CHeBA in the Media

During September – World Alzheimer’s Month - CHeBA staff and students united virtually to clock more than 10,000 kilometres from London to the Himalayas to promote the significance of social connectedness and physical health during Sydney’s lockdown.

The ambitious distance was a tribute to CHeBA’s leaders, Professor Henry Brodaty AO and Professor Perminder Sachdev AM. As a young 26-year old, Co-Director Henry Brodaty chose to study in London for his specialist training in psychiatry and as such, his first job as a psychiatry trainee was in the Academic Department of Psychiatry, Middlesex Hospital. Co-Director Perminder Sachdev completed his schooling at St Luke’s School in Solan, just 1,000kms away from Kathmandu where the Lockdown Challenge concluded.

The CHeBA Lockdown Challenge raised close to $7,500 to support research not only into early diagnosis, treatment and care for those with dementia, but also its prevention, and the promotion of positive ageing for the future.

2021 was a prominent year for CHeBA, with a number of high-profile media stories featuring our research.

More than 400 articles were printed online, with more than 30 radio interviews covering CHeBA’s research. Significant highlights included coverage of the Older Australian Twins Study coordinated by Dr Vibeke Catts and the Rethink My Drink Study led by Dr Louise Mewton, both in print and on television nationally. Dr Katya Numbers and Professor Henry Brodaty’s opinion, Effect of COVID-19 Greatest on People Living With Dementia, published in Nature Reviews Neurology, was publicised nationally in many reputable media outlets.

In a year where the importance of social connectedness was consistently recognised, Channel 7 interviewed our resident expert, Dr Suraj Samtani - Leader of CHeBA’s SHARED project.

The launch of Change Makers – Next Gen Philanthropy also attracted national attention, with Channel 7 highlighting the innovative program in a dementia feature during peak-time news coverage. In addition to specific study outcomes and research project launches, CHeBA’s researchers were sought regularly for expert comments on radio, in print and on television.

Dr Vibeke Catts

The following in an excerpt from the SMH’s interview with Professor Perminder Sachdev and Sydney Memory and Ageing Study participant, Nina Malanos, on the concept of super agers.

Study participant Nina Malanos is a ‘super ager’; a term describing older adults who perform at the standard of someone at least 20 years younger.

Nina is what’s known as a “super ager”, says Professor Perminder Sachdev.

He says the term refers to people in their “70s, 80s and beyond” whose ability – whether it be their memory, way of thinking, or even aerobic fitness – is of the standard of someone “at least 20 years younger”.

Naturally, the question on everyone’s lips is: how does one become a super ager? Sachdev says there are a few common themes among super agers.

First, they tend to live active lifestyles and remain active “even well into their 80s and 90s”. They also continue to challenge themselves with new tasks, such as learning a new language or going back to university.

After retiring, they continue to challenge themselves. They also seem to share a similar sunny attitude. “They’re not deterred easily and have a sense of optimism.”

Genetics also plays a part, Sachdev says. While you

can’t control your genes, he says if you do develop a disease such as diabetes or high blood pressure, the key is to “manage it competently”.

When it comes to lifestyle factors, Nina ticks all the above boxes. She’s never smoked, enjoys an occasional tipple with dinner, has maintained a fairly healthy weight her whole life and eats a healthy diet – with room for dessert. Nina has also stayed physically and socially active her whole life.

She believes her active lifestyle has contributed to her ageing well. Not that she considers herself a “super ager” – she brushes off the notion with a laugh, saying she’s “very ordinary”.

This article appeared in Sunday Life magazine within the Sun-Herald and the Sunday Age.

Australians are living longer but what does it take to reach 100 years old?

The following in an excerpt from ABC News’ interview with 96 year old CHeBA Sydney Centenarian Study participant Patricia Segal.

At age 96, Patricia Segal lives alone in an airy Sydney apartment with views of the sea. Time spent with her feels uplifting, invigorating, and when you ask for her secret Segal doesn’t hesitate: her positive and curious attitude is the key to her longevity, she says.

Researchers say Australians are entering an era in which remaining vital well into your 90s will be not just possible, but common. And your 80s may well deliver some of the best years of your life.

The average lifespan of an Australian woman is now about 85, packing on 25 additional years in a century, meaning one in two women will reach this age or beyond.

But researchers like Co-Directors of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing Professor Perminder Sachdev, and Professor Henry Brodaty who collaborates with him on the Sydney Centenarian Study, note growing evidence that successful ageing includes less tangible and more mysterious influences.

“We found people who are 100plus and they are still volunteering in committees and other areas, engaged socially and with their great grandchildren.”

Professor Perminder Sachdev AM

“It is this kind of physical and mental activity we tend to see repeated in different [ageing] studies around the world,” Sachdev says.

Quality education in childhood, and lifelong learning, is also key. Precisely how it impacts longevity and brain health is not fully understood.