Research

The Dementia and Cognitive Ageing Lab leads several ongoing initiatives, including community-based cohort studies (the Healthy Brain Project, the Healthy Brain Hub), and a clinical trial (the BetterBrains Trial). We also lead the ARC-funded Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) in Optimal Ageing, a multi-institute, cross-faculty, partnership with a broad range of industry partners that seeks to train the next generation of experts in digital and robotics technology to optimise ageing for all Australians.

Our work is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (GNT1162645; GNT1158384, GNT1147465, GNT1111603, GNT1105576, GNT1104273, GNT1171816, GNT2007037, GNT2009550), the Australian Research Council (IC210100019; DP240102205), the Medical Research Future Fund (APP2024305), the Alzheimer’s Association (AARG-17-591424, AARG-19-643133, 23AARF-1025519), the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, and the National Institute on Aging (R01AG062531).

Our studies are described below:

Healthy Brain Project

Characterizing the earliest demonstrable cognitive decline in middle-aged adults at risk of Alzheimer's disease will allow for the better understanding of the early disease trajectory, and the provision of therapies before clinical symptom onset. We developed an online platform to recruit, assess, and monitor at-risk middle-aged adults. Participants completed annual assessments of medical history, demographics, cognition, lifestyle, mood, and diet. Participants also provided a saliva sample to permit genetic characterization. We enrolled 7000+ participants, with excellent representation across Australia, including in remote and regional areas (approximately 25%).

To learn more, please visit our website www.healthybrainproject.org.au or email healthybrainproject@monash.edu.

BetterBrains Trial

BetterBrains is a 24-month, single-blind, person-centred, multi-domain, prevention randomized controlled trial (RCT) to delay cognitive decline in adults aged 40-70 years. Participants randomised to the intervention group received personalised behavioural modification recommendations and telephone coaching based on their risk factor profile. The intervention consists of four modules targeting sleep, vascular health, mood, and cognitive engagement. Approximately 1000 participants were randomised to receive the 12-month intervention or access to educational health material (control).

To learn more, please visit www.betterbrains.org.au or email betterbrains@monash.edu.

Healthy Brain Hub

The Healthy Brain Hub is a new research study exploring whether an online cognitive assessment platform is useful for people who are worried about their brain health. Participants will complete an online brain health assessment which includes memory and thinking tests, and surveys about mood, lifestyle, and wellbeing. Once completed, a feedback report with the results of the assessment, is sent to both the participant and their General Practitioner (GP) or nominated Health Care Provider to help inform health care management and clinical decision making. We are running this study to find out if the Healthy Brain Hub is useful and helps to improve access to brain health assessments for all Australians.

To learn more, please visit https://www.healthybrainhub.org.au or email healthybrainhub@monash.edu

Validation of smartphone administered Cogstate Brief Battery

The Cogstate Brief Battery (CBB) is a well-validated and widely used computerised cognitive test that measures processing speed, attention, working memory and learning. Given modern advancements in technology and the widespread use of smartphones, Cogstate Ltd. have developed a smartphone version of the CBB with the aim of increasing accessibility to cognitive testing and capturing cognitive performance in everyday life. This series of experiments aimed to validate the new smartphone version of the CBB across different populations, including young adults, middle-aged adults, older adults with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. These experiments also included various testing conditions (i.e., different number of tests, remote administration, in person testing) and aimed to compare results from the smartphone test to the computerised version. We also assessed the usability and acceptability of the smartphone CBB across the different populations.

For more information, please email hydralab@monash.edu

ORCA

One of our group’s primary research aims is to develop and validate novel cognitive tests that can detect the earliest signs of cognitive abnormality and Alzheimer’s Disease. We are engaged in developing novel tests (e.g., using socially relevant paradigms to assess learning in the Online Repeated Cognitive Assessment, ORCA, model), using novel testing protocols (e.g., high-frequency cognitive testing using the Ambulatory Research in Cognition smartphone app), and validating computerised cognitive tests for use in unsupervised, remote assessments (e.g., Cogstate Brief Battery, CANTAB). These tests are used across a range of experimental and cohort studies that we are involved in.

For more information, please email us at hydralab@monash.edu

ITTC

The ARC Training Centre for Optimal Ageing is led by Monash University (Turner Institute, Monash Engineering, Monash Faculty of IT) and Federation University. The Centre seeks to inspire and train the next generation of leaders in the area of ageing, by providing direct experience with industry partners, as well as training and master classes in key areas of psychology and health sciences, engineering and information technology. The projects within the Centre are expected to accelerate research translation and industry engagement through the development and application of digital, robotics and sensor-based technology to address key challenges in ageing, which are to enhance cognition, promote independence and foster social connectedness. The expected outcome of this Centre is to equip the trainees with skills that expand Australia’s technical capability and will enable them to make key contributions to the sustainability and growth of the Medtech and Biotech sectors, and to provide significant capacity to address global challenges for 21st century innovation to optimise ageing.

To learn more, please visit https://optimalageingcentre.com.au/ or email optimalageingcentre@monash.edu