Key contacts and membership
Theme leads
Dr Mia Schaumberg
Dr Alexandra Metse
Dr Sophie Andrews
Members
Sian Campbell
Dr Will Harrison
Chelsea Hennessy
Dr Bridie Kean
Dr Prudence Millear
Dr Karina Rune
Dr Vinathe Sharma-Brymer
Dr Anthony Villani
Dr Dan Wadsworth
Dr Andy Ward
Associate Professor Hattie Wright
Professor Christian Jones
Professor Christopher Askew
Dr Mark Baker
Dr Hannah Banks
Associate Professor Suzanne Broadbent
Dr Danielle Cave
Dr Laine Chilman
Sarah Davies
Dr Trudi Flynn
Associate Professor Lin Fung
Dr Yuri Kriel
Dr Varghese Peter
Associate Professor Fraser Russell
Associate Professor Shaun Sandow
Professor Mathew Summers
Dr Meegan Walker
Our work in the healthy behaviours for proactive ageing theme focusses on enhancing physical and cognitive capacity and maintaining function through engagement in proactive health behaviours, including physical activity, nutrition, sleep and mindfulness. Research in this theme both investigates the benefits of these behaviours for healthy ageing and how to support people to change their behaviour.
Current projects
- The LEISURE Study: Research shows that 30-50% of the risk for developing dementia is attributed to our lifestyle choices. The ground-breaking LEISURE study supports older adults to adopt lifestyle strategies shown to reduce dementia risk, with a focus on diet, physical activity, mindfulness and sleep. Participants are helping answer important questions about the causes of cognitive decline in ageing and dementia, and how it can be prevented.
- The LIFE Study: The midlife transition (i.e. menopause) is critical for future health outcomes of women, and lifestyle behaviours greatly influence mental and physical health. The LIFE study investigates changes in lifestyle behaviours (sleep, diet, physical activity) across the menopause transition and how these are related to health outcomes and wellbeing, in order to inform potential targets for lifestyle intervention to reduce disease risk in mid-life women.
- Lifestyle and Insomnia Study: Symptoms of insomnia are prevalent (~20%) in Australia and associated with a higher risk of various chronic diseases in later life. This innovative study, undertaken in partnership with the Sleep Health Foundation, consumers and experts including sleep physicians, psychologists, dieticians and exercise physiologists, aims to develop and evaluate a novel, theory informed intervention to promote healthy diet and optimise levels of physical activity as a way of treating insomnia symptoms.
Achievements and impact
- Fien S, Linton C, Mitchell J, Wadsworth D, Szabo H, Askew C, Schaumberg M. (2022). Characteristics of community-based exercise programs for community-dwelling older adults in rural/regional areas: a scoping review. Aging Clin Exp Res, DOI: https://doi.org.10.1007/s40520-022-02079-y
- Linton C, Wright H, Wadsworth D, Schaumberg M. (2022). Dietary Inflammatory Index and Associations with Sarcopenia Symptomology in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. Nutrients, DOI: https://doi.org.10.3390/nu14245319
- Treacy C, Levenstein JM, Jefferies A, Metse AP, Schaumberg MA, Villani A, Boucas AP, Hermens DF, Lagopoulos J, Andrews SC. (2023). The LEISURE Study: A Longitudinal Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol for a Multi-Modal Lifestyle Intervention Study to Reduce Dementia Risk in Healthy Older Adults. J Alzheimers Dis, DOI: https://doi.org.10.3233/JAD-230193