UNSW Sydney School of Psychiatry For thousands of years the therapeutic effects of willow tree bark extract, salicyclic acid, have been well known. Refined and stabilised by Hofman in 1897, today aspirin is one of the most widely used medications. Aspirin reduces inflammation, and because it also has an effect on blood clotting it is a mainstay of treatment for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke, and for the prevention of recurrent stroke and heart attacks in people whom have already experienced these -  what… Read More

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au In 1964, 34 year old Sydney-based painter Naomi Lewis was a proud finalist of the Archibald Prize.  50 years later in 2013, and with a history of her distinctive free-form art hanging throughout many Australian buildings including the Qantas first class lounges, The Hyatt in Canberra and St Vincent’s Hospital, this talented artist was diagnosed with vascular dementia. Last year, the artist - Naomi Lewis - passed away, leaving behind a rich body of work which will furnish an exhibition in her honour at the Ewart Gallery, Workshop Arts Centre in… Read More

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au CHeBA Co-Directors Professors Henry Brodaty and Perminder Sachdev showcased CHeBA’s Maintain Your Brain trial at the 2017 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) held in London during 16-20 July. Two presentations about Maintain Your Brain were included in a session examining internet-based interventions to prevent cognitive decline, co-chaired by Professor Brodaty and Dr Edo Richard, Radboud University, Amsterdam. Maintain Your Brain is the world’s largest clinical trial for people aged 55-75 testing online tools designed to reduce… Read More

This article was originally published in the Alzheimer’s Australia Dementia Research Foundation Annual Report 2015 – 2016 (PDF).   Thirty years ago, a passionate academic doctor had a vision... for dementia research in Australia to thrive. That individual, Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty AO became the driving force behind what is today the AADRF. After three decades at the helm of the AADRF, Professor Brodaty felt it was time to pass the baton and retire as Chair of the Board of Directors.   Professor Brodaty said back in 1984 the principles were simple, money raised for research should go… Read More

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au MELISSA CHUNGUE On 2 February 2017, dedicated athletes from 5 prestigious gyms across Sydney will go head to head in a gym tournament in an effort to fundraise for The Dementia Momentum® initiative at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA). ALL I SEA will be hosting the fitness challenge which will see team members from 98 Riley St Gym, Complete Strength and Performance, Definition Fitness, Flow Athletic and Women of Treign go head to head in what is expected to be a fiercely competitive relay. Co-founded by 4 time-Olympic Gold Medallist Leisel… Read More

PROFESSOR HENRY BRODATY MB, BS PROFESSOR CLARE COLLINS This article was originally published on 14 October 2016 in The Conversation. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a growing problem worldwide. There are 350,000 people with dementia in Australia and this is set to rise to 900,000 by 2050. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. So if “coffee really can help to prevent dementia”, as a headline by the Daily Mail last week suggested, that would be amazing. This is why the study on which the headline was basedreceived so much interest. It was reported on by… Read More

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au Michael Gibson, year 12 student at The Gap State High School was successful in his bid for CHeBA to be the recipient of the School's free dress donation program. Fellow Student Advisory Committee members Pia Walters, Zac Woodroff-Pierson and Julia Twomey backed Michael in his bid which generated $500 in gold coin donations to The Dementia Momentum® initiative at CHeBA. At an assembly on Friday, 28th October Michael addressed his school saying "the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing is a brain research centre focused on preventing Alzheimer's disease and… Read More

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au KATE CROSBIE The 22nd Meeting of the International Consortium for Cententarian (ICC) Studies held from June 15-19 in Portugal gave CHeBA researchers the opportunity to meet with collaborators and gain expert input on the progress of ICC-Dementia. Formed in 2012 and led by CHeBA (the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing), ICC-Dementia brings together international studies to apply standard diagnostic criteria for dementia in centenarian cohorts. This ‘big data’ approach will also allow the group to identify common risk and protective factors and biomarkers… Read More

KATE CROSBIE and HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au Aged 86, Graham Gates is CHeBA’s oldest participant in the 2016 City2Surf and a sensational example of positive ageing. Graham is a staunch supporter of the Centre’s research into age-related cognitive decline, walking with Team CHeBA since 2013. “I am very conscious about the importance of staying physically, mentally and socially active to help reduce my risk of developing dementia. I’m pleased that I can raise funds to support CHeBA’s research into greater insights for positive ageing,” said Graham. Walking with Team CHeBA… Read More