Ageing Brain Centre
Head of laboratory
On this page:
The Ageing Brain Centre at the Brain & Mind Research Institute aims to provide evidence-based early intervention services for many forms of cognitive, mood and movement disorders. The clinic comprises a team of Psychiatrists, Neurologists, Clinical Neuropsychologists, General Practitioners and Nurses. All clinicians have specific expertise in assessing or managing diseases affecting the brain in later life. The Ageing Brain Centre runs programs targeting Healthy Brain Ageing and is conducting state-of-the-art research programs in sleep disorders. The Ageing Brain Centre recently launched a specific Parkinson's Disease (PD) Clinic led by Neurologist, Dr Simon Lewis. The Clinic will investigate many components of the underlying neurobiology of PD but in the first instance, they will investigate why people with PD vary markedly in the pattern of symptoms they experience. It is hoped that this disease heterogeneity may help them to unravel many of the issues that confound the management of PD.
Dr. Sharon Naismith
Director, Clinical Research Unit,
Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist &
NHMRC Clinical Research Fellow
Brain & Mind Research Institute
University of Sydney
Level 4, Building F, 94 Mallett St
Camperdown NSW 2050
Ph: +612 9351 0781
Fax: +612 9351 0855
Email:
Dr. Simon Lewis
Head, Parkinon's Research Clinic & Neurologist
Brain & Mind Research Institute
University of Sydney
Level 4, Building F, 94 Mallett St
Camperdown NSW 2050
Ph: +61 2 9351 0571
Fax: +61 2 9351 0855
Email:
Healthy Brain Ageing Groups and Clinic
Phone: +61 2 9351 0746
Fax: +61 2 9351 0855
Email:
With the rapidly ageing population, diseases that affect the brain including depression and dementia, are also increasing. While there are no known 'cures' for some neurodegenenerative diseases such as Alzheimers, a large body of research demonstrates that there are some 'modifiable' predictors of cognitive decline and depression in later life. The Healthy Brain Ageing Program at the BMRI aims to apply to the principles of early intervention for cognitive decline by targeting these 'modifiable' predictors. The program, supported by a NHMRC Clinical Research fellowship awarded to Dr Naismith, has multiple components and aims to target 'at risk' individuals. 'At risk' individuals typically include people over the age of 50 who have vascular risk factors (eg., high blood pressure, heart disease), or have noticed recent changes in their mood and/or their cognition (ie. memory or other thinking functions).
The Healthy Brain Ageing program offers a comprehensive medical and neuropsychological assessment, as well as a treatment program that incorporates both education as cognitive training. Education is provided by trained Clinical Neuropsychologists Dr Sharon Naismith and Ms Keri Diamond as well as Old Age Psychiatrist Dr Norrie, Clinical Psychologist Alex Howard and Chronobiologist A/Prof Naomi Rogers. Cognitive training is delivered using a group-based computer training course and is targeted to the individual.
Who can participate?
People over the age of 50 who have noticed changes in their cognitive function or mood but whom do not have a diagnosis of dementia may be eligible to participate but will need to be further screened for other neurological or medical conditions to determine eligibility. They will also need to be willing to attend the BMRI for 10-weeks for 2-hours per week and to have two neuropsychology assessments over a 3-month period. Participants will need to feel comfortable using a computer and will need to have proficient English.
What does participation involve?
People who are interested in attending the healthy brain ageing program should get a referral from their GP. They will be asked to undergo an assessment with a doctor who is specifically trained to examine changes in mood and cognition in later life. The will also be asked to undertake two neuropsychological assessments (ie. assessment of memory and thinking skills) spaced 10 weeks apart. During this ten weeks, they may be allocated to receive treatment immediately or may be put on a 10-week waiting list.
Parkinson’s Disease Clinic
Phone: +61 2 9351 0702
Fax: +61 2 9351 0855
Email:
PD affects patients in a variety of ways, commonly causing problems with their movement and also with thinking (cognitive problems) and behaviour. The newly established clinic at the BMRI aims to explore the causes underlying the range of presentations seen in PD. By better understanding all of the aspects of the disease, investigators hope to improve diagnosis and treatment leading to better patient care and family support.
The new PD Research Clinic has been established by Neurologist, Dr Simon Lewis, who has developed his clinical and research career in Parkinson's Disease at Cambridge University. Dr Lewis's PD Research Clinic is supported by a team of Psychologists, Neuropsychologists and Nurses and he has collaborations with scientists who have extensive experience in examining the neuropathology of PD. Dr Lewis hopes that this 'joined-up research' will help to ensure that findings are translated "from the bench-side, to the bedside and beyond".
Who can participate?
Anyone suffering with PD who would like to become involved or receive further information should contact the Parkinson's Disease Research Clinic.
What does participation involve?
The PD Research Clinic is looking to assess patients at all stages of the disease collecting data across clinical, cognitive, psychiatric and behavioural domains in an annual 3-hour visit. Participation will include completion of questionnaires, assessment by a Neurologist and Psychologist and a blood sample will be collected. The PD Research Clinic will take place at the Ageing Brain Centre, located on Level 4 of the Brain & Mind Research Institute in Mallett Street, Camperdown.