Dementia

The impact of our dementia research

At QIMR Berghofer we have a comprehensive dementia research program that aims to improve our understanding of the underlying causes of dementia, how to better diagnose it, and new ways to treat this devastating disease.

“Sometimes I find Dad staring at a photo of Mum, I’ll ask him what he is doing and he will tell me he is studying her. He says he doesn’t want to forget who she is. Together we must stop this cruel disease. The amazing pioneering dementia research at QIMR Berghofer is the light at the end of the tunnel.” – Bridget Smith

Our researchers have successfully developed a model of the brain to study the ability of drugs to pass across cell barriers

We’re investigating the complex relationship between sleep disorders, particularly obstructive sleep apnea, and dementia.

Our researchers are conducting an Australian-first study into the potential link between bushfire smoke exposure and dementia.

About dementia

What is dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a collection of symptoms, ranging from memory loss, forgetfulness and loss of judgement, caused by disorders affecting the brain.

What causes dementia?

The most common types of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and Huntington’s disease.

Who gets dementia?

Dementia can happen to anyone, including children, but the risk increases with age.

What are the symptoms of dementia?

Symptoms include memory loss, difficulty in finding the right words, not understanding what people are saying, difficulty doing day-to-day tasks and changes in personality and mood.

Eventually, people with dementia will become unable to care for themselves and will need help with all aspects of daily life.

How is dementia treated?

Although the understanding of dementia development has greatly increased in recent years, there is still no cure, only treatments that may change disease progression and improve symptoms. Finding ways to prevent or delay the onset of dementia is a key avenue of investigation, which would give people more dementia-free years.

Early diagnosis

Early diagnosis of dementia is critical for optimizing the care and support provided to individuals with dementia and their families.

Earlier treatment and management can help slow down the progression of symptoms and improve quality of life. It provides individuals and their families’ time to plan for the future. To make decisions about care, financial and legal matters, end-of-life preferences, and identify any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to cognitive decline.

The dementia research at QIMR Berghofer points to the importance of what we call cognitive reserve, including having and maintaining stronger and more resilient brain connections to protect cognitive function.

Facts about dementia

An urgent challenge

Dementia is an urgent challenge to Australia’s health, economy and society.

A leading cause of death

Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia

450,000

Dementia affects more than 450,000 Australians today, and this is predicted to more than double to 1.1 million by 2058.

Our dementia research program

The Cellular and Molecular Neurodegeneration Laboratory

Led by Associate Professor Anthony White, this lab is creating new 2D and 3D models of human brain cells to understand the causes of dementia, and the impact of environmental factors on brain health. They've also established new ways of drug screening to identify potential new therapies.

“In the last two decades we have grown our understanding of how complex dementia is. While a lot of the focus has been on treating people after they’ve had very overt symptoms, we want to stop dementia as early as possible to try and slow the disease early.”

Professor Anthony White

The Neurogenetics and Dementia Research Group

Led by Associate Professor Michelle Lupton, the lab’s focus is the identification of risk factors and early signs of dementia. They run the Prospective Imaging Study of Aging (PISA), which is one of the largest cohort studies in the world investigating biomarkers and screening approaches for Alzheimer’s disease. They also carry out Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and related analyses to scan markers across the complete genome to inform new treatment strategies for Alzheimer’s disease and identify those at risk of developing the condition.

“By the time the symptoms of dementia first appear, the disease is already at an advanced stage. The progression of dementia begins up to 20 years before there are any clinical signs. The goal of my research is early detection and greater understanding of all dementia risks, so we can delay or prevent dementia.”

Associate Professor Michelle Lupton

The Translational Neurogenomics Laboratory

The Translational Neurogenomics Laboratory is headed by Professor Eske Derks. The team have identified genetic risk factors for a range of neuropsychiatric conditions, including Alzheimer’s, substance use disorders, schizophrenia, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

“Researchers have discovered dozens of genes that influence the risk of developing dementia. The goal of my research is to use these results to identify existing drugs targeting dementia risk genes and to identify more effective strategies to prevent and treat this disease.”

Professor Eske Derks

Genomics, Imaging, and AI Lab

The Genomics, Imaging, and AI Laboratory, leb by Associate Professor Puya Gharahkhani has a primary focus on neurodegenerative disorders of the eye and brain, particularly glaucoma, macular degeneration, dementia, and Parkinson's disease, the lab employs statistical genetics and machine learning methodologies to advance gene discovery and improve risk prediction for these diseases.

Associate Professor Puya Gharahkhani

The Computational Neurogenomics Laboratory

The Computational Neurogenomics Group uses a combination of genomics, neuroscience, data science, digital biomarkers and wearable technology to understand the complexities of the human brain. They are interested in Lewy body dementia (LBD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Parkinson’s disease dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Their research investigates the biological basis of cognition, behaviour, brain structure, and the risk of neurodegenerative disease to uncover the mechanisms that shape brain function and brain and mental health.

“Our group investigates the factors and mechanisms that drive neurodegeneration and impair cognitive function. By combining large-scale data with advanced analytics, we aim to uncover new insights that will lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments for dementias.”