Event Description

Tergel Namsrai will discuss her PhD project that is investigating the sleep’s role in brain health and its interplay with other factors including physical activity and potential role of physical activity training as a protective factor in neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

Abstract

The global prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and Parkinson’s disease (PD), is increasing, and is projected to climb further. Since there is no cure for neurodegenerative diseases including dementia and PD, identifying risk factors, and developing risk reduction strategies are the most promising options to reduce its prevalence and the associated disease burden. Sleep is one of the emerging risk factors for dementia. Additionally, it has been linked to other neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. However, the role of sleep quality, sleep behaviours (sleep duration, sleep disturbances and sleepiness) and sleep disorders on neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and its interaction with other risk factors are not well understood. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the role of sleep quality and behaviours (sleep duration, sleep disturbances, sleepiness) on neurodegeneration and cognitive decline and its association with other modifiable risk factors, such as physical activity, in the community-dwelling population. This will be achieved through four individual studies.

Speaker Bio

Tergel Namsrai had graduated as a medical doctor in Mongolia. She has graduated as a Master of Neuroscience from ANU and is continuing her research at the NCEPH as a PhD student. She is interested in healthy brain ageing, neurodegenerative diseases, socio demographic determinants of health and wellbeing in adults.