Congratulations to MRFF grant awardees Michele Callisaya and Patrick Kwan

Congratulations to Central Clinical School's Associate Professor Michele Callisaya and Professor Patrick Kwan on their MRFF grants! See the missions and our projects below.

Diabetes and dementia: exploring the links

Professor Velandai Srikanth and Associate Professor Chris Moran
tease out the connections between type 2 diabetes and dementia in
their recent review. See also a recent video presentation from them.

by Anne Crawford

Studies have linked type 2 diabetes with dementia in later life for some years but the connection between the two conditions, causal or otherwise, is still to be clarified.

A review by researchers from the Department of Geriatric Medicine, Peninsula Health and Medicine, Central Clinical School has highlighted the need to further explore the potential mechanisms and pathways linking the two conditions.

Telehealth goes under the spotlight

Telehealth has become a valuable tool in delivering health care.
Image: Shutterstock

by Anne Crawford

Before COVID, telehealth was gaining traction as a new way of delivering health care; in the midst of the pandemic, it became a necessity. A Monash University study set out to find what healthcare providers thought of the implementation of the model of care given its rapid acceleration in their field.

The researchers conducted a 12-month service-wide survey of the attitudes to telehealth held by clinicians, managers and administrative staff in Peninsula Health in June-July 2021. 

The antibiotic unknowns of stingray infection

by Anne Crawford

As a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, the Peninsula Clinical School’s Professor Warren Rozen occasionally treats patients with injuries sustained after a stingray attack. One of them arrived with an infection that developed after injury which, disturbingly, didn’t respond to commonly used antibiotics, making it difficult to treat.

Professor Rozen searched the available literature for the best antibiotic treatment regime for the patient but realised no good recommendations existed directly targeting stingray injuries: he decided to investigate.

New stroke exercise technology popular with remote patients

Associate Professor Michele Callisaya

by Anne Crawford

A new technology system helping stroke patients perform vital rehabilitation exercises remotely, developed by a Monash researcher, has proved not only feasible but successful. Stroke survivors participating in the feasibility study performed more exercises than they were asked – a mean 125% of prescribed sessions – and rated the system highly.

The study, led by physiotherapist/researcher Associate Professor Michele Callisaya from the Peninsula Clinical School, was conducted in collaboration with her PhD student Dawn Simpson from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, and other institutions. It was published in the journal Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation late last year.

Video of the week: Profs Srikanth and Gabbe on how health data informs and personalises care

Clips from the video: Belinda Gabbe (left), Velandai Srikanth (right)

How can sharing digital health data improve care delivery and support health service sustainability?

With the rollout of MyHealthRecord and other digital health platforms, Australia could have a fully integrated health information system - giving health professionals access to the right information at the right time to ensure patients receive the best care possible. Watch Professors Velandai Srikanth (CCS) and Belinda Gabbe (SPHPM) explain: Video

Gait and dementia: There's far more to the way we walk than we thought

This article was published on Monash Lens 25 October 2019. See also our 19 June 2019 story featuring the research.

Dementia is the main cause of disability in older people all over the world. About 47 million people are affected, with estimates this will reach 140 million by 2050. In Australia, dementia is the leading cause of death for women and the second-leading cause of death for men. Approximately 415,000 people currently live with dementia in Australia; this is expected to rise to an estimated 1.2 million by 2056.

Study links nocturnal blood pressure with diabetes and dementia

Dr Chris Karayiannis

by Anne Crawford

Monash University researchers investigating the association between Type 2 diabetes and dementia have found an interesting factor linking the diseases: the dipping of nocturnal blood pressure.

Dr Chris Karayiannis said the Peninsula Clinical School researchers were investigating the poorly understood mechanisms behind the increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia faced by people with type 2 diabetes.

CCS Recent publications 27 Aug - 2 Sep 2019

Dr Eric Chow (left) and Prof Kit Fairley
have a new publication on the role of saliva in
STI transmission amongst MSM. Prof Fairley
is giving a public lecture on 17 Oct: RSVP

Recent publications for Central Clinical School feature affiliated authors in the following departments:

• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases (ACBD)
• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medicine
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC)
• Neuroscience
• Surgery

Walking the walk: using gait to gauge dementia

by Anne Crawford

Monash University Central and Peninsula Clinical School researchers have shown that a person’s gait can predict whether they are headed for dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease, and which specific brain functions are involved in this cognitive decline.

Associate Professor Michele Callisaya and Professor Velandai Srikanth, supervising first author PhD student Ms Oshadi Jayakody from the University of Tasmania, investigated whether variability from one step to the next during walking, and gait speed, were related to cognitive decline over time. Their study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

CCS Recent Publications 10th April - 29th April

Dr Be'eri Niego, ACBD, has a recent publication
STILfeatured in this week's article.

Recent publications for Central Clinical School feature affiliated authors in the following departments:

• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
• Peninsula Clinical School
• ACBD
• MAPrc
• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Neuroscience
• Diabetes
• NTRI
• Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine
• Surgery

CCS Recent Publications: 27th March - 2nd April

Prof. Helmut Butzkueven, 
(pictured left with his group), 
has a recent publication on the role of 
Vitamin D in multiple sclerosis.

Recent publications for Central Clinical School feature affiliated authors in the following departments:

• Neuroscience
• MAPrc
• Peninsula Clinical School
• Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine
• Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
• Gastroenterology
• Australian Centre for Blood Diseases
• Diabetes
• AIRmed

Research suggests diabetes may affect brain atrophy earlier than thought

Prof Velandai Srikanth

by Anne Crawford

Studies by Monash University’s Peninsula Clinical School researchers have deepened knowledge about the link between type 2 diabetes and dementia, and suggest that the effect of diabetes on brain atrophy may begin in middle rather than old age.

The studies were conducted by researchers led by Professor of Medicine, Velandai Srikanth, who are considered international leaders in the field of diabetes and dementia.

Although it has been known for some years that having type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing dementia, the mechanisms underlying that link have not been clear nor have many studies looked at changes in the brains of people with type 2 diabetes over time.

Dementia project wins grant and advocate's vote

Congratulations to newly arrived A/Prof Michele Callisaya from Peninsula Clinical School, who has received the coveted Dementia Advocates’ Award, including funding from Dementia Australia. Her project will focus on a cognitive-mobility stress test to detect mild cognitive impairment and risk of developing into dementia.

In a show of how greatly this research is valued by the community, Michele’s project was chosen by a Dementia Australia Advocates group, who evaluated the applications according to which was most likely to yield important outcomes for people impacted by dementia. Dementia Advocate Sarah Ashton said she chose this project as more research in this area could help to understand early indicators of dementia and create a more timely diagnosis for people in the future.

“Dementia turns your life upside down, and anxiety can become a huge factor as life becomes much more uncertain. I hope this study can help to provide more clarity to those going through cognitive decline,” Ms Ashton said.

Adapted from the Dementia Australia media release accessed 14th February 2019: https://www.dementia.org.au/research/news/supporting-expression-of-sexuality-one-area-of-1-million-of-dementia-research-grants

Harm risk tool for older patients of limited value: study

Identifying patients at risk from falling not a perfect process.
Image: Expert Institute

by Anne Crawford

Older people admitted to hospital face the risk of several adverse events such as falls, pressure injuries and malnutrition, which can cause substantial harm to them, distress to family and carers, and increased burden on inpatient services.