Studies on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on dementia and new models of care for Indigenous Australians with dementia are among National Health and Medical Research Council grants worth a total of $4.4 million announced today by the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santo Santoro.
Speaking in Sydney today at the Australian Association of Gerontologists Conference, Senator Santoro said the research, funded by the Howard Government, would help future generations to “defend against dementia”.
“Identifying the factors capable of preventing dementia, reducing the burden of disease and promoting healthy aging will lead to improved quality of life for Australians suffering from dementia, as well as those who care for them,” Senator Santoro said.
Dementia is the leading cause of non-fatal disease burden among older Australians and currently affects around 200,000 people. About 1,000 new cases are diagnosed in Australia each week. Dementia is characterised by a general loss of intellectual abilities involving impairment of memory, judgement and abstract thinking, and changes in personality.
The grants are part of a $320.6 million 2005 Budget initiative, Helping Australians with dementia and their carers—making dementia a national health priority. Eight projects have been funded over three years.
The University of Western Australia will undertake four projects:
- Dr Christopher Beer will determine to what extent educating GPs and residential care staff can improve care delivery, and therefore quality of life, for people with dementia in nursing homes.
- Associate Professor Nicola Lautenschlager will establish if Vitamin D supplementation can reduce cognitive decline.
- Dr Dina LoGiudice will study models of care to cater for unmet needs in older Indigenous people with dementia, and their families and communities.
- Professor Sergio Starkstein will examine the link between poor insight and judgement and other common behavioural problems of Alzheimer’s disease such as apathy and dangerous behaviours.
The other funded projects are:
- A University of Sydney study, led by Associate Professor Stephen Lord, aims to understand the complexity of factors that contribute to risk of falling in cognitively impaired older people.
- An investigation of the emergence of anxiety and depression associated with cognitive decline, led by Associate Professor Gerard Byrne from the University of Queensland.
- A Monash University study led by Professor Daniel O’Connor, which will investigate language use, psychiatric medication, quality of life and satisfaction with care for the growing numbers of older migrants with dementia.
- A study led by Associate Professor David Scott from St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne will examine the cognitive decline experienced by up to 60% of cardiac patients after surgery, in the hope of identifying safer coronary treatment that reduces the risk of impairment.
| Media contacts: | Malcolm Cole | Senator Santoro’s Office | 0408 612 603 |
| Monique Mahoney | NHMRC | 0401 721 258 |