Feasibility, Acceptability and Utility of a Person-Centred Behaviour Change Program to Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Location: Monash University, School of Psychological Sciences, Clayton Campus, Victoria, Australia

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment

About the project

In Victoria, Australia, older adults with memory concerns are referred to memory clinics for assessment and diagnosis. This is typically a lengthy process, which can take up to 12 months in some areas. After this, individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia are then referred back to their GPs for management. However, extensive interviews conducted by our team have indicated that people with MCI or mild dementia are highly motivated to engage in behaviour change activities, such as engaging in physical activity, cognitively stimulating activities, improving diet, increasing social activity, that may slow cognitive decline and disease progression, and improve quality of life. A major challenge lies in implementing these solutions. As the needs of each individual can vary, any effective solution needs to be person centred and tailored.

This project aims to adapt a person-centred lifestyle intervention program (BetterBrains) and pilot its acceptability and utility in individuals who have been diagnosed with MCI or mild dementia. Five key domains known to increase risk for cognitive decline and dementia progression will be targeted, namely vascular risk, poor sleep, low cognitive and social engagement, low mood and risk of falls.

This project will provide the foundational evidence to determine the acceptability and utility of a person-centred, behaviour modification program that seeks to address key determinants of dementia disease progression, with the aim of preserving independence for longer.

Qualifications and experience required

– Experience in the field of dementia and/or neuropsychology

– Excellent written and verbal communication skills

– Experience working with older-aged clients, administering cognitive assessments and/or working on clinical trials

– Well-developed planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise multiple tasks and set and meet deadlines

– Capacity to work in a collegiate manner in a team environment and with other students/staff in the workplace

– A demonstrated awareness of the principles of confidentiality, privacy and information handling

The successful candidate will be a member of the Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Optimal Ageing. The Centre is led by Monash and Federation Universities. 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 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.

Supervisory Team

Associate Professor Yen Ying Lim

Associate Professor Yen Ying Lim is the Director of the ITTC for Optimal Ageing, primary investigator of the Healthy Brain Project (healthybrainproject.org.au) and the BetterBrains Trial (betterbrains.org.au), a senior scientist at the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study, and a Chief Investigator on an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence. Her primary research interests are in integrating and translating the effects of genetic, biological, and lifestyle factors on cognitive decline and clinical disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease. She is also interested in the development and validation of web-based cognitive tests for the early detection of cognitive dysfunction in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.

Associate Professor Darshini Ayton

Associate Professor Darshini Ayton is the Deputy Head of the Health and Social Care Unit at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Dr Ayton leads the ageing and health services research work for HSCU. She is a Chief investigator on an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence and is the Primary Investigator on an ARC Discovery Project, Medical Research Future Fund and National Centre for Healthy Ageing grants. Dr Ayton also has multiple industry, health service and aged care provider partnerships. 

Her program of research links acute care to community and residential aged care and encompasses dementia prevention, innovative diagnostics for dementia and sector-spanning models of care to improve quality of care and quality of life. 

Dr Ayton has a strong track record in health and social care research and methodological approaches including qualitative research, consumer and community involvement, clinical registries, randomised controlled trials and implementation science. 

Dr Catherine Robb

Dr Catherine Robb trained in dementia epidemiology at Imperial College London. Her research interests and expertise include the investigation of modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with cognitive health in older age, the prediction and early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and the relative importance of genetic, biomarker, lifestyle, and environmental factors in the aetiology of the condition.

Dr Robb continued her research at Monash University as part of the ASPREE team in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine where she investigated lifestyle genomics in disease prevention and aimed to identify the potential of unique biological measures in assisting with early diagnosis of cognitive decline and dementia.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates will need to fulfil the Monash University minimum requirements for admission to a PhD detailed here: www.monash.edu/admissions/entry-requirements/minimum.  

How to apply

For general instructions on how to apply for roles at Monash, please refer to ‘How to apply for Monash Jobs‘.

To express your interest in this scholarship and PhD research opportunity, we request candidates provide:

●       A cover letter describing your research interests and why you would like to undertake a PhD (maximum one page)

●       A CV including qualifications, academic achievements, list of publications, work history and references

●       A copy of your academic transcript(s)

Enquiries and Expressions of Interest

Dr Karen Little, [email protected], Business Manager, ITTC for Optimal Ageing