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Category: In the news

How Aware are we of how to Reduce our Risk of Dementia?

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023

Up to 40% of dementias worldwide are due to modifiable risk factors, meaning aspects of our lifestyle that we can change[1]. Research has identified twelve key factors.  How many can you name? Have a go! In a study published earlier this year, this is exactly what a research team in Ireland set out to explore[2]. […]

Your Local Park Might Lower Your Risk of Dementia

Friday, July 14th, 2023

“Go for a little walk”, “pop outside for some fresh air”. Intuitively, we know that spending time outdoors is good for us. This is backed up by evidence that green space may be especially beneficial for brain health. Higher levels of tree canopy within a city (defined as the layer of leaves, branches, and stems […]

Artificial Intelligence To Help Fasttrack a Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Friday, July 7th, 2023

Imagine being able to plug a few brain images into a machine, and then being able to say “yes” or “no” that this individual has dementia. Well, this is what a team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital recently set out to achieve using a type of artificial intelligence called deep learning[1]. Learning by example […]

Redefining Behaviour and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Saturday, June 17th, 2023

Dementia describes a collection of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain. In addition to the more familiar cognitive symptoms such as memory loss and language difficulties, dementia can also encompass non-cognitive symptoms such as agitation, anxiety, apathy, depression, and disinhibition. These symptoms are collectively termed as “Behaviours and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia. The term […]

Fitting Medical Research into Advance Care Planning

Sunday, May 14th, 2023

How many of you have spoken with your loved ones about what type of care you would like to receive if you became seriously ill or injured or unable to say what you want? Advance care planning involves arranging with friends and family about what care you would like to receive, if you lost your […]

Good Neighbours Could Mitigate the Negative Impact of Living Alone

Saturday, April 1st, 2023

How often do you say hi to your neighbours? Because doing so, might help you – and them -live a little longer. An American study published earlier this year, set out to examine whether neighbourhood dynamics influenced the health of Chinese Americans who lived by themselves.[1] Everybody Needs Good Neighbours It is well documented that […]

Quality of Life Measures Available for Use in Aged Care

Friday, February 17th, 2023

How do we measure an individual persons’ quality of life? Two new consumer experience and quality of life assessment tools, designed to improve standards and transparency in aged care, are to be rolled out nationally this year. A team of researchers at Flinders University have been working on the measures, since the Royal Commission into […]

Is Lecanemab the Drug that can Finally Make the Difference for Dementia?

Tuesday, December 13th, 2022

The dementia world has been stirred by a recent paper reporting the drug Lecanemab’s effect on slowing cognitive decline in people with early Alzheimer’s Disease[1]. In Alzheimer’s disease, two key proteins – tau and amyloid beta – build up into tangles and plaques, and cause brain cells to die. The human body naturally produces antibodies […]

Genetic Link between Gut Health and Alzheimer’s Disease confirmed

Friday, October 14th, 2022

The same genes that send people to the bathroom with gut issues, may be involved in brain health. Previous observational studies have suggested a relationship between Alzheimer’s Disease and gastrointestinal tract disorders. However, it has been unclear what underpins these relationships. According to new data from Australia’s Edith Cowan University, it could be genetic[1]. Researchers […]

Motivations Behind Volunteering for Online Research Platforms, like StepUp for Dementia Research?

Wednesday, October 5th, 2022

Just under a third of Australians volunteer[1]. Volunteering benefits both the individual as well as the community.  However, people become involved in volunteering for different reasons. A recent Australian study looked at the motivations and meaning behind volunteering online for science-based research[2]. Specifically, the study looked at the experiences of people who had signed up […]

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