FACULTY FOCUS campusreview. com. au
Ageing vanguard
These researchers are on the leading edge, with projects that aim to close the many gaps in knowledge about seniors.
Interviews by Antonia Maiolo and Dallas Bastian
After climate change, the ageing of the global population is the most important issue confronting society. And there is much fundamental research into the topic that isn’ t being done.
This is the concern of University of Melbourne associate professor Briony Dow, director health promotion division at the National Ageing Research Institute.
Dow says the research sector is gaining ground in some areas related to ageing, particularly dementia; however, there are still many questions that remain unanswered.
“ A whole range of issues needs to be explored and I don’ t think there’ s enough [ being ] done,” Dow says, citing falls prevention as one topic that deserves more of a focus. She says much of government policy“ still doesn’ t have a strong evidence base”, so more research is required into how our health system can better respond to the needs of an ageing population.
For our first edition of the year, Campus Review spoke to three prominent researchers to get a rundown on current projects related to ageing and future areas of focus.
DO THE BENEFITS OF ASPIRIN OUTWEIGH THE RISKS? Professor Chris Reid from Monash University is part of the research team undertaking the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly( ASPREE) study.
ASPREE involves assessing whether daily doses of aspirin keep elderly people healthier for longer through prevention of heart attack, stroke, physical decline, cognitive decline and some cancers.
More than 19,000 people – both men and women – aged 70 and above are taking part in the five-year study, which began in 2013. The team is looking to build upon the extensive research already conducted on the benefits of aspirin therapy.
“ What’ s been reported in the last couple of years has been some small studies suggesting that [ aspirin ] may be beneficial in reducing the incidence of cognitive decline,” Reid says.“ Now the problem with small studies is that they’ re not sufficiently powered enough for us to be able to be very sure of the treatment effects.
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