Blog: The Brain Dialogues

23 Nov 2021

A Thing or Two About Twins

OATS Participants
Tom Rumery and wife Elaine, with Tom's twin brother Jim Rumery and wife Jan (also a twin)
HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au Throughout history, twins have been a source of fascination and wonder – particularly the unique bond they share compared to other sibling relationships. Jan Rumery with her twin brother, John Day For academics, twins provide an invaluable source of information, because the similarity in their genetic code allows researchers to pull apart and examine genetic and environmental influences. Twin studies have been influential in the discovery and treatment of diseases and disorders. Researchers in CHeBA’s Older Australian Twins Study have delved into… Read More
2 Nov 2021

Helping Seniors to Keep Connected

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au More than 400 people from around the globe joined together online for the 2021 Eastern Suburbs Older Persons’ Mental Health Service’s healthy ageing forum. Mr Michael Still, Chairman of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, officially opened the Keeping Connected: Social Health and Ageing forum and acknowledged that 2021 had been a complex year for everyone, with COVID-19 remaining the centre of our lives. “We are almost learning anew that looking after our mental health is vital to our happiness and wellbeing – not just for ourselves but… Read More
21 Oct 2021

Holocaust Survivor Leaves Legacy of Hope

Photo courtesy Sydney Jewish Museum Holocaust survivor and ‘‘happiest man on Earth’’ Eddie Jaku OAM has passed away aged 101. A tribute published in AJN honoured a man who saw the worst of humanity yet remained an optimist throughout his life. Mr Jaku, who came to Australia in 1950 and helped found the Sydney Jewish Museum, shared his story of survival to ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust were never repeated. During World War Two, Mr Jaku was imprisoned in four concentration camps, including Auschwitz where the number 172338 was tattooed on his arm.  An incredible survivor, Mr… Read More
1 Oct 2021

International Day of Older Persons

In 1990 the UN established the 1st of October as the International Day of Older Persons. Since then, this day has acted as a reminder that older people must be granted the opportunity to play an active role in society, more so as the number of people over 60 is expected to reach 1 in 5 by 2050. The 2021 theme “Digital Equity for All Ages” predicates the need for access and inclusivity in the digital world so that older adults can meaningfully participate in our increasingly technology-driven world. Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), Dr Katya Numbers… Read More
16 Sep 2021

Change Makers | Ruby Pradhan

UNSW Medicine & Health Development Manager, Ruby Pradhan, is a proud member of the CHeBA Change Makers - Next Gen Philanthropy program. Change Makers are an exclusive group of next generation philanthropists aged 18-40 who are supporting critical research into Alzheimer's disease and other dementias for a brighter future in ageing.   What does it mean to you personally to be a ‘philanthropist’? I like to think that anyone can be a philanthropist regardless of their net worth or financial status so for me being able to do the little I can whether it’s through my time, experience or… Read More
16 Sep 2021

Change Makers | Lily Calderbank

UNSW Sydney Annual Giving Coordinator, Lily Calderbank, is a proud member of the CHeBA Change Makers - Next Gen Philanthropy program. Change Makers are an exclusive group of next generation philanthropists aged 18-40 who are supporting critical research into Alzheimer's disease and other dementias for a brighter future in ageing.   What does it mean to you personally to be a ‘philanthropist’? To be honest, not much. When I hear the word philanthropist I always think of someone like Bill Gates. I suppose I would label myself a supporter or advocate. What is your hope as a Change Maker –… Read More
20 Aug 2021

Tribute: Professor Roger Layton AM

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au Emeritus Professor Roger Layton AM - the father of modern marketing in our region - passed away on 5 June 2021, leaving behind a legacy that will live on in the hearts of his three daughters and those closest to him, and in the minds of future generations of marketing students. For most marketing academics and students, Roger is understood to be aligned with many important marketing ‘firsts’. He had an illustrious career with the Australian Bureau of Statistics and BHP before an opportunity arose to teach a course on econometrics at Newcastle College… Read More
22 Jun 2021

In Memory of Helen Reading – A Daughter’s Tribute

For CHeBA donor Francesca Wood it was a mixture of sadness and relief when her mother, Mrs Helen Reading, was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2017.  Helen and granddaughter Izzy According to Francesca, it took a long time for her Mum to be diagnosed.   “There was a lot of denial that anything was wrong despite most of us around her acknowledging that all the signs were pointing to dementia.” Francesca, who lives in Melbourne, said that the years between her diagnosis and her passing were extremely challenging. “It was a slow mourning period watching my beautiful mum disappear. “I… Read More

KPMG Sydney Commits to Ongoing Support for The Dementia Momentum

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au In-kind partner of The Dementia Momentum since 2015, KPMG Sydney, has committed to continued partnership to support the initiative led by UNSW Sydney’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA). The Dementia Momentum celebrated its anniversary with KPMG Sydney hosting an exclusive lunch for major donors and corporate partners of the initiative at their Barangaroo offices on Wednesday, 2 June 2021. The event, which was the first to be held for The Dementia Momentum since the global pandemic began and sponsored by private markets finance and investment… Read More
3 Jun 2021

Making Dementia Research More Accessible 

By Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty AO Co-Director Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), UNSW Sydney and Director, Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration Having been a professor of ageing and mental health for over 30 years, I know intimately how costly it is to find and screen research participants. A lack of participants can result in drug trials being shut down. As a researcher, my passion is to find treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, a type of dementia and better ways to help people with dementia and their families. Without appropriate participants, or a large enough sample of… Read More