A5053371123- Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
- Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Interprofessional Education and Collaboration
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Face Recognition and Perception
- Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Mental Health and Psychiatry
- Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
- Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
- Healthcare Systems and Public Health
- Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Identity, Memory, and Therapy
- Family and Patient Care in Intensive Care Units
- Aging and Gerontology Research
- Technology Use by Older Adults
National Ageing Research Institute
2022-2025
The University of Melbourne
2017-2025
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
2018-2024
University of Toronto
2019-2023
Baycrest Hospital
2017-2019
Half a century ago, Donald Hebb posited that mental imagery is constructive process emulates perception. Specifically, claimed visual results from the reactivation of neural activity associated with viewing images. He also argued and benefit re-enactment eye movement patterns first occurred at (fixation reinstatement). To investigate these claims, we applied multivariate pattern analyses to functional MRI (fMRI) tracking data collected while healthy human participants repeatedly viewed...
Objective: Blood biomarkers of neuronal injury such as neurofilament light (NfL) show promise to improve diagnosis neurodegenerative disorders and distinguish from primary psychiatric (PPD). This study investigated the diagnostic utility plasma NfL differentiate behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD, a disorder commonly misdiagnosed initially PPD), PPD, performance large normative/reference data sets models. Methods: Plasma was analysed in major depressive (MDD, n = 42), bipolar...
Abstract INTRODUCTION People with neurodegenerative disorders (ND) frequently face diagnostic delay and misdiagnosis. We investigated blood cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light chain (NfL) to distinguish ND from primary psychiatric (PPD), a common challenge in clinical settings. METHODS Plasma CSF NfL levels were measured compared between groups, adjusting for age, sex, weight. RESULTS A total of 337 participants included: 136 ND, 77 PPD, 124 Controls. was 2.5‐fold elevated PPD had...
Abstract Objective: People with neuropsychiatric symptoms often experience delay in accurate diagnosis. Although cerebrospinal fluid neurofilament light (CSF NfL) shows promise distinguishing neurodegenerative disorders (ND) from psychiatric (PSY), its accuracy a diagnostically challenging cohort longitudinally is unknown. Methods: We collected longitudinal diagnostic information (mean = 36 months) patients assessed at neuropsychiatry service, categorising diagnoses as ND/mild cognitive...
Abstract Objectives Residential aged care respite clients are vulnerable and prone to poor health‐care outcomes. Improvements in the quality of for this cohort urgently needed. However, before proposing changes models, a nuanced understanding relevant issues affecting consumers professionals is required. We aimed explore perspectives consumers, carers, workers involved residential (RRC). Methods used purposive sampling recruit their family members, staff across metropolitan Melbourne...
To prospectively examine 8-year risk of clinical disease progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/dementia in older adults ≥60 with superior episodic memory (SuperAgers) compared those cognitively normal for their age (CNFA). Additionally, determine the extent which SuperAgers were resilient negative effects elevated amyloid-beta (Aβ+) on cognition.Participants classified as based performance consistent younger aged 30-44 and no non-memory tests (n = 179), matched CNFA age, sex,...
Background There are limited longitudinal studies on the effects of COVID-19 pandemic mental health and well-being, including imposed restrictions lockdowns. Aims This study investigates how living in a pandemic, related lockdowns restrictions, affected people Australia during first year pandemic. Method A total 875 participated survey from 27 May to 14 December 2020. time period includes dates that span pre-, post-wave 2 Australia, with strict sustained public measures. Linear mixed models...
ABSTRACT Objective We investigated diagnostic utility of phosphorylated tau 217 and 181 (ptau217, ptau181), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), amyloid beta 42 40 (Aβ42, Aβ40), neurofilament light (NfL) to distinguish AD from non-AD conditions, in a heterogenous clinical cohort younger people. Methods Plasma biomarkers were analysed using ultrasensitive technology, compared patients with CSF Alzheimer disease profiles (A+T+) other (OtherAT). Results Seventy-nine included, median age 60.8...
Preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined by cerebral amyloid-β positivity (Aβ+) in cognitively normal (CN) older adults. To estimate the risk of progression to symptomatic stages AD due PET Aβ+ and extent that was influenced other demographic, genetic, clinical characteristics a large prospective study. Fine-Gray subdistribution modeling used examine from CN MCI/dementia Aβ+, APOEɛ4 carriage, their interaction Australian Imaging, Biomarkers Lifestyle (AIBL) flagship study aging cohort...
