Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Chemical Restraint As Behavioural Euthanasia: Case Studies From The Royal Commission Into Aged Care Quality And Safety, Patricia Cain, Pelden Chejor, Davina Porock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The prescription of psychotropic medication to older people living with dementia in residential aged care has become an increasing concern. The use of prescription medication is often prefaced as a way of preventing harm to self and others. However, the use of such medications has been considered a way of managing some of the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Using a large secondary data set, this study aimed to identify the precursors and mediating factors that influence the use of chemical restraint of older people in residential aged care. Methods: Publicly available documents from the Australian Royal Commission …

“They Are Dealing With People’S Lives…”: Diagnostic And Post-Diagnostic Healthcare Experiences In Primary Progressive Aphasia, Tisha Ho, Anne Whitworth, Deborah Hersh, Jade Cartwright

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: The healthcare experience is a multifaceted and varied process, particularly for people living with complex conditions such as primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Different experiences influence pathways through the health system, impacting client outcomes. To our knowledge, no previous studies have directly explored the healthcare experiences of people with PPA and their families. This study aimed to explore the experiences of people living with PPA from the perspective of both the person with PPA and their families during diagnostic and post-diagnostic phases, and to identify factors influencing service access and perceptions of quality of care. Method: The study followed an …

Tourism Experiences Reduce The Risk Of Cognitive Impairment In The Chinese Older Adult: A Prospective Cohort Study, Qian Li, Zheng Guo, Fangli Hu, Mengfei Xiao, Qiang Zhang, Jun Wen, Tianyu Ying, Danni Zheng, Youxin Wang, Song Yang, Haifeng Hou

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Given the etiological complexity of cognitive impairment, no effective cure currently exists for precise treatment of dementia. Although scholars have noted tourism’s potential role in managing cognitive impairment and mild dementia, more robust empirical investigation is needed in this area. This study aimed to examine the associations between tourism and cognitive impairment and dementia in older Chinese adults. Method: From a nationwide community-based cohort, 6,717 individuals aged ≥ 60 were recruited from 2011 to 2014, of whom 669 (9.96%) had had at least one tourism experience in the 2 years prior to enrollment. All the participants were then prospectively …

Development And Validation Of The Montreal Cognitive Assessment For People With Hearing Impairment (Moca-H), Piers Dawes, David Reeves, Wai Kent Yeung, Fiona Holland, Anna Pavlina Charalambous, Mathieu Côté, Renaud David, Catherine Helmer, Robert Laforce, Ralph N. Martins, Antonis Politis, Annie Pye, Gregor Russell, Saima Sheikh, Marie-Josée Sirois, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Chyrssoula Thodi, Kathleen Gallant, Ziad Nasreddine, Iracema Leroi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Hearing impairment is common among older adults and affects cognitive assessments for identification of dementia which rely on good hearing function. We developed and validated a version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for people with hearing impairment. Methods: We adapted existing MoCA 8.1 items for people with hearing impairment by presenting instructions and stimuli in written rather than spoken format. One Attention domain and two Language domain items required substitution by alternative items. Three and four candidate items respectively were constructed and field-tested along with the items adapted to written form. We used a combination of individual item …

Dietary Nitrate Intake In Relation To The Risk Of Dementia And Imaging Markers Of Vascular Brain Health: A Population-Based Study, Tosca O.E. De Crom, Lauren Blekkenhorst, Meike W. Vernooij, M. Kamran Ikram, Trudy Voortman, M. Arfan Ikram

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background

Nitric oxide is a free radical that can be produced from dietary nitrate and positively affects cardiovascular health. With cardiovascular health playing an important role in the etiology of dementia, we hypothesized a link between dietary nitrate intake and the risk of dementia.

Objectives

This study aimed to find the association of total, vegetable, and nonvegetable dietary nitrate intake with the risk of dementia and imaging markers of vascular brain health, such as total brain volume, global cerebral perfusion, white matter hyperintensity volume, microbleeds, and lacunar infarcts.

Methods

Between 1990 and 2009, dietary intake was assessed using food-frequency …

Utility Of Dna Methylation As A Biomarker In Ageing And Alzheimer’S Disease, Lidija Milicic, Tenielle Porter, Michael Vacher, Simon M. Laws

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation have been implicated in a number of diseases including cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. While it is recognized that DNA methylation is tissue-specific, a limitation for many studies is the ability to sample the tissue of interest, which is why there is a need for a proxy tissue such as blood, that is reflective of the methylation state of the target tissue. In the last decade, DNA methylation has been utilized in the design of epigenetic clocks, which aim to predict an individual’s biological age based on an algorithmically defined set …

Dementia Care For People From Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds: Qualitative Secondary Analysis Of The Aged Care Australian Royal Commission Data, Pelden Chejor, Patricia Cain, Bridget Laging, Davina Porock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective:

Understanding the concerns and experiences of people living with dementia from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds is critical to ensure culturally appropriate care is delivered. This study aimed to describe the current experiences and concerns of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds using the publicly available evidence from the Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Methods:

This was a qualitative secondary analysis of the Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety data to explore new and nuanced insights about care for culturally and linguistically diverse people living with dementia. Using the keywords …

Comparing Clinico-Demographics And Neuropsychiatric Symptoms For Immigrant And Non-Immigrant Aged Care Residents Living With Dementia: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study From An Australian Dementia-Specific Support Service, Pelden Chejor, Mustafa Atee, Patricia Cain, Daniel Whiting, Thomas Morris, Davina Porock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background:

Neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia such as agitation and aggression are common in people living with dementia. The presentation of neuropsychiatric symptoms is influenced by the cultural background of people living with dementia. Further, identifying factors contributing to neuropsychiatric symptoms may be complicated if people living with dementia are immigrants or from non-English-speaking backgrounds. Most of what is known about differences in neuropsychiatric symptoms between racial and ethnic groups living with dementia come from community-based samples. This study investigated differences in clinico-demographics and neuropsychiatric symptoms between immigrants and non-immigrants living with dementia in residential aged care homes who were referred …

Physical Restraint In Older People: A Statement From The Early Career Network Of The International Psychogeriatric Association, Mustafa Atee, Claire V. Burley, Victor A. Ojo, Agboola J. Adigun, Hayoung Lee, Daniel J. Hoyle, Olufisayo Elugbadebo, Tomas Leon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) has expressed significant concerns over the use of physical restraints in older people across diverse aged care settings. Following an extensive analysis of the available literature, the IPA's Early Career Network (ECN) has formulated a collection of evidence-based recommendations aimed at guiding the use of physical restraints within various care contexts and demographic groups. Physical restraints not only infringe upon human rights but also raise significant safety concerns that adversely impact the physical, psychological, social, and functional well-being of older adults. Furthermore, their effectiveness in geriatric settings remains inadequate. Given these considerations, the IPA and …

Exploring Perceptions Of Travel-Eligible Individuals With Dementia And Hotel Operators, Jun Wen, Danni Zheng, Yangyang Jiang, Haifeng Hou, Ian Phau, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Although people with dementia have leisure travel needs, no scholars appear to have empirically explored how to meet this group’s needs as hotel guests. To bridge this research gap in tourism literature, the current study employed in-depth interviews to collect first-hand data from 15 travel-eligible tourists with early-stage dementia and 15 senior luxury hotel managers in China. Specifically, six key themes were extracted from Chinese hotel guests with dementia. Hotel managers’ commentary on meeting travel-eligible tourists with dementia’ needs during leisure travel led to three themes. Innovatively, this study further sheds light on possible contributions the tourism and hospitality industry …

Tackling Dementia Together Via The Australian Dementia Network (Adnet): A Summary Of Initiatives, Progress And Plans, Sharon L. Naismith, Johannes C. Michaelian, Cherry Santos, Inga Mehrani, Joanne Robertson, Kasey Wallis, Xiaoping Lin, Stephanie A. Ward, Ralph Martins, Colin L. Masters, Michael Breakspear, Susannah Ahern, Jurgen Fripp, Peter R. Schofield, Perminder S. Sachdev, Christopher C. Rowe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In 2018, the Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT) was established to bring together Australia's leading dementia researchers, people with living experience and clinicians to transform research and clinical care in the field. To address dementia diagnosis, treatment, and care, ADNeT has established three core initiatives: the Clinical Quality Registry (CQR), Memory Clinics, and Screening for Trials. Collectively, the initiatives have developed an integrated clinical and research community, driving practice excellence in this field, leading to novel innovations in diagnostics, clinical care, professional development, quality and harmonization of healthcare, clinical trials, and translation of research into practice. Australia now has a national …

Physical Activity And Brain Amyloid Beta: A Longitudinal Analysis Of Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults, Michael G. Slee, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Victor L. Villemagne, James D. Doecke, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, David Ames, Vincent Dore, Paul Maruff, Simon M. Laws, Colin L. Masters, Christopher C. Rowe, Ralph N. Martins, Kirk I. Erickson, Belinda M. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: The current study evaluated the relationship between habitual physical activity (PA) levels and brain amyloid beta (A ) over 15 years in a cohort of cognitively unimpaired older adults. Methods: PA and A measures were collected over multiple timepoints from 731 cognitively unimpaired older adults participating in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) Study of Aging. Regression modeling examined cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between PA and brain A . Moderation analyses examined apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4 carriage impact on the PA-A relationship. Results: PA was not associated with brain A at baseline ( = –0.001, p = 0.72) …

Systematic Review Of Dyadic Psychoeducational Programs For Persons With Dementia And Their Family Caregivers, Manonita Ghosh, Melissa Dunham, Beverly O'Connell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims and Objectives:

Synthesising evidence for effects of dyadic psychoeducational support programs on both people with dementia and their caregivers' health and well-being.

Background:

There is an increasing need for psychoeducational support programs for people with dementia and their caregivers; therefore, it is important to identify the benefits and practical implications of the programs on the dyads.

Methods:

Guided by Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology, and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, a systematic search of literature was conducted on dyadic psychoeducational programs published in English between January 2012 and January 2021 from four electronic databases. …

A Potential Role For Sirtuin-1 In Alzheimer's Disease: Reviewing The Biological And Environmental Evidence, Mehrane Mehramiz, Tenielle Porter, Eleanor K. O'Brien, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Simon M. Laws

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1), encoded by the SIRT1 gene, is a conserved Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) dependent deacetylase enzyme, considered as the master regulator of metabolism in humans. Sirt1 contributes to a wide range of biological pathways via several mechanisms influenced by lifestyle, such as diet and exercise. The importance of a healthy lifestyle is of relevance to highly prevalent modern chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is growing evidence at multiple levels for a role of Sirt1/SIRT1 in AD pathological mechanisms. As such, this review will explore the relevance of Sirt1 to AD pathological mechanisms, by describing the involvement …