Dementia study calls for 1500 volunteers to assess generational change

A national study is set to explore whether there has been a generational change in brain health, following major increases in the number of Australians aged 65 and over.

Led by aging specialist Professor Henry Brodaty AO, the UNSW Sydney’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) study will explore the possibilities of unidentified risk factors for dementia and the re-evaluation of previously established risk factors. Researchers are calling for 1500 volunteers from Sydney’s Wentworth and Kingsford Smith electorates who do not have dementia and were born between 1933 and 1953.

Announced on the World Alzheimer’s Day (21 September), the study will ascertain what changes have occurred in Sydney’s next generation of 70- to 90-year-olds across four health domains — physical, psychological, social and cognitive/brain health — by repeating comprehensive assessments of a defined older population and of associated health services, and comparing findings with those from an earlier study commenced in 2005.

It will incorporate novel approaches including recently developed blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease, digital biomarkers, computerised neuropsychological assessments and blood pressure measurements, evaluation of new risk factors for dementia and new tools for measuring resilience to better target preventative strategies.

Brodaty, who is Co-Director of CHeBA and a founding member of Alzheimer’s Disease International, says the greatest burden on the aged population, and thereby society, is imposed by brain diseases — particularly Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

For the first time in history, the number of Australians aged 65 and over has overtaken the population under the age of 15. The ramifications of this are far-reaching, from the challenges of reduced workforce participation to increased burden on the health and social security systems.

“As a nation, we have reached a tipping point with a critical need to understand the risk factors associated with health issues in older Australians, specifically brain diseases,” Brodaty said.

“Our vision with this study is to challenge the status quo and question whether cognition is better than it was a generation prior and identify risk factors for, and protective factors against, cognitive decline.”

Source: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australians/contents/demographic-profile

The current direct economic cost of dementia in Australia is more than $15 billion and will rise proportionally as an increased number of people are affected. By 2036, the total cost of dementia is predicted to increase by 81% to $25.8 billion in today’s dollars, and by 2056 to $36.8 billion, which represents a 2.6-fold increase in costs from 2016.

“To cope with this expected growth, the aged-care workforce will need to triple by 2050,” said HammondCare CEO and former NSW Premier Mike Baird.

“Government policy will need to cater for the growth of people living with dementia living in their own homes with a carer.

“There will need to be more programs like Dementia Support Australia’s Staying at Home program to equip carers with the right skills and there will need to be available respite options to ensure those carers can get time to recharge.

“For those people living with dementia who need residential aged care, there will need to be more investment in small household models that offer a small, domestic and familiar environment that research shows improve health and quality-of-life outcomes.”

While there are new trial drugs that are offering hope of slowing down disease progression, there is no cure for dementia.

The volunteers who participate will do an initial assessment including tests of cognition, physical function including blood pressure, fasting blood tests and completion of several questionnaires. Volunteers will also be given the options to participate in add-on studies to have an MRI brain scan and to have their vision and hearing tested, as well as their balance, risk of falls and cardiac status.

To register for the study, click here.

Top image caption: Professor Henry Brodaty AO. Image: Supplied.