2.5 million boost to beat stroke-related dementia

$2.5 million boost to beat stroke-related dementia
The 85,000 Queenslanders currently living with the effects of a stroke will have a better chance of beating stroke-related
dementia with a $2.5 million donation to the Queensland Brain Institute to boost research into repairing brain damage.
Science Minister Ian Walker said the donation from the Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation was one of Australia’s
largest private donations for research into the debilitating condition.
“Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) will use the funds to establish a five-year Senior Research Fellowship in Stroke-Induced
Dementia based at QBI’s Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia,” Mr Walker said.
“This is a coup for the Clem Jones Centre, which the Queensland Government committed $9 million towards to drive an allout assault on dementia, one of the big health issues facing Australia.
“It’s part of our strong plan to address the issues that really matter to Queenslanders, and dementia will affect many families
either directly or indirectly in the years ahead.”
Stroke-induced dementia, also called vascular dementia, is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s
disease.
According to a 2011 Access Economics report, the number of Queenslanders with dementia is expected to rise from 48,674
in 2011 to 215,272 in 2050. About 10,000 Queenslanders had a stroke in 2012, and about 85,000 Queenslanders are living
with the effects of stroke, according to Stroke Australia.
“People who have had a stroke are nine times at greater risk of dementia than people who have not had a stroke,” Mr
Walker said.
“This is an insidious and terrible affliction often caused by small strokes so tiny that people do not even notice. The
cumulative effect is brain damage.
“Treatment now is limited to preventing further strokes and post-stroke rehabilitation. But there is nothing to try to repair
brain damage and this will be the research focus.”
QBI Director Perry Bartlett said the Senior Research Fellowship means a research group will work to unravel the molecular
mechanisms that promote recovery of cognitive function following a stroke.
“By understanding the mechanisms, we hope we will be able to develop new therapies and treatments to help improve the
cognition of patients who have suffered a stroke,” Professor Bartlett said.
Established in early 2013 after the death of Moyna Fox, the Stafford Fox Medical Research Foundation was named in
honour of her husband, former BP Australia chief executive James Stafford Fox. Both Moyna and James succumbed to
dementia before their deaths.
For more information on the Senior Research Fellowship go to www.qbi.uq.edu.au
[ENDS] Tuesday 18 November 2014
Media Contact: Monica Rostron 0409 126 332

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