Abstract Introduction Superior cognitive performance in older adults may reflect underlying resistance to age‐associated neurodegeneration. While elevated amyloid β (Aβ) deposition (Aβ+) has been associated with increased cortical atrophy, it remains unknown whether “SuperAgers” be protected from Aβ‐associated Methods Neuropsychologically defined SuperAgers (n = 172) and cognitively normal for age the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers Lifestyle study were case matched. Rates of atrophy over 8...
Objective Blood biomarkers of neuronal injury such as neurofilament light (NfL) are being intensively studied to improve diagnosis and treatment neurodegenerative disorders, but gaps remain in its ability assist distinguishing from primary psychiatric disorders (PPD) with overlapping clinical presentations that commonly cause diagnostic dilemmas. This study aimed investigate plasma NfL a range PPDs, the utility differentiating PPD behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), disorder...
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia has profoundly affected older adults, particularly the state of Victoria, which experienced strict lockdown restrictions six times since began 2020; totalling 245 days over three years. This study explored experiences adults living retirement villages during first lockdowns Victoria from March 2020 to February 2021. We draw on concept ‘third age’ explore how residents’ post-retirement social and lifestyle aspirations were disrupted by associated...
ABSTRACT Objective Timely, accurate distinction between behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and primary psychiatric disorders (PPD) is a clinical challenge. Blood biomarkers such as neurofilament light chain (NfL) glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) have shown promise. Prior work has NfL helps distinguish FTD from PPD. Few studies assessed together with GFAP. Methods We investigated plasma GFAP levels in participants bvFTD, bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), major...
Abstract Half a century ago, Donald Hebb posited that mental imagery is constructive process emulates perception. Specifically, claimed visual results from the reactivation of neural activity associated with viewing images. He also argued and benefit re-enactment eye movement patterns first occurred at (fixation reinstatement). To investigate these claims, we applied multivariate pattern analyses to functional MRI (fMRI) eye-tracking data collected while healthy human participants repeatedly...
Objectives Vascular disease remains a leading cause of death. There are several vascular risk factors identified that can mitigate development in ageing. We examine reported rates modifiable women responding to an online health questionnaire advertised by popular media. Methods A sample 26 620 aged over 18 was examined 2015 with cross-sectional questionnaire. The included self-reported health, mood, lifestyle and factors. Results high present women. vast majority (80%) not eating enough...
Abstract The hippocampus is known to support processing of precise spatial information in recently learned environments. It less clear, but crucial for theories systems consolidation, know whether it also supports familiar environments long ago and such precision extends objects numbers. In this fMRI study, we asked participants make progressively more refined distance judgments among well-known Toronto landmarks (whether landmark A closer B or C) examine hippocampal involvement. We tested...
Age-friendly cities are crucial to achieve the WHO goal of healthy aging. Such promote opportunities for health, participation, and security, thus enhancing quality life as people age. Older commonly experience psychosocial challenges such anxiety, depression, substance abuse, loss autonomy, grief, fear, loneliness. Australian Canadian continue seek innovation improve urban aging create more age-friendly environments older adults. There is increasing evidence on effectiveness feasibility...
The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on everyday life in Australia despite relatively low infection rates. Lockdown restrictions were among harshest world, while older adults portrayed as especially vulnerable by politicians and media. This study examines perceptions experiences lockdowns 31 Australians. We investigated how participants perceived their own vulnerability, attitudes towards protective behaviors, affected life. found that cautious about vigilant...
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Many patients with neurodegenerative disorders (ND) face diagnostic delay and misdiagnosis. We investigated blood cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light chain (NfL) to distinguish ND from primary psychiatric (ND), a common challenge in clinical settings. METHODS Plasma CSF NfL levels were measured compared between groups, adjusting for age, sex, weight. RESULTS 337 participants included: 136 ND, 77 PPD, 124 Controls. was 2.5 fold elevated PPD had strong...
ABSTRACT Objectives The primary aim of this pragmatic stepped‐wedge cluster RCT was to determine the efficacy a co‐designed dementia specialist training program (the PITCH program) for home care workers (HCWs) improve their confidence and knowledge when providing clients living with dementia. Methods HCWs who provided were recruited from seven service provider organisations in Australia between July 2019 May 2022, randomised into one 18 clusters. outcome HCW's sense self‐competence services...
Abstract Importance While apathy and affective neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common in the clinical spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), their neurobiological correlates remain unclear. Objective To longitudinally examine plasma markers neurodegeneration (neurofilament light chain; NfL) tau pathology (phosphorylated at threonine 181; p-tau181) associations with individuals diagnoses AD dementia mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design, Setting, Participants Exposure This cohort study...