The NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Cognitive Health conducts research to optimise cognitive health and prevent cognitive decline.

Cognitive health enables most aspects of productivity such as employment, social engagement and disease self-management at all ages. In younger and middle-aged adults, common chronic diseases such as diabetes and risk factors such as smoking can reduce cognitive function. In early life, mid-life and old-age, better cognitive function is associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment and late-life dementia. Dementia is a leading cause of disability burden and incurs enormous costs to the health and aged care systems.

Our CRE focuses on the integrally linked areas of optimising cognitive health and the prevention of cognitive decline. The centre aims to:

  1. Build the evidence base in cognitive health promotion and prevention of cognitive decline, focusing on evaluating putative new risks and under researched areas.
  2. Develop methods of transferring, translating and implementing established findings through the development and evaluation of interventions.
  3. Model population level impacts of cognitive impairment and risk modification to quantify potential economic benefits of risk reduction and to inform policy.

The CRE in Cognitive Health is led by Professor Kaarin Anstey and administered by UNSW. The centre is a collaboration between Chief and Associate Investigators from the University of New South Wales, University of Melbourne, Australian National University, Australian Catholic University, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and University of Exeter.

Learn more about the people behind the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Cognitive Health.

Collaborators