Metabolic and Inflammatory Factors in Brain Ageing

Project Outlines and Aims

Metabolic and inflammatory factors have recently been proposed as key risk factors in cognitive ageing and age-related brain disorders such as the dementias. We are aiming to evaluate the influence of these factors on brain ageing and the modulating effects of genetic susceptibility, physical health, lifestyle and nutrition. Our data derives from two large cohorts: the Older Australian Twins Study and the Memory and Ageing Study and is funded by the NHMRC (Dementia Research Grant, 2008-2010).

The key objectives of the study include:

• the characterization of the contibution of obesity-related proinflammatory cytokines to cognitive and imaging markers of ageing, and to the development of age-related syndromes such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI);
• the evaluation of the contribution of obesity and the 'metabolic syndrome' to cognitive and imaging markers of ageing, and to the development of age-related cognitive syndromes such as MCI;
• the evaluation of the interactive effect of biomarkers associated with both a 'proinflammatory state' and 'metabolic syndrome' and their interaction with known risk factors for dementia;
• the identification of the metabolic and genetic predictors of arterial stiffness and to examine the cognitive and brain imaging correlates of increased arterial stiffness;
• the identification of new polymorphisms relating to inflammatory cytokines and examine their interactive effect with a range of vascular, lifestyle and genetic risk factors for cognitive decline.

Our research enables us to evaluate these objectives in cross section and over a 2 year follow-up in both cohorts, thus providing us with data on the relevance of any identified biomarkers and their interactive effect on outcome. In addition we will be able to determine an 'at risk' profile for elderly individuals for accelerated ageing effects. Identification of this profile is important as it will allow the development of interventions which may prevent or delay the onset cognitive decline in late life.

Prospective Students

If you are a interested in pursuing research in this area, please contact Lauren Norton for further details.
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Investigators

A/Prof Julian Trollor (Chief Investigator)
Prof Leslie Campbell
A/Prof Katherine Samaras
Prof Henry Brodaty
Prof Nick Martin
Dr Margie Wright
Dr Wei Wen
Prof Bernhard Baune

Research Assistant

Dr Stacey Kuan

Students

Dr Alfred Wong - MD Research Student
Emmeline Agars - Medical Student (Independent Learning Project)