Aim

NeuRA’s focus in this area is on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Australians and how best to support their cognitive health in older age. An important part of this work involves finding the best ways to ensure people gain access to the health services they need. The aim of our research is to look at healthy ageing in its wider social context and investigate what services can support improvements in Aboriginal health, especially in older people.

Research focus areas

The Radford and Broe Groups research focus on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in Australia, and how best to support their cognitive health in older age. An important part of this work involves finding the best ways to ensure people gain access to the health services they need. The aim of our research is to look at healthy ageing in its wider social context and investigate what services can support improvements in Aboriginal health, especially in older people.

By liaising with Aboriginal communities and representatives, we have identified that there is enormous interest amongst Aboriginal people in understanding the scope of age-related diseases like dementia in their communities.

Through the Koori Growing Old Well Study, since 2008 we have been gathering information from over 300 Aboriginal people aged 60 years and above living in cities, smaller towns and country areas in New South Wales.

Our research work is also continuously being meaningfully translated back to the community through participation in community events, running information sessions, producing accessible resources for people living with dementia (including carers and health workers), and co-designing and trialling culturally acceptable, evidence-based ‘healthy ageing’ programs. 

Why this research matters

There are growing numbers of older Aboriginal Australians, but recent research at NeuRA has found that dementia prevalence is three times higher in Aboriginal peoples compared to estimates for the general Australian population. This disparity in dementia rates is a consistent finding across remote, regional and urban communities. Aboriginal Elders play vital roles in their communities and further research is required to understand the causes of these higher rates of dementia, reduce the burden of dementia and improve health and longevity for Aboriginal Australians, as they grow older.