Other research projects
NISAN carries out research in various other areas besides the main areas of stroke, dementia and acquired brain injury. These include neuropsychology, muscular disorders, and diseases such as polio and autism.
The neuropsychology programme aims to advance knowledge of neuropsychological function and to develop effective, evidence-based interventions to support adults, children and families affected by a range of health conditions, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Current project
Your Hidden Mind: A Memory Reconsolidation Pilot Trial
Principal Investigator: Dr Kelly Jones
Named Investigator: Professor Rita Krishnamurthi
‘Your Hidden Mind’ is an online programme for mind-body health and personal transformation. The programme uses unique rhythmic combinations of words specifically written to invoke thoughts and memories from your subconscious (or hidden mind).
The main aim of this randomised pilot study is to find out how to study a new memory reconsolidation programme that might be a new alternative way to help to improve people’s well-being. We would also like to know about people’s impressions of the programme for use in New Zealand.
This study will help planning for further research to test whether the ‘Your Hidden Mind’ programme might help people to reduce the intensity of their stored emotions and improve their general well-being.
Completed projects
This work arose through discussions between researchers at the National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences and Gordon Jackman, Programme Manager at Polio NZ Inc., regarding the pressing need for accurate estimates of the prevalence of people living with post-polio in New Zealand and worldwide.
The overriding aims were to:
- Provide a systematic review of the literature on prevalence of polio worldwide.
- Use findings from the systematic review to estimate prevalence of Polio in New Zealand
- Use findings to inform a grant application for a full study examining:
- prevalence of polio
- outcomes of polio
- the needs of those directly impacted by polio and their family members in New Zealand.
Investigators
- Dr Kelly Jones (AUT)
- Professor Valery Feigin (AUT)
- Associate Professor Alice Theadom (AUT)
- Mr Gordon Jackman (Polio NZ Inc.)
Funded by: The Sir Thomas and Lady Duncan Trust
Contact: Kelly Jones
This work arose through a need to determine whether or not it is possible to identify and recruit people for a poliomyelitis outcomes study. We also aimed to find out whether there are differences in the needs of survivors of polio compared to other people who are aging within the content of disability. The overriding aims were to
- Assess the feasibility of accurately identifying and recruiting survivors of poliomyelitis via hospital medical records,
- Determine the feasibility and acceptability of an in-person impact assessment, and
- Compare the self-reported outcomes of poliomyelitis to outcomes of a common and often disabling neurological health event in older populations, being stroke.
Investigators
- Dr Kelly Jones (AUT)
- Professor Valery Feigin (AUT)
- Associate Professor Alice Theadom (AUT)
- Mr Gordon Jackman (Polio NZ Inc.)
Funded by: The Sir Thomas and Lady Duncan Trust
Contact: Kelly Jones
Chiropractic intervention and the control of eye movement in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A pilot study.
This pilot study aims to examine the capacity of a chiropractic intervention to improve eye tracking in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Collaborators
Lead:
- Dr Kelly Jones.
Co-investigators included:
- Dr Kelly Holt (Centre for Chiropractic Research, New Zealand College of Chiropractic)
- Dr Heidi Haavik (Centre for Chiropractic Research, New Zealand College of Chiropractic)
- Alice Cade (Centre for Chiropractic Research, New Zealand College of Chiropractic)
Contact: Kelly Jones
Chiropractic adjustments and sensorimotor integration in children with autism: A pilot study.
This pilot study aims to explore associations between chiropractic adjustments and sensory information processing in children (6-12 years) diagnosed with high functioning autism.
Collaborators
Lead:
- Dr Kelly Jones.
