Dr Suraj Samtani, a researcher at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) is leading a team of researchers from ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney, University of Queensland and Silverchain to find out how to help older adults maintain or enhance their social engagement and well-being. Silverchain is one of Australia’s largest aged care providers and provide services for over 21,000 older adults in the community. The project is funded by a Dementia Australia Research Foundation fellowship awarded to Dr Samtani.Ìý

You can take part if you:

• Are aged 55+.
• Have noticed changes in your memory or thinking OR have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
• Feel lonely sometimes.
• Can join online sessions using a computer or tablet.Ìý
• Can do basic daily activities without help.
• Can have conversations in English.
• Can see and hear well (with glasses or hearing aid/s if needed).
• Do not have a severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., psychosis or bipolar disorder).
• Life expectancy is over 12 months.
• Live in Australia.

This project aims to develop novel imaging biomarkers of early cerebrovascular alterations in VCI, and examine how they relate to brain vascular lesions, cognition (including dementia), blood biomarkers of vascular disease, and vascular risk factors.Ìý

The VCI study is actively recruiting participants (aged 50-80 years old) who:

• Have Vascular Dementia,
• Have Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment, or
• Are healthy without cognitive impairment.

The aim is to develop a computerised assessment tool to measure the ability to complete daily tasks such as shopping and finances. The tool will help clinicians identify early cognitive changes associated with dementia.

We are looking for study participants with and without a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia to help us test the C-STAM. You will be eligible for the study if you are:

• Aged 60 years or above.
• Living in Sydney.
• Able to understand, read and write in English without an interpreter.
• Have a family member or close friend who will also participate.in this study.

Research in collaboration with:

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The research study seeks to understand the reasons behind globally observed low male participation rates in social and health promotion programs, with the goal of finding effective strategies to overcome this. Specifically, we are seeking to understand how attitudes towards ageing, gender stereotypes, study recruitment language, objectives and modality affect willingness to participate.Ìý

You will be eligible for the study if you are:

• Identify as male.
• Aged 65 years or above.
• Able to understand, read and write in English sufficiently well to complete questionnaires and provide informed consent.
• Living in Australia.

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AusCADASIL is a new study, recently established by researchers at CHeBA and collaborating institutes. This study investigates a genetic condition called CADASIL, which stands for Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy, often considered to be a 'pure' model for small vessel disease and vascular dementia. The study will include online and in-person assessments of clinical features, cognitive testing, brain MRI scan, ocular examination, and a blood sample for genetic and biomarker analysis. We will invite you to return for annual follow-up for four years, and we will ask you to involve a study partner who can answer some online questions about your health and wellbeing.Ìý

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We are looking for volunteers, aged 18 or over, for either the CADASIL cohort- including those with diagnosed CADASIL, CADASIL symptoms or a family history of CADASIL.ÌýWe are also looking for healthy individuals without CADASIL to participate in this study. Family members may apply.