Fitness for the Ageing Brain
Older Drivers
Hip Arthritis
Effects of Coffee
Prevention of Diabetes Type 2
Healthy Volunteers Sought for Knee Research Study
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The Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) is conducting an international study to reduce motor vehicle related injuries and deaths and to improve the quality of life of older drivers by extending their safe mobility.
250 Victorian drivers aged 75 years and older will be invited to participate in the study for a five year period.
Results from this study will help with the development of a simple, objective screening tool that will assist health-care professionals to identify older drivers who may be unsafe and need further assessment of their driving ability.
What is involved?
Participants will be asked to visit the Peter James Centre in Burwood three times per year at 4 month intervals: including a clinical assessment (up to 3 hours) which involves completing some questionnaires to test memory and thinking ability, as well as answering questions about current health status and past medical history, driving habits and patterns, and two short visits (30 minutes to 1 hour each).
Participants will have an In-Car Recording Device installed in their car for the duration of the study. This device will gather some information about driving patterns including the number and duration of trips, speed and braking patterns. It will not harm the car in any way and there is no cost to participants.
Participants will also be asked to complete an annual on-road driving task (a short drive on a familiar route of the driver's choice) which will take approximately 25 minutes.
Who is eligible?
Individuals are eligible to participate in the study if they:
- are aged 75 years or older;
- have a valid Victorian/Australian Driver's Licence
- are currently driving at least four times a week on average, and
· drive a vehicle that is 2002 or newer
- are willing to attend the Peter James Centre in Burwood three times a year for 5 years.
For more information please contact Dr Sjaan Koppel on 9905 4739.
Dr Sjaan Koppel,
Senior Research Fellow, ARC Postdoctoral Fellow
Monash University Accident Research Centre
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The National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) and the University of Melbourne are seeking participants for the Fitness for the Ageing Brain Study (FABS II), supported by Alzheimer's Australia.
We are looking for volunteers who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and their relative or close friend who would be interested in participating.
The aim of this study is to determine whether a home-based physical activity program, such as walking, can improve memory and quality of life for people with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We expect that individuals participating in physical activity will experience significantly less cognitive decline by the end of the intervention than those who receive usual care.
The study involves three assessments at NARI within 12 months, which include questionnaires for memory and other health factors and an assessment of the participant's physical ability. After the first visit, participants will be randomly allocated to receive either the physical activity intervention or usual care. Participants in the intervention program will be asked to do 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week (or more if already meeting this goal) for 24 weeks.
FABS II may be suitable for individuals with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, who live independently within the community, can take part in moderate exercise, and have a family member or friend who can attend the assessments.
Ellen Gaffy
Research Assistant
Contact number for NARI is (03) 8387 2305.
The University's Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine is running several arthritis studies around Melbourne that offer free physiotherapy treatment to participants. It is hoped that these studies will help to improve the quality of life for people who have arthritis. Participating physiotherapists are located in 25 locations around Melbourne.
More details can be found on their website here or by telephoning Research Assistant Fiona McManus on 8344 0426. or emailing her at fmcmanus@unimelb.edu.au
Karen Nolidin, a research assistant at the Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University, is recruiting participants for a study.
"We are looking for healthy men and women over 60 years of age.
We are investigating the effects of different kinds of coffee on mood, cognition, and the cardiovascular system.
Participants are required to come into our centre on five separate days (duration 2-3.5 hours each) to complete some questionnaires, computer tasks, blood flow measures, and blood tests. All visits are spread over a 4 month period.
For the first month participants are required not to drink any coffee at all, and for the following 3 months they will be given either a caffeinated, de-caffeinated, or placebo instant coffee to drink everyday until their last visit. After completing the study they will be reimbursed with $250.
Interested individuals are asked to contact us at nutra@swin.edu.au, or to leave a phone message at 9214 4444.
If you have any further questions about our study, feel free to contact me via email or by phone (9214 5472)." Karen Nolidin
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The University of Melbourne, in conjunction with Western Hospital (Footscray), is conducting a study examining the effects of taking calcium and Vit D supplements on preventing type 2 diabetes.
If you are interested, and would like to be involved with this study (over a six month period), please:-
1) assess your diabetes risk – using this document (AusDRisk), and
2) if you scored 15 points or more, ring our Diabetes Research Assistant on 8345 6252 to see if you qualify for the study.
This study includes:
• Diabetes Risk Assessment
• Calcium and Vitamin D supplements
• Body Composition Assessment
Dr Claudia Gagnon
Endocrinology Research Fellow
Department of Medicine
The University of Melbourne
Western Hospital
The Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, University of Melbourne (Parkville), is seeking volunteers aged over 60 to participate in a study of walking, strength and bone density.
This information will be used to make comparisons with participants in our ongoing studies of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and will help us develop strategies targeted at reducing the risk of knee OA development.
Participation in the study will take 2.5 hours in total, at our Centre in Parkville and will involve:
(i) assessment of your walking patterns and balance with a motion analysis system;
(ii) measurement of your leg muscle strength;
(iii) measurement of your lower leg bone density;
(iv) completion of some questionnaires about knee pain, disability and physical activity.
On completion of the study volunteers will receive a written report of their performance.
To participate you must be over 60 years of age and not have a history of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, lower limb surgery or knee, hip or back pain.
This study has received ethical approval from the University of Melbourne, Human Ethics Research Committee (HREC# 050144X & 0826698).
If you are interested in participating or would like further information, please contact:
Dr. Mark Creaby,
Centre for Health, Exercise & Sports Medicine
Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne.
email: mcreaby@unimelb.edu.au
Tel.: 8344 0425
