Blog: The Brain Dialogues

26 Nov 2020

Dr Nicole Kochan | Meet Our Researcher Series

Dr Nicole Kochan is the leader of CHeBA’s Neuropsychology Group and plays a key role in the development and progress of CHeBA’s largest longitudinal cohort study, the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study. Dr Kochan is assessing the validity and efficacy of computer-based neuropsychological tests to detect cognitive decline and potentially provide a more accessible, time efficient and cost-effective means of assessing cognitive function in older adults.   How did you first get into research? I am a trained Clinical Neuropsychologist and was working for several years at the Prince of Wales… Read More
26 Nov 2020

Dr Meredith Gresham | Meet Our Researcher Series

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
26 Nov 2020

Fleur Harrison | Meet Our Researcher Series

Apathy, defined as loss of motivation leading to dysfunction or disability, is experienced by many community-dwelling older people, and is one of the most common symptoms of neurological and psychiatric disorders. It has often been mislabelled as depression, resulting in ineffective treatment, and has a significant impact on an individual’s ability to lead a fulfilling life. Through research undertaken in her PhD, Fleur Harrison, hopes to shine the light on apathy as an under-researched construct which interplays with ageing and the immune system.   How did you first get into researching… Read More
26 Nov 2020

Marina Ulanova | Meet Our Researcher Series

A PhD Candidate in the Brain Ageing Research Laboratory at CHeBA, Marina Ulanova is researching the development of iron nanoparticles aimed at discovering improved methods to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Marina hopes this research will eventually lead to earlier intervention and more effective treatment of the disease.   How did you first get into research? After completing my undergraduate degree, I wasn’t entirely sure about what I wanted to do next. A friend informed me of a research internship opportunity at the Garvan Institute and, given I had always been interested in neuroscience… Read More
8 Nov 2020

Donor Impact | Dr Karolina Krysinska

Dr Karolina Krysinska
Professor Zdzislaw Krysinski, Dr Romana Krysinska and Dr Karolina Krysinska in 2010
HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au Dr Karolina Krysinska obtained her PhD in Psychology in 2001 and has since had a rich career history in research. She is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at The University of Melbourne and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity at the University of New South Wales. Previously she worked on the Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT) Registry project at the Monash University. Karolina is also a Gestalt psychotherapist at the ConnectGround Clinic and Lygon… Read More
13 Oct 2020

Dr Karen Mather | Meet Our Researcher Series

Dr Karen Mather’s multi-disciplinary research approach to understanding human ageing is dependent upon collaborating not only with CHeBA staff, but also national and international researchers and using publicly available data to provide a more comprehensive examination of the biological processes that underlie the rate at which we age. Dr Mather is enthusiastic about working with CHeBA’s unique studies - in particular the Sydney Centenarian Study - which is the only ongoing exceptional longevity study in Australia.    How did you get into researching the ageing brain? Unlike most people I… Read More
13 Oct 2020

Dr Sumangali Gobhidharan | Meet Our Researcher Series

Dr Sumangali Gobhidharan originally studied Zoology before moving into Neuroscience and the field of healthy ageing research. What ultimately motivated her to join the field was hearing stories of her Grandfather’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and the hope to contribute to healthy brain ageing research.   How did you get into researching the ageing brain? I am from Sri Lanka and my first degree was in Zoology. Zoology is a field I am passionate about and one which was nurtured by the fact that my father is a keen biologist. However, I was always curious to learn more about the… Read More
13 Oct 2020

Dr Inga Mehrani | Meet Our Researcher Series

Dr Inga Mehrani is currently a project manager for one of the three main initiatives within the Australian Dementia Network - the Memory Clinics initiative (ADNeT-MC). The project aims to harmonise diagnostic assessment standards and post-diagnostic pathways to provide a best practice framework for healthcare practitioners and reassure patients and carers that they receive a high-quality dementia diagnosis across Australian Memory Clinics.   How did you get into researching the ageing brain? I am a Speech Pathologist by training and completed my training in Germany. The system there… Read More
13 Oct 2020

Zara Page | Meet Our Researcher Series

Honours Student at CHeBA, Zara Page, keeps mentally fit through her study of differing languages. So far, she has mastered French along with some Italian and Spanish and hopes to move onto learning Mandarin. In keeping with her passion for languages, Zara is currently conducting research exploring the cultural fairness of cognitive assessments for culturally and linguistically diverse Australians.   How did you get into researching the ageing brain? When I enrolled in my degree, I knew that it was going to be a four-year program with the integrated honours. Ultimately, this was why I chose… Read More
5 Oct 2020

A Tribute to Jean Nesbitt

HEIDI DOUGLASS | h.douglass@unsw.edu.au In 1945 when Australians were celebrating the end of the Second World War, a baby girl was born west of Sydney, in Granville. Her parents named her Jean.   65 years later and with three loving sons, seven grandchildren and more than 50 years of a strong and happy marriage to husband Len Nesbitt, Jean was diagnosed with vascular dementia – the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.  On Friday, 11 September, just over 10 years since she was first diagnosed, Jean’s family said their loving goodbyes at a beautiful memorial held… Read More