New studies look at ways to boost brain function in elderly
(PhysOrg.com) -- Slowing the effects of aging on the human brain is the focus of two new clinical trials underway in the recently opened neurocognitive function laboratory at the University of Western Sydney.
The state-of-art clinical laboratory operated by the UWS Centre for Complementary Medicine Research (CompleMED) will conduct randomised placebo-controlled trials of complementary interventions (including an herbal formula and acupuncture), funded by UWS, to assess their ability to counter age-related memory loss and reduced brain function in healthy elderly Australians.
Key researcher on the trials and postdoctoral research fellow in CompleMED, Dr Ben Colagiuri, says the anticipated health needs of Australia's rapidly aging population demands potential therapies are comprehensively studied.
"By the time most people celebrate their 21st birthday natural age-related cognitive decline has already started," says Dr Colagiuri.
"Later in life, many people suffer from serious age associated loss, which affects their quality of life, and that's not including the people who develop serious neurocognitive diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia".
"Unfortunately, there is still insufficient evidence on the ability of currently available pharmaceuticals and other therapies to reverse or prevent cognitive decline," says Dr Colagiuri.
Associate Professor Dennis Chang, Head of the CompleMED neurocognitive function laboratory, says both complementary medicine treatments under investigation have shown promise in earlier studies.
He says the herbal formula has been shown to improve cognitive function in an earlier CompleMED pilot clinical trial with vascular dementia patients and acupuncture has also been shown to improve memory in stroke victims in studies conducted in China.
"The present clinical trials in 45 healthy adults will uniquely assess the treatments - using the latest research techniques - for their ability to improve memory and brain function," says Associate Professor Chang.
The researchers will use highly specialised non-invasive equipment in the neurocogntive function laboratory to map the effects of the treatments in these clinical trials.
The clinical laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including a neuroscan system (64 electrode electroencephalograph) that measures electrical activity in the brain and a computer-based testing system that measures important cognitive functions, like memory and attention.
"It's the first time this herbal formula has been tested with healthy elderly people who are likely to have experienced age-related cognitive decline," says Associate Professor Chang.
"If the pilot study is successful we hope to begin large-scale trials of the treatments in 2011."
Provided by University of Western Sydney
