What we need as we get older: needs assessment for the development of a community geriatrics service in an Australian context.

Background: The aim of this study was to inform the development of a Community Geriatrics Service (CGS) that addressed the healthcare and social needs of community dwelling older people in an Australian context.

Methods: Stakeholders (N = 108) took part in a 'needs assessment' involving 30-min semi-structured interviews with general practitioners (GPs; N = 49), and three 2-h focus groups (community engagement meetings; N = 59) with older people, informal caregivers, allied healthcare workers, and nursing home directors. Data were transcribed and thematically coded, mapped to source and weighted to the frequency that the theme was raised across sources.

Use of complementary medicines and lifestyle approaches by people living with dementia: Exploring experiences, motivations and attitudes.

Background: Lack of effective treatments for chronic conditions is associated with high rates of complementary medicine (CM) use. However, little is known about CM use for dementia.

Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences, motivations, and attitudes towards CM use by people living with dementia in an Australian setting.

Manual Acupuncture Plus Usual Care Versus Usual Care Alone in the Treatment of Endometriosis-Related Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study.

To determine the acceptability and feasibility of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain. A prospective, randomized controlled feasibility study. Outpatient setting in Sydney, Australia.

The Effects of Cannabinoids on Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines: A Systematic Review of Studies.

Some cannabinoids have been identified as anti-inflammatory agents; however, their potential therapeutic or prophylactic applications remain controversial. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a timely and comprehensive insight into cannabinoid-mediated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine responses in preclinical studies. A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scopus.

The Efficacy of Ketogenic Therapies in the Clinical Management of People with Neurodegenerative Disease: A Systematic Review.

Ketone bodies have potential disease-modifying activity that represent a novel therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases (NDD). The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and evaluate the evidence for the application of ketogenic therapies (dietary or exogenous ketogenic agents) for NDD and provide recommendations for future research. Eight databases were electronically searched for articles reporting on controlled trials (≥4 wk duration) that induced ketosis or elevated serum ketone concentrations in people with NDD.

Dementia risk reduction in practice: the knowledge, opinions and perspectives of Australian healthcare providers.

This study examined Australian primary healthcare providers' knowledge about dementia risk factors and risk reduction and their perspectives on barriers and enablers to risk reduction in practice. Primary healthcare providers were recruited through Primary Health Networks across Australia (n =51). Participants completed an online survey that consisted of fixed-responses and free-text components to assess their knowledge, attitudes and current practices relating to dementia risk factors and risk reduction techniques.

Neuronal Correlates of Cognitive Control Are Altered in Women With Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain.

Endometriosis is a debilitating women's health condition and is the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain. Impaired cognitive control is common in chronic pain conditions, however, it has not yet been investigated in endometriosis. The aim of this study was to explore the neuronal correlates of cognitive control in women with endometriosis.

Preparing for an aging Australia: The development of multidisciplinary core competencies for the Australian health and aged care workforce.

Appropriately skilled staff are required to meet the health and care needs of aging populations yet, shared competencies for the workforce are lacking. This study aimed to develop multidisciplinary core competencies for health and aged care workers in Australia through a scoping review and Delphi survey. The scoping review identified 28 records which were synthesized through thematic analysis into draft domains and measurable competencies.

Electrophysiological correlates of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism.

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein is essential for neuronal development. Val66Met (rs6265) is a functional polymorphism at codon 66 of the BDNF gene that affects neuroplasticity and has been associated with cognition, brain structure and function. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and neuronal oscillatory activity, using the electroencephalogram (EEG), in a normative cohort.

Acupuncture or auricular electro-acupuncture as adjuncts to lifestyle interventions for weight management in PCOS: protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility study.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent women's health condition with reproductive, metabolic, and psychological manifestations. Weight loss can improve these symptoms and is a key goal; however, many women find this difficult to achieve. Acupuncture is a Chinese medical treatment that involves insertion of very fine metal needles into specific areas of the body and has been shown to be efficacious for weight loss in non-PCOS populations.

The First 250 ms of Auditory Processing: No Evidence of Early Processing Negativity in the Go/NoGo Task.

Past evidence of an early Processing Negativity in auditory Go/NoGo event-related potential (ERP) data suggests that young adults proactively process sensory information in two-choice tasks. This study aimed to clarify the occurrence of Go/NoGo Processing Negativity and investigate the ERP component series related to the first 250 ms of auditory processing in two Go/NoGo tasks differing in target probability. ERP data related to each task were acquired from 60 healthy young adults (M = 20.

Targeted Education ApproaCH to improve Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes (TEACH-PD): A feasibility study.

Background: There is substantial variation in peritonitis rates across peritoneal dialysis (PD) units globally. This may, in part, be related to the wide variability in the content and delivery of training for PD nurse trainers and patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of implementing the Targeted Education ApproaCH to improve Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes (TEACH-PD) curriculum in real clinical practice settings.

