Public Health.

Background: Evidence suggests that diet may play a modifiable role in reducing Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) is linked to a lower incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. Increasing evidence indicates the potential utility of a cytoskeletal protein found in astrocytes, plasma Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), as a marker specific for AD pathogenesis.

Biomarkers.

Background: Recent advances in immunoassays have enabled sensitive detection of Aβ42/40 and pTau217 in plasma, components of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathological markers. Further characterization of increased diagnostic accuracy with PET Amyloid-β (Aβ) across the AD continuum is needed for clinical application.

Method: Participants from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of ageing (N=197) representing a cross-sectional population of four clinical and PET-Aβ subgroups: cognitive unimpaired (CU) Aβ- (n=75), CU Aβ+ (n=48), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) Aβ+ (n=26), and AD Aβ+ (n=48).

Biomarkers.

Background: Interplay between diet, depression, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) shows promise as an important area of study for early intervention and therapy. Associations between both depression and diet and heightened AD risk underscore the need to examine the moderating effect of dietary patterns on the relationship between depression, and AD-related blood-based biomarkers.

Method: Data from cognitively unimpaired older adults (n=89; age ≥60 years) enrolled in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study were included.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Research on cognitive reserve (CR) in individuals aged 80 years old and above has resulted in inconsistent findings, mostly showing a relationship with baseline cognitive abilities but not follow up assessments. The effects of amyloid burden on the relationship between CR, cognitive decline and dementia in oldest old warrants further study in the presence of APOE e4. We hypothesised that CR in oldest old (≥80 yrs old) adults will result in different trajectories, depending on being amyloid PET positive or negative.

Promoting regular parental supervised toothbrushing: An additive intervention design adopting the Health Action Process Approach.

The study aimed to test the efficacy of the core elements of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) in an intervention among parents to promote regular supervised toothbrushing of preschool-aged children. The pre-registered study (https://osf.io/fyzh3/) tested the effects of an intervention employing information provision, behavioural instruction, implementation intention and mental imagery techniques, adopting a randomised controlled design in a sample of Australian parents of preschoolers (N = 254).

Improving Hand Hygiene Behavior Using a Novel Theory-Based Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Promoting the adoption of personal hygiene behaviors known to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, such as avoiding touching one's face with unwashed hands, is important for limiting the spread of infections.

Purpose: We aimed to test the efficacy of a theory-based intervention to promote the avoidance of touching one's face with unwashed hands to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Methods: We tested effects of an intervention employing imagery, persuasive communication, and planning techniques in two pre-registered studies adopting randomized controlled designs in samples of Australian (N = 254; Study 1) and US (N = 245; Study 2) residents.

Predicting physical distancing over time during COVID-19: testing an integrated model.

We applied an integrated social cognition model to predict physical distancing behavior, a key COVID-19 preventive behavior, over a four-month period. A three-wave longitudinal survey design. Australian and US residents ( = 601) completed self-report measures of social cognition constructs (attitude, subjective norm, moral norm, perceived behavioral control [PBC]), intention, habit, and physical distancing behavior on an initial occasion (T1) and on two further occasions one week (T2) and four months (T3) later.

Social-cognitive predictors of parental supervised toothbrushing: An application of the health action process approach.

Background: We examined the social cognition determinants of parental supervised toothbrushing guided by the health action process approach (HAPA).

Methods: In a prospective correlational survey study, participants (N = 185, 84.3% women) completed HAPA social cognition constructs at an initial time point (T1), and 12 weeks later (T2) self-reported on their parental supervised toothbrushing behaviour, toothbrushing habit, and action control.

Application of the Health Action Process Approach to Social Distancing Behavior During COVID-19.

Background: This study examined the social cognition determinants of social distancing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in samples from Australia and the US guided by the health action process approach (HAPA).

Methods: Participants (Australia: N = 495, 50.1% women; US: N = 701, 48.

Parental social-cognitive correlates of preschoolers' oral hygiene behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Regular and consistent parental involvement in children's oral hygiene practices is crucial to prevent oral diseases in young children. This emphasizes the need for interventions targeting parental-supervised oral hygiene behavior. To inform the design of future interventions, this meta-analysis aimed to identify the parental social-cognitive factors associated with oral hygiene behavior of preschoolers.

Predicting Social Distancing Intention and Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Integrated Social Cognition Model.

Background: Social distancing is a key behavior to minimize COVID-19 infections. Identification of potentially modifiable determinants of social distancing behavior may provide essential evidence to inform social distancing behavioral interventions.

Purpose: The current study applied an integrated social cognition model to identify the determinants of social distancing behavior, and the processes involved, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lived experience of rescuing people who have driven into floodwater: Understanding challenges and identifying areas for providing support.

Background: Drowning is a major public health issue, with risk increasing during times of flood. Driving into floodwater is a major risk factor for flood-related drowning and injury, and despite widespread public health campaigns, many people continue to undertake this risky behaviour and require rescue.

Purpose: We aimed to identify key challenges faced by emergency services personnel when rescuing those who have driven into floodwater, and to identify strategies for supporting rescuers in this important role.