Kaat Koort - Aboriginal Brain Health Study

Project Details

Kaat Koort - Aboriginal Brain Health Study

Prevention programs are urgently required to help prevent dementia  in older Aboriginal populations.  Given the links between cardiovascular risk factors and vascular dementia, The Kaat Koort study is testing how brain (‘Kaat’ in Noongar language) health can be improved by improving heart (Koort) health. This five-year NHRMC-funded study is being led by an expert team of national and international researchers, led foremost by Professor Sandra Eades (Noongar) from the University of Melbourne, with collaborators from Australian National University and the University of New South Wales and in partnership with the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service and the South West Aboriginal Medical Service in south-west Western Australia. The study will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will involve consultations with the health service partners and the community to ensure the program for Phase 2 is acceptable to the community. In Phase 2, we will undertake a randomised-controlled trial to test the effectiveness of the Aboriginal-health worker led program composed targetting diet, exercise, mental health, smoking cessation and disease management on reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline.

Study Coordinator Contact Details:

Lina Gubhaju - lina.gubhaju@unimelb.edu.au

Kyle Turner - kyle.turner@unimelb.edu.au

Researchers

Professor Sandra Eades - Indigenous Epidemiology and Health Unit Head

Dr Lina Gubhaju - Research Fellow

Dr Bridgette McNamara - Senior Research Fellow

Dr Kyle Turner - Research Fellow, Lecturer/teaching Coordinator In Indigenous Health

Funding

NHMRC - Targeted Call for Research into Dementia in Indigenous Australians 1151848, 2018-2023.

Research Group

Indigenous Epidemiology and Health



Faculty Research Themes

Neuroscience

School Research Themes

Prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (including cancer), and promotion of mental health



Key Contact

For further information about this research, please contact the research group leader.

Department / Centre

Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics

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