Age-related neurodegenerative disorders are relentless progressive diseases, producing relatively rapid dependencies for care, and are therefore responsible for considerable health-related expenditures. No successful treatments are available for any of these disorders, largely because the mechanisms determining the highly selective patterns of neuron loss are poorly understood. Our research aims to identify the sequence of cellular changes occurring in neurodegenerative disorders for targeted interventions. We are particularly focussed on the earliest changes observed and on how such changes may be identified in clinical settings. Our research also focuses on understanding the influence of different genetic traits and protein abnormalities in these disorders.
Professor Glenda Halliday is an internationally renowned expert in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders having published a large body of work on animal and human neuroanatomy and neuropathology, and on molecular, functional and longitudinal brain changes (226 peer reviewed journal articles with >5,000 citations). Her PhD and subsequent postdoctoral work on the anatomy and pathology of dopamine systems and other brainstem monoamine systems in controls and patients with Parkinson's disease revealed that more than the dopamine system was damaged in this disorder, and her research has focussed on understanding how this occurs. Her pathological work on dementia with Lewy bodies has been incorporated into highly cited research criteria for the diagnosis of this disorder, highlighting the association between Lewy body deposition and visual hallucinations (rather than to a loss of function). Her more recent collaborative work on frontotemporal dementia has determined survival patterns and the pathological progression for this disorder. She collaborates broadly with a range of clinicians and scientists to make available national resources for research on neurodegenerative conditions (Australian Brain Donors Programmes, Australian Brain Bank Network, Australian Parkinson's Project for DNA collection).
Dementia with Lewy bodiesAssessment of the new diagnostic criteria in a large number of longitudinally followed patients, and cellular changes in the brain unique to cases with pure dementia with Lewy bodies. |
Dominant genetic influences on Alzheimer's diseaseDetermine whether the genes currently used to model Alzheimer's disease cause the same brain changes as those observed in non-familial cases with Alzheimer's disease. |
Frontotemporal dementia syndromesA series of studies using a variety of techniques to identify cellular changes over time in the different forms of frontotemporal dementia. |
Genetic influences on Parkinson's diseaseSeveral different approaches are being used to understand how differences in genetic makeup either cause or influence the onset, progression and pathology of Parkinson's disease. |
Problem symptoms in Parkinson's diseaseWe have been concentrating on understanding the cellular causes for falls, some types of pain, visual hallucinations and dementia. |
Progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophyA series of different studies to determine cellular changes over time and early objective measures to predict these changes during life for the future development of therapeutic interventions. |