Co-investigators:
- Dr Kelly Holt (Centre for Chiropractic Research, New Zealand College of Chiropractic)
- Dr Heidi Haavik (Centre for Chiropractic Research, New Zealand College of Chiropractic)
Contact: Kelly Jones
Good oral health in childhood via access to dental care can help prevent halitosis, dental caries and periodontal disease, and increases the likelihood of keeping teeth into old age. In addition to healthy teeth and gums, children’s oral health is an integral part of general health and is important for life and wellbeing. Good oral health supports vital human functions (i.e. speaking, smiling, socialising, and eating) with a completely functional mouth critical for all the phases of natural life. Importantly, many of the most common oral diseases such as periodontal disease and dental caries are preventable.
Some research on the oral health status of children was conducted in the early 1980s and 1990s. While there are no more recent studies of the oral health status in Papua New Guinea (PNG), there are anecdotal reports that decay of the tooth in childhood and periodontal disease are leading causes of tooth loss in PNG. Furthermore, there has been no prior research specifically examining the factors that enable and serve as barriers to accessing pediatric dental services in PNG.
Using a cross-sectional design, this mixed methods pilot study aims to determine preliminary enablers and barriers to accessing dental services for children aged 0-6 years in PNG in an effort to better support children’s oral health. Thirty parents of children aged 0-6 years in PNG, including those living in urban (Popondetta, Oro Province) and rural (a village in Oro Province) areas will be invited to complete an in-person semi-structured survey about access to pediatric dental services. We will also find out whether parents have any suggestions for improving service access and eliminating access barriers.
This study will identify preliminary enablers and barriers to service access, along with suggestions for service access improvements to help reveal opportunities for further research to optimise treatment and maximise children’s long term oral health outcomes.
Collaborators
Lead:
- Elsie Gahano (AUT)
Co-investigators:
- Dr Kelly Jones (AUT)
- Dr Manorika Ratnaweera (AUT)
Funded in part by New Zealand Scholarships
Contact: Kelly Jones
The Infant Development, Environment, and Lifestyle (IDEAL) study was established as a multisite, longitudinal, prospective analysis of the effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure (PME) on children in the United States and New Zealand. The IDEAL study examines children’s physical and neurobehavioural development in relation to prenatal factors (i.e. severity of PME) and post-natal environmental factors, including maternal depression.
There is limited literature regarding the effects of PME and maternal mental health on children’s physical health outcomes. The current project, based on a secondary analysis of data from the NZ cohort, aims to determine physical health outcomes in children with PME compared to PME-free controls and examine associations with maternal mental health.
Key research questions include:
- What is the difference in the total number of health diagnoses at 6.5 years of age between children with and without PME?
- Among children with PME, to what extent are the total number of health diagnoses at 6.5 years of age associated with concurrent maternal mental health?
Collaborators
Lead:
- Christina Lau (University of Bath)
Co-supervisors:
- Dr Kelly Jones (AUT)
- Dr Trecia Wouldes (University of Auckland; Director of the NZ IDEAL study)
Contact: Kelly Jones
The Prevalence and Impact of Genetic Muscle Disorders in New Zealand study (MD-PREV) was established to determine the number of adults and children living with a genetic muscle disorder in New Zealand and the impact of conditions on them and their families. Led by Associate Professor Alice Theadom and funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand and the Brendal Trust, the MD-PREV study included the examination of children’s approaches to coping, including problem and emotion-focused strategies.
There is limited literature regarding the specific coping strategies of children living with a genetic muscle disorder. The current project, based on a secondary analysis of data from the NZ cohort, aims to determine the types of coping strategies used and the ways in which coping strategies may be associated with children’s quality of life.
Key research questions include:
- What types of self-reported coping strategies do children living with a genetic muscular disorder use?
- To what extent do children’s coping strategies differ by age, gender and ethnicity?
- In what ways are children’s coping strategies associated with parent and child self-reported quality of life?
Collaborators
Lead:
- Aaron Anand
Co-supervisors:
- Dr Kelly Jones (AUT)
- Dr Charmaine Bright (AUT)
Contact: Kelly Jones
Neuropsychology research
For neuropsychology related research, contact Dr Kelly Jones