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Cognitive Ageing, Brain Ageing and Dementia

• Dementia Risk Factor Review Project
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies
• Online self-assessment for dementia

 

Dementia Risk Factor Review Project

This project involves conducting a series of systematic reviews on modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline in normal ageing. We have completed reviews on smoking and serum cholesterol, alcohol consumption and are currently examining body weight.

ARU members have been investigating the use of online self assessment of cognitive impairment through the SCOPE (Self Cognitive Online Personal Evaluation) project. This project involves qualitative evaluation of the acceptability of online tools for consumers, as well as quantitative evaluation of tools in healthy older adults, adults with cognitive impairment and carers. This project is conducted in conjunction with the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre led by Associate Professor Marc Budge from Geriatric Medicine, ANU.

 

 

Mind and brain

Analysis of the PATH dataset has identified health and lifestyle factors that are associated with poorer cognitive function in both late and middle-adulthood and factors that predict transition from normal ageing to mild cognitive impairment. An exciting development in 2008 was the commencement of a collaborative project with the ANU Medical School, examining cardiovascular function in a sub-group of randomly selected PATH participants to identify early markers of changes in cardiovascular health and how these relate to mental health and cognitive function.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
The above figures show the process of brain parcellation: firstly the skull is removed from the image, then a 3D model of the brain is created. This model is then decomposed into sub-structures that can be viewed and analysed.

 

ARU staff and students also work on the neuroimaging sub-study of PATH with Professor Sachdev and Dr Wei Wen from UNSW. Most of this work involves linking mental health and cognition to brain structures and identifying lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and alcohol consumption that affect the way in which our brains age. This will enable us to make recommendations on how individuals can protect their brains as they move through adulthood to reduce their risk of dementia in late life.

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Online self-assessment for dementia

As part of work concerned with development of the National Dementia Website, members of the ARU have also been investigating the use of screening tools for dementia. We have investigated ethical and practical concerns associated with dementia screening, as wells as conducting a systematic review of available instruments. Future research will focus on adapting and validating screening instruments for the digital world.

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ARU staff and students working on Cognitive Ageing, Brain Ageing and Dementia

• Professor Kaarin Anstey
• Professor Helen Christensen
• Dr Allison Bielak
• Dr Nicolas Cherbuin
• Dr Lesley Ross-Meadows
• Ms Lauren Bartsch
• Ms Prapti Gautam
• Mr Kim Kiely
• Ms Jennifer Young

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