Florey Talk | Resilience, Connection and Mental Wellbeing in Later Life
Description
Good brain health helps us live well as we age. Yet anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions are often overlooked in older Australians — and when dementia is involved the picture becomes more complex again, because the changes dementia causes in the brain can produce mental health symptoms of their own.
A panel of leading Florey dementia and mental health researchers will help unpick that complexity. They'll explore the science of resilience and the connection between mental wellbeing and cognitive health, explain how dementia symptoms present and how they differ from normal ageing, and share the latest advances in diagnosis, treatment and earlier intervention.
You'll come away with practical, evidence-based strategies to support brain and mental health, and a clearer sense of how a holistic approach to healthy ageing can improve quality of life at any stage.
Meet our experts:
Dr Francesca Alves
Dr Francesca Alves is an early-career dementia researcher at The Florey whose work focuses on uncovering new treatment targets for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. She completed her PhD investigating muscle wasting during ageing, developing a strong interest in how age-related changes in physical health, exercise capacity and independence influence health and wellbeing across the lifespan. Her current research uses advanced omic and molecular technologies and patient samples to better understand the biological mechanisms driving dementia progression. Her work has highlighted important links between brain metabolism, cell death pathways and Alzheimer’s disease, helping to identify potential new avenues for treatment. Dr Alves has received multiple early-career research grants in recognition of her innovative work on dementia and brain health.
Professor Ashley Bush
Professor Ashley Bush is Clinical Lead for the Mental Health Mission at The Florey and Head of the Oxidation Biology Group. An internationally recognised neuroscientist, he is best known for his pioneering research into the role of metals in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease and schizophrenia. His work has led to the development of new predictive tests for Alzheimer’s disease and innovative approaches to treatment. Professor Bush is also Professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne and a leader in major national and international brain health research initiatives.
Professor Anthony Hannan
Professor Anthony Hannan is Head of the Epigenetics and Neural Plasticity Group at The Florey and Research Lead for the Mental Health Mission. An internationally recognised neuroscientist, his research explores how genes, lifestyle, and environmental factors shape brain health and influence conditions including dementia, depression, anxiety, autism, schizophrenia, and Huntington’s disease. Professor Hannan's groundbreaking work demonstrated that environmental stimulation can have therapeutic benefits in genetic brain disorders, helping to advance new approaches to prevention, treatment, and healthy brain ageing. He is a leader in national and international brain research initiatives and is committed to translating scientific discoveries into better mental and brain health outcomes.
Professor Andrew Lawrence
Professor Andrew Lawrence is Deputy Director of The Florey, where he leads Mental Health Research and is Head of the Addiction Neuroscience Group. An internationally recognised neuroscientist, his research focuses on understanding the brain mechanisms that drive alcohol and substance use disorders and developing new treatments to improve outcomes. Spanning laboratory research through to clinical trials, his work has helped identify novel therapeutic targets for addiction and contributed significantly to advances in neuroscience and mental health research.
Dr Leigh Walker
Dr Leigh Walker is an NHMRC Emerging Leader Fellow and Deputy Lead of Mental Health Research at The Florey. Their research explores the brain mechanisms underlying decision-making, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders, with a particular focus on sex differences in mental health. Using innovative neuroscience approaches, Dr Walker investigates how brain circuits influence behaviour, helping to identify new pathways for the treatment of mental health and addiction disorders. They are also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in science.
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