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Student Projects

• The effect of Spousal/Partner Bereavement on Thinking Skills (Cognition) in Older Adults
• The role of formal and informal support in maintaining physical and psychological health in later life
• The Relationship between Visual Attention and Safe Driving in Older Adults
• The Relationship Between Cognition and Mortality in an Ageing Community Sample
• Evaluating the utility of harmonised panel data for testing contemporary theories of cognitive ageing
• Cognitive changes and retirement
• Evaluating self and informant online memory assessment

 

Barbara Boyer (Masters Candidate)

The Effect of Spousal/Partner Bereavement on Thinking Skills (Cognition) in Older Adults

This research examines the associations between spousal bereavement, cognitive change and depression in older Australians. Data from the 60+ cohort at Wave 1 and 2 are being analysed from the PATH through life project.

 

Natalie Chan (PhD Candidate)

The Role of Formal and Informal Support in Maintaining Physical and Psychological Health in Later Life

Research has found increasing functional disability in later life to be associated with poorer psychological health outcomes. Further, physical health decline is considered to be a significant risk factor for major depression and other mental health disorders in older adulthood. One factor that has been found to be effective in offsetting the negative effects of physical decline on psychological health is informal social support.

In contrast, very little is known about whether formal support may play a similarly protective role. This is despite the growing relevance of formal support services in Australia’s ageing population.

As a result, this research aims to increase our understanding of the possible protective effects of formal support by examining who receives formal support and whether it protects against the negative effects of physical health decline on psychological health. These research questions will be examined both cross-sectionally and longitudinally using data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

 

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Visual Attention profile showing spatial performance fields across the central 30-degrees of the visual field.

Chris Hatherly (PhD Candidate)

The Relationship between Visual Attention and Safe Driving in Older Adults

Chris’ PhD project is investigating spatial and temporal aspects of visual attention and processing, focussing particularly on the periphery of vision. Initial studies will be used to develop a novel component of a safety screening battery for older drivers, based on an established visual attention screening paradigm. Chris’ project will also examine short and medium term change in cognitive and visual attention and in driving performance in older adults in a study which follows participants with regular follow-up tests for several months.

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Philip Batterham (PhD Candidate)

The Relationship Between Cognition and Mortality in an Ageing Community Sample

Previous studies have found that better cognitive performance is associated with lower mortality rates, particularly when examining performance on memory and intelligence tasks.  Stable cognitive performance over time has also been shown to be related to lower mortality.  This study examines mortality data collected in the Canberra Longitudinal Study over 17 years, in conjunction with 12 years of survey data covering a range of cognitive, demographic, physical health, mental health and social support measures.  The study aims to further delineate the relationship between cognition and mortality by examining the duration of the effect, testing the specificity of the cognitive change and seeking a causal explanation for the relationship.

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Kim Kiely (Phd Candidate)

Evaluating the utility of harmonised panel data for testing contemporary theories of cognitive ageing

The main research foci of this project lie in the areas of cognitive ageing and longitudinal methodology with harmonised data. A significant feature of this project is the use of dynamic longitudinal models, such as the Dual Change Score Model to investigate the inter-relationships between cognitive and sensory functioning during the years before death. Ultimately this study seeks to test predictions made by contemporary theories of Cognitive Ageing such as the Common Cause and Terminal Drop hypotheses

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Chwee von Sanden (PhD Candidate)

Cognitive changes and retirement

Chwee is investigating the impact of health on retirement and retirement on health within four areas of heath – sensory ability, mental health, cognitive function and physical function. The major focus of her research is on the examination of cognitive decline as a predictor and consequence of retirement

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Jennifer Young (Masters Candidate)

Evaluating self and informant online memory assessment

Dementia is increasing in prevalence as our population ages, and currently, early detection remains the best approach to treatment. Anecdotal evidence suggests that older adults with memory complaints are anxious about developing dementia, and will seek out information and assessment from various sources. The aim of this project is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of online assessment tools that screen for dementia for a) people who are worried about the memory of a friend or family member and b) persons concerned about their own cognitive health

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