The Albanese Government is investing $3 million to help fight dementia among First Nations people as part of a joint international research project.
Two Australian-Canadian research teams will receive funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) under the 2024 NHMRC-Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA): Indigenous Health Research grant opportunity.
The research of the two teams will focus on three keys areas:
- primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias,
- improve diagnosis and treatment to delay or slow the progression of the disease, and
- improve access to quality dementia care for First Nations people and care partners.
The Albanese Government is committed to investing in high quality collaborative dementia research to ensure we have the evidence we need to make better decisions for prevention, treatment and improvements to quality of life for First Nations people with dementia.
Dementia Australia estimates 433,300 people in Australia are living with dementia, with the number of people expected to increase to an estimated 812,500 by 2054. First Nations people are significantly over-represented in these numbers, with rates of 3-5 times the general population.
Professor Dina LoGiudice from the University of Melbourne will lead the first project to develop strength-based approaches for assessing and measuring cognitive impairment, dementia, and frailty that account for differences in culture.
Associate Professor Kate Smith from the University of Western Australia will lead the second project to develop community-informed resources to enhance the accessibility and quality of health care for First Nations people internationally.
This joint venture will lead to increased collaboration between First Nations researchers and communities in both countries.
NHMRC funding provided through these grants will support the Australian component of the collaborative partnerships, while the Canadian research partners will be funded by CIHR. All funding details can be viewed on NHMRC's outcomes of funding rounds webpage.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister White:
"The Albanese Government is committed to investing in innovative health and medical research that contributes to better health outcomes for First Nations communities.
"More than 400,000 Australians are living with dementia, and studies have consistently found that dementia prevalence rates among First Nations people are 3-5 times higher than rates for Australians overall.
"Projects funded today will help combine First Nations knowledge systems with state-of-the-art clinical research and care. This will strengthen our efforts to Closing the Gap."
Quotes attributable to Professor Dina LoGiudice:
"This collaborative project between Australian and Canadian academics aims to reimagine how frailty is measured in people living with dementia, with a focus on First Nations perspectives and wellbeing.
"The research model draws on Indigenous teachings such as the Two-Row Wampum, that promotes peaceful sharing and the use of resources in a spirit of mutual cooperation.
"We will learn from our own experiences and research in Australia and Canada to build on inclusive, trustworthy, and Indigenous community centred dementia research in both countries.
"By developing new tools and understanding frailty in a more holistic context, this project seeks to have an immediate impact on First Nations health organisations in both countries."
Quotes attributable to Associate Professor Kate Smith:
"Elders are the integral knowledge holders for community. This collaboration builds on a long standing highly productive partnership between Canadian and Australian Indigenous researchers in Elders' brain health.
"We look forward to working closely with our new collaboration with the University of Alberta and Métis Elders.
"There is an urgent need for the development of communication and culturally safe practice resources for health professionals working with older Indigenous peoples and families through the dementia healthcare journey.
"This study will also provide much needed support for our UWA Indigenous postgraduate and early career researchers to build connections with Canadian Indigenous researchers and knowledge holders in this field."
