Monash Report 2024 – Goal 3

Leading multiple studies, Monash researchers focus on improving health and well-being among older adults, addressing ageing and medication use:

• A study led by Dr. Christina Ekegren and others investigated subsidised exercise classes for older Australians, showing improvements in physical function and reduced sedentary time.
• The Centre for Medicine Use and Safety (CMUS) collaborated with Japan’s Institute for Health Economics and Policy to study painkiller use in aged care, highlighting the need for improved pain management strategies.
• CMUS also identified opportunities for deprescribing unnecessary medications among frail residents in aged care, promoting safer medication practices and addressing health inequalities.
• Research on social activities and well-being among older people highlights loneliness as a significant issue, emphasising community engagement and social inclusion.
• The AGELESS Research Project at Monash University Malaysia addresses cognitive frailty, aiming to enhance well-being and self-sufficiency in older adults, supporting SDG 3's targets for healthy lives.
• A study on gabapentinoids by CMUS revealed increased hip fracture risk, emphasising careful medication assessment, supported by international collaboration with Austin Health, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Eastern Finland.
• Research led by Professor Roger Pocock discovered pathways linking nervous system signals to mitochondrial health, with implications for ageing and metabolic diseases.
• Professor Anita Wluka's study found that small weight gains in men increase back pain risk, highlighting modifiable risk factors to reduce the burden of back pain.
• Dr. Aung Zaw Zaw Phyo and Professor Joanne Ryan's research on epigenetic age acceleration reveals links to frailty and cognitive decline, emphasising sex-specific healthcare strategies.

Related SDGs