Blog: The Brain Dialogues, filtered by tag: Cost of dementia

For Dr Meredith Gresham, dementia presents as a pandemic itself. Future incidence projections indicate skyrocketing levels of dementia over the next fifty years. However, there is a growing evidence base for activities and interventions which may delay the onset of dementia and improve quality of life and function after diagnosis. Dr Gresham is currently co-ordinating CHeBA’s COGNISANCE Project which aims to develop practical toolkits for people with dementia, care partners and health and social care professionals. These toolkits will facilitate better coping with the diagnosis and support… Read More

Dr Rebecca Koncz’s research explores the pathophysiological mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly amyloid accumulation, as a hallmark feature of the disease. Utilising data collected from CHeBA’s Older Australian Twins Study, she is attempting to answer the classic “nature vs nurture” question – specifically, what proportion of amyloid burden is attributable to genes, and what proportion is determined by environmental, or modifiable, risk factors.   How did you get into researching the ageing brain? I’ve always had an interest in the brain sciences, having completed a major in… Read More

CHeBA’s Maintain Your Brain trial aims to target and mitigate risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease using e-health interventions. It is the largest clinical trial of its kind. If the onset of these diseases can be postponed by at least two years, incidence would be reduced by 20% and these numbers increase rapidly as years of delay is extended. Research Assistant Tiffany Chau hopes Maintain Your Brain can help achieve reduced prevalence rates and enhance cognitive health in older age.   How did you first get into researching the ageing brain? I studied a Bachelor of… Read More

The context of healthcare has certainly shifted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and there is now a huge demand for flexibility when it comes to accessing practitioners and treatment. Dr Adam Bentvelzen is pioneering the way for alternative avenues of accessibility to healthcare services, particularly phone-based cognitive screening. He has been investigating this as a means of assessing patients with possible dementia who are geographically isolated or physically limited. This method has been successfully implemented for over ten years with participants in CHeBA’s Sydney Memory and Ageing… Read More

PROFESSOR HENRY BRODATY, MD, PhD On the 5th of April 2013, Minister Plibersek released the eagerly awaited final report of the McKeon Strategic Review of Health and Medical Research Australia (http://www.mckeonreview.org.au/). The Review presents 21 recommendations for improving health and medical research (HMR) in Australia over the next decade. The 304 page detailed full report presents a strong economic and health improvement case for enhancement; it abounds in fascinating statistics, case studies and insightful exhibits. Time challenged readers can refer to the separate 64 page summary… Read More