The Healthy Brain Ageing (HBA) research program focuses on identifying, understanding and managing risk and protective factors that may impact the onset and trajectory of cognitive decline in people aged over 50 years, where the opportunity for dementia prevention is likely to be optimal. Our collaborative team of researchers, clinicians and students have internationally renowned expertise in key areas including cognition, sleep, depression, cardiometabolic health, digital health technologies, and cognitive intervention, and how these factors relate to cognitive decline and brain degeneration. Drawing on world-class facilities at the Brain and Mind Centre and within our research partner sites (including Charles Perkins Centre and Woolcock Institute of Medical Research), we utilize cutting-edge, evidence-based techniques and explore novel research paradigms for assessment and management of cognition, neurobiological markers of disease, sleep-wake disturbance and psychological wellbeing.
At the heart of the Healthy Brain Ageing program is our ‘one-of-a-kind’ early intervention research clinic serving adults aged over 50 years with recent concerns (i.e. within the last 5 years) regarding changes in their memory or other thinking skills, or mood disturbance (e.g. depression). The clinic is serviced by a multidisciplinary team including geriatricians, neuropsychologists, neurologists and research psychologists, all of whom are committed to providing clinical and research excellence. In addition to comprehensive assessment, the clinic also incorporates individualised and group-based programs targeting depression, sleep, nutrition, physical exercise, cognitive training, and a range of continually-evolving, novel approaches to optimizing ‘healthy brain ageing’.