Blog: The Brain Dialogues

The Reality of Dementia - A Daughter's Perspective, with Eileen Hoggett

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au KPMG’s National Managing Partner of Audit, Assurance and Risk Consulting, Eileen Hoggett, lost her beloved Mum, Christine Moloney, to younger onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2013.   Looking back, Eileen says it is hard to pinpoint the first moment she realised something was different but does recall that in the lead up to her diagnosis, her Mum stopped calling regularly and avoided long conversations.  “In hindsight, I think Mum had started finding it difficult to answer questions about what she had been up to and what her plans were for the week,” says… Read More

The Reality of Dementia - A Son's Perspective

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au & HELENA HUDSON | h.hudson@unsw.edu.au Head of Middle Markets Distribution and Sales at iPartners, Vito Abbonizio supports CHeBA’s call for dementia care to be seen as a human right, and for improved reform across government and aged care policy.  Italian born Raffaele Abbonizio is 87 years of age and effectively bed bound, a disheartening picture for Vito who describes his Dad as a personable, talkative tradesman.  Over the course of a year, his cognition declined so rapidly that he lost the ability to speak, walk, feed and take care of himself… Read More

The Reality of Dementia - A Husband's Perspective

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au For Michael du Chateau, dementia is a thief. A cruel and brutal thief that is stealing the life of his much-loved wife, Jilly. Jill was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease when she was in her late 50’s. According to Michael, she began having reactions to situations that were outside of her usual behaviour.  “From that point, I had to bite the bullet and organise tests, coordinate a brain scan, talk to a neurologist, and speak with a dementia specialist." “I had to start down that brutal road.” Together, they share three sons and a… Read More
11 Oct 2022

The Secrets of Ageing With Resilience

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au The last three years of a global pandemic have intensified health impacts on the lives of older Australians in many ways, challenging their coping mechanisms and consequently their levels of resilience.  The Eastern Suburbs Older Persons’ Mental Health Service (OPMHS) - in partnership with UNSW Sydney’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) - is giving attention to the topic of resilience at their free annual forum for seniors, to be held from 10am to 1pm on Wednesday, 26 October 2022 at The Juniors, Kingsford.  The event will be chaired by… Read More
12 Sep 2022

Ed Caser | Meet Our Fundraiser Series

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au When Ed Caser read about The Dementia Momentum initiative led by CHeBA in the AFR 6 years ago, the timing was profound. It was during a month that he was attempting to care for his Mum in country Victoria while remotely running 20 staff in an investments business in Sydney – a combination that tested him to his limits.  Ed Caser with mother Mary Caser Ed’s Mum, Mary Caser, has Alzheimer’s disease.  Ed has cared for his Mum beyond what most people can even comprehend. He has got her out of bed, bathed her, dressed her and fed her.  All while… Read More
8 Sep 2022

PJ Lane | Meet Our Fundraiser Series

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au When PJ Lane was given the opportunity to represent a dementia research Centre 10 years ago, the timing couldn’t have been more coincidental. The date he was being asked to stand on the podium at the launch of UNSW Sydney’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) was the exact same date that his TV legend father, Don Lane, had passed away just three years earlier from Alzheimer’s disease. For the last decade PJ’s dedication to his Ambassador role for medial research has been unwavering. “There has been no hesitation to stay committed,” says Lane.… Read More
8 Sep 2022

Darryl Johnson | Meet Our Fundraiser Series

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au Specialist investment portfolio administrator – Integrated Portfolio Solutions – is embracing corporate social responsibility this World Alzheimer’s Day in support of The Dementia Momentum initiative led by UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), with Managing Director Darryl Johnson running both the half marathon and 10km Bridge Run in the Sydney Running Festival. Managing Director Darryl Johnson says the approach to run on behalf of CHeBA was timely, as he is now witnessing the devastating impact that Alzheimer’s disease has on his family… Read More
5 Sep 2022

Kitay Family | Meet Our Fundraiser Series

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au Keri Kitay, Ambassador for CHeBA’s Change Makers initiative, is leading a family team in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival comprised of her brothers, dad, sister-in-law Anne and nephews, in honour of Keri’s mum who was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 45. Keri is running to keep her Mum’s memory alive and honour her for the incredible person that she was.   Which event are you participating in? Across the family we are participating in the 10km bridge run and 3.5km fun run.   Who is in the team? Myself, my two… Read More
15 Aug 2022

Addressing Under-representation of CALD Community in Research

ZARA PAGE z.page@student.unsw.edu.au & HEIDI DOUGLASS h.douglass@unsw.edu.au Australia is home to one of the most multicultural societies in the world. In fact, older adults from communities with diverse languages, cultural backgrounds and nationalities make up approximately 30% of the Australian population aged 65 years and above but are underrepresented in dementia research. Zara Page, Study Lead and PhD Candidate​​ There are numerous barriers faced by older adults from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in relation to accessing dementia diagnosis and care… Read More
28 Jan 2022

Nora Wong | Meet Our Researcher Series

Helping people with dementia and their care partners move forward and live positively after a diagnosis of dementia is what drives Nora Wong, Research Officer with the Cognisance consortium. Nora hopes that her research will challenge negative stereotypes and lead to better post-diagnostic support for people living with dementia.   How did you first get into research? Students enrolled in selected undergraduate psychology courses are offered the opportunity to volunteer for psychological research studies in exchange for partial course credit. This was my favourite pastime as an… Read More