Lab focus: Diagnosis and management of dementia 

I am a geriatrician at the Royal Melbourne Hospital where I am involved with the clinical assessment and management for people with cognitive impairment and dementia.

My laboratory at WEHI, jointly led by Associate Professor Nawaf Yassi, is focused on improving the accuracy of diagnosis of patients with dementia through novel biomarkers, understanding the overlap of different causes of dementia, and investigating new ways to treat dementia.

Research interest

Our lab’s vision is to develop an interdisciplinary approach to dementia research and care. Dementia is a complex condition that crosses a number of clinical and scientific disciplines. We understand that a strong, multifaceted approach is required to make a significant impact in dementia research. This includes having a long-term coordinated approach to research.

The focus of our lab is to:

• Improve dementia diagnosis using novel and established biomarkers
• Investigate midlife risk factors that may better inform prevention strategies
• Establish and support dementia cohorts
• Facilitate investigator-led clinical trials
• Support and develop access to dementia research for regional and rural Australians
• Investigate and address caregiver needs
• Mentor the next generation of dementia clinical researchers

Get involved

Are you interested in helping with dementia research? We are seeking volunteers who have been diagnosed with:

• Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)
• Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD)
• Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
• Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
• or healthy older people, aged over 70 years

Complete our quick online survey by going to https://redcap.wehi.edu.au/surveys/ then entering code XALFDDR44.

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