Join our conversation with Dr Marianne Coleman, an orthoptist and researcher working at the National Centre for Healthy Ageing, a collaboration between Monash University and Peninsula Health. Marianne's dementia research has been funded by the UK Royal Society of Medicine, Fight for Sight (the UK's leading sight loss research charity) and the Dementia Australia Research Foundation.

In this episode Marianne shares her extensive knowledge on the intersection of eye care and dementia, emphasising the critical role that regular eye tests play in maintaining the quality of life for all people, including people living with dementia.

Marianne discusses her personal connection to dementia through her grandmother, highlighting the importance of making the most of opportunities for those living with dementia. She explains the role of orthoptists in diagnosing and treating eye movement disorders and how their work intersects with neurological conditions. She highlights why regular eye tests are crucial for people living with dementia and how untreated vision problems can exacerbate cognitive decline and impact daily living.

Addressing the barriers to accessing eye care for people with dementia, particularly in residential aged care settings, Dr. Coleman underscores the need for better dementia-focused training and pathways for eye care professionals. She also shares insights into her research, including her recent Dementia Australia Fellowship project aimed at developing a dementia eye care pathway for residential aged care.

Listen to gain practical advice on supporting eye health in people living with dementia, including the importance of communication between healthcare providers and the role of caregivers. Join us to hear more about this often-overlooked aspect of dementia care and learn how improving eye health can significantly enhance the lives of those affected by dementia.

Links to Marianne's work and recommendations below:

Marianne's dementia eyecare pathway project website:

http://dementiaeyecare.org

Dementia Australia National Library Guide entry on Dementia and Eye Health: https://dementia-org.libguides.com/eye-health-and-dementia

Marianne's dementia-friendly eyecare training course: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/short-courses/dementia-friendly-eyecare/

And find a dementia friendly optometrist or one that visits aged care using this website (select "dementia-friendly" or "aged care" from the services provided box):

https://goodvisionforlife.com.au/find-an-optometrist/

Listen to our conversation with Dr. Madeleine Healy, a passionate geriatrician and general physician supporting people living with dementia. Madeleine works across Monash Health and HammondCare, bringing her expertise to memory clinics, acute and subacute services, residential aged care, and Dementia Support Australia.

In this episode, Madeleine shares her journey into dementia diagnosis and care, particularly for individuals with Down syndrome. She reveals how her passion for helping those with intellectual disabilities led her to pursue a PhD focused on designing a specialised memory clinic for dementia diagnosis for people with Down syndrome. Her PhD is focused on working with people with Down Syndrome to design a memory clinic that meets their needs. She shares about the symptoms of dementia to be aware of in people living with Down Syndrome and the importance of regular screening to understand changes in memory, thinking and function. People living with Down syndrome now live up to 60 years and are the largest population group that are genetically predisposed to developing dementia. Learn why innovative service models are crucial for providing the care and support this community needs. Tune in to hear Madeleine's insights and the vital work being done to improve dementia care for those most at risk

“We need better cognitive services for people with Down Syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, so that we have equal access to dementia diagnosis and to management and to post diagnostic support.”

Hosted by Darshini Ayton and Sarah Carmody

Produced by Darshini Ayton

Music by Luke Champion

An initiative of the Centre of Research Excellence in Enhanced Dementia Diagnosis which is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

This podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri Country. We acknowledge the Traditional owners and custodians of the Wurundjeri Land, the Boonwurrung and the Woiwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present. Lands which Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Lands.

Associate Professor Yen Ying Lim is a clinical psychologist and researcher. Her primary research interests are in integrating and translating the effects of genetic, biological, and lifestyle factors on cognitive decline and clinical disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease. She is also interested in the development and validation of web-based cognitive tests for the early detection of cognitive dysfunction in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.

Yen dedicates her dementia research work to people in their midlife (ages 40-70) who have a family history of dementia. She focuses on detecting early signs of Alzheimer's Disease, even in individuals who currently show no symptoms of dementia. This early detection presents a fascinating dilemma. While these individuals can't be officially classified as having early-onset Alzheimer's, they are intriguing cases to study. They might face a heightened risk of developing dementia in the future, though there's also a possibility they may never experience it. Tracking their progress could provide invaluable insights into the onset and progression of dementia.

Yen explains the world of cognitive assessments and how the tests evaluate memory, executive function, attention, language, and processing speed. These assessments offer a window into the brain's intricate workings, capturing a spectrum of cognitive domains to better understand cognitive health.

With the onset of COVID-19, Yen is at the forefront of pioneering online cognitive assessments, responding to the need for flexible, accessible testing. The traditional face-to-face evaluations often require travel, which can be a significant barrier for many. Yen weighs the advantages and limitations of both online and in-person assessments, highlighting how online options can reduce logistical hurdles but may lack the controlled environment of in-person testing.

Yen explains the comprehensive nature of neuropsychological tests and the reasons behind their sometimes unconventional design. However, many existing tests were created for highly educated, Western populations, leading to potential disadvantage among diverse groups. Hence people may score worse on a test, not because of cognition, but because a word in the test is unfamiliar. Yen is deeply committed to dementia research across culturally and linguistically diverse populations. She strives to ensure that cognitive assessments and related advice are both culturally appropriate and sensitive, enhancing their relevance and effectiveness.

"The most important modifiable dementia risk factor is the one that you are willing to address”

Hosted by Darshini Ayton and Sarah Carmody

Produced by Darshini Ayton

Music by Luke Champion

An initiative of the Centre of Research Excellence in Enhanced Dementia Diagnosis which is funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

This podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri Country. We acknowledge the Traditional owners and custodians of the Wurundjeri Land, the Boonwurrung and the Woiwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present. Lands which Sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Lands.