PhD Completions

Dr Sophie Xi Chen

The relationship between dietary patterns and neurocognitive health among older adults

Diet may be a promising strategy to postpone, slow or prevent cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia. My thesis investigated the important question as to whether, and how effective, different types of dietary patterns and related food groups are in protecting against neurocognitive decline in older adults.

I am very thankful to have been able to undertake my PhD at CHeBA - where I received incredible academic guidance, constant support, and great encouragement to strive for my best as both researcher and clinician.

Sophie was awarded the UNSW Dean’s Award for Outstanding PhD Theses; which is given only to the top 10% of PhD theses.

Dr Sophie Xi Chen was supervised by Professor Henry Brodaty

Dr Heidi Foo

Genetic and environmental influences on the brain functional networks in older adults

More often than not, genetics affects the brain’s structure and ability to function. However, not everything can be explained by genetics. Environmental factors such as lifestyle, smoker status, exercise regularity and alcohol consumption also affect brain structure and function, as well as alter internal cognitive processes.

By examining samples of cognitively healthy older people and determining how different factors affect brain health before looking at pathology alone, we can then establish what is normal ageing. I hope that my research can translate to clinical application to enhance the quality of treatment received by people with dementia.

I am grateful to have undertaken my PhD with CHeBA, where my supervisory team has shown me significant support, guidance, and encouragement. Their insights have sharpened my thinking, brought my work to a higher level, and allowed me to grow both academically and personally.

Dr Heidi Foo was supervised by Professor Perminder Sachdev and Associate Professor Wei Wen

Dr Matt Paradise

Neuroimaging of cerebrovascular disease

The importance of vascular disease in dementia and brain health is being increasingly recognised, both as a disease in its own right and as a factor that worsens the risk and expression of Alzheimer’s disease. As Cerebrovascular disease research is still relatively in its infancy, increased understanding of the disorders will allow practitioners to make better diagnoses, more accurately differentiate dementia subtypes from one another and better discuss prognosis.

My thesis examined how we can better quantity vascular damage to the brain, using MRI imaging. I assessed the value of several novels markers of damage to the small vessels in the brain and then considered how they could be combined into an index. It is hoped that this research will lead to more accurate dementia diagnoses, ultimately helping both the clinician, the patient and their family.

I am very grateful to have been able to undertake my PhD in CHeBA and DCRC – I have received great support, guidance and encouragement from my supervisors, principally Professor Sachdev as well as the whole CHeBA team.

Dr Lucia Chinnappa-Quinn

The association of acute illness hospitalisation with cognitive trajectory in the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study

Cognitive decline has been documented following certain kinds of hospitalisation, such as surgical hospitalisation and admissions complicated by delirium or requiring intensive care. My project investigated whether these post-hospitalisation cognitive changes were common to all types of acute hospitalisation. My thesis documented the magnitude and direction of these cognitive changes and associated risk factors using CHeBA’s Sydney Memory and Ageing Study sample, combined with electronically linked hospitalisation data from the NSW Admitted Patients Data Collection.

I am very appreciative of the research guidance and editorial wisdom of my supervisors and their enormous statistical support. I am also grateful to Professor Henry Brodaty and the MAS Research Team, and the DCRC and the Australian Society of Anaesthetists for funding. It was a tremendous learning experience.

Dr Lucia Premilla Chinnappa-Quinn was supervised by Professor Perminder Sachdev, Dr Nicole Kochan, Dr Ben Lam, Dr John Crawford and Dr Steve Makkar

Dr Heidi Welberry

Using linked health and social care data to monitor dementia incidence and evaluate dementia care in Australia

My thesis explored the use of linked administrative data for detecting and monitoring dementia in Australia and used these data to understand the care pathways followed by people with dementia, and to address policy-focused questions aimed at improving dementia care. This work included evaluating the impact of home care programs on reducing time spent in residential care and the impact of changing general practitioner on psychotropic prescribing in residential care. I hope the findings from these studies can help to drive future improvements to aged care programs in Australia to better support people living with dementia.

I feel so lucky to have had the privilege to work with my incredibly knowledgeable and wise supervisors including Professor Louisa Jorm from the Centre for Big Data Research in Health and Professor Henry Brodaty from CHeBA. I have learnt so much about dementia from Henry, and I continue to be inspired by how hard he works to improve the lives of people living with dementia.

Dr Heidi Welberry was supervised by Professor Henry Brodaty

Dr Heidi Welberry has been well cited from her 2020 and 2021 papers, including: Welberry HJ; Brodaty H; Hsu B; Barbieri S; Jorm LR, 2020, ‘Impact of Prior Home Care on Length of Stay in Residential Care for Australians With Dementia’, Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, vol. 21, pp. 843 - 850.e5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2019.11.023 Welberry H; Brodaty H; Hsu B; Barbieri S; Jorm L, 2020, ‘Measuring dementia incidence within a cohort of 267,153 older Australians using routinely collected linked administrative data’, Scientific Reports, vol. 10, pp. 1 - 14, http:// dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65273-w