The Hobart-based Wicking Dementia Research Centre wants to conduct the biggest dementia study of its kind ever undertaken.
The Island Study Linking Ageing and Neurodegenerative Disease (ISLAND) Project is looking for 10,000 Tasmanian volunteers (two per cent of the population!) to take part in a range of activities, including surveys, online courses and medical testing.
The study will be looking at who is most at risk of the condition and how they might “self-manage” those risky behaviours to build resilience to dementia using diet, exercise, social contact or undertaking education programs.
The Wicking Centre’s director says this kind of participation level for one study would be a “game-changer” for dementia research.
Tasmania has several factors that will suit the study. It has the oldest population in Australia, but it’s also ageing at a faster rate than the national average, so the available data in the Tassie population will be critical to The ISLAND Project team.
So Tasmanians, spread the word and get involved! Visit the website to find out how.