"We need a one-stop-shop": co-creating the model of care for a multidisciplinary memory clinic with community members, GPs, aged care workers, service providers, and policy-makers.

Background: Timely diagnosis of dementia has a wide range of benefits including reduced hospital emergency department presentations, admissions and inpatient length of stay, and improved quality of life for patients and their carers by facilitating access to treatments that reduce symptoms, and allow time to plan for the future. Memory clinics can provide such services, however there is no 'gold standard' model of care. This study involved the co-creation of a model of care for a new multidisciplinary memory clinic with local community members, General Practitioners (GPs), policy-makers, community aged care workers, and service providers.

Auditory stimulus- and response-locked ERP components and behavior.

To clarify the functional significance of Go event-related potential (ERP) components, this study aimed to explore stimulus- and response-locked ERP averaging effects on the series of ERP components elicited during an auditory Go/NoGo task. Go stimulus- and response-locked ERP data from 126 healthy young adults (M  = 20.3, SD = 2.

EEG-ERP dynamics in a visual Continuous Performance Test.

Brain dynamics research has highlighted the contributions of the ongoing EEG to ERP and behavioural responses. This study examined the effects of state-related EEG changes, from rest to the task and within the task, on stimulus-response efforts in a visual Continuous Performance Test (CPT). EEG was recorded from fifty-six adults at rest with eyes-closed (EC) then eyes-open (EO), and during the CPT.

Cerebral peak alpha frequency reflects average pain severity in a human model of sustained, musculoskeletal pain.

Heightened pain sensitivity, the amount of pain experienced in response to a noxious event, is a known risk factor for development of chronic pain. We have previously reported that pain-free, sensorimotor peak alpha frequency (PAF) is a reliable biomarker of pain sensitivity for thermal, prolonged pains lasting tens of minutes. To test whether PAF can provide information about pain sensitivity occurring over clinically relevant timescales (i.

Efficacy of Cognition Support Formula® on cognitive function in older adults with subjective cognitive impairment: a protocol for a 26-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Due to an ageing population in Australia there has been an increase in the number of older adults with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), a self-reported decline in cognitive function associated with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia. There is no current, recommended treatment for SCI; therefore, the effectiveness of a supplement approved by the Therapeutic Goods Association that has the potential to enhance cognitive function in an at-risk cohort should be tested. The primary aim of this proposed research is to determine the efficacy of 6 months of treatment with BioCeuticals Cognition Support Formula® (containing Bacopa monniera (brahmi), Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng and alpha-lipoic acid) on cognition in older adults with SCI (utilising the CogState® one card learning and identification tests as co-primary outcome measures of visual short-term memory and attention; mean speed (ms), accuracy (%), and total number of hits, misses, and anticipations) compared with placebo.

The "online brain": how the Internet may be changing our cognition.

The impact of the Internet across multiple aspects of modern society is clear. However, the influence that it may have on our brain structure and functioning remains a central topic of investigation. Here we draw on recent psychological, psychiatric and neuroimaging findings to examine several key hypotheses on how the Internet may be changing our cognition.

Components in the P300: Don't forget the Novelty P3!

This study investigated stimulus-response patterns of temporal principal components analysis (PCA)-derived event-related potential (ERP) components in a classical auditory habituation paradigm with long interstimulus intervals. The skin conductance response (SCR) was included as the "gold standard" model of the Orienting Reflex. Thirty participants were presented with a single series of 10 identical 60 dB tones, followed by a change trial at a different frequency.

Double Discourse: Qualitative Perspectives on Breast Screening Participation among Obese Women and Their Health Care Providers.

Obesity in Australia is rising rapidly, and is a major public health concern. Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer and worsens associated outcomes, yet breast screening participation rates in Australia are suboptimal and can be lower in higher risk, obese women. This study qualitatively explored barriers to breast screening participation in obese women in Australia.

An Intervention Design: Supporting Skills Development for Peritoneal Dialysis Trainers.

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a home-based therapy where nurses train patients in its use. There has been no published randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating any specific protocol for nurses delivering PD training. A standardized education package based upon the best available evidence and utilizing modern educational practices may lead to improved patient outcomes.

Using principal components analysis to examine resting state EEG in relation to task performance.

Brain dynamics research has highlighted the significance of the ongoing EEG in ERP genesis and cognitive functioning. Few studies, however, have assessed the contributions of the intrinsic resting state EEG to these stimulus-response processes and behavioral outcomes. Principal components analysis (PCA) has increasingly been used to obtain more objective, data-driven estimates of the EEG and ERPs.

Sequential processing in the classic oddball task: ERP components, probability, and behavior.

This study compared the ERP components and behavior associated with the auditory equiprobable and classic oddball tasks, to relate the cognitive processing stages in those paradigms and continue the development of the sequential processing schema. Target and nontarget ERP data were acquired from 66 healthy young adults (M = 20.1, SD = 2.