In this ISLAND Newsletter

• Invitation - chance to win a Coles Myer voucher
• Exciting news! TAS Test is back!
• We have listened to you
• Why does TAS Test analyse hand movements?
• "pa-pa-pa...!" New speech analysis this time too!
• Invitation - TAS Test Webinar is coming up
  
• Invitation - Watch the recording of our early results webinar

Thanks for being involved in ISLAND and helping us reduce dementia risk in Tasmania. 

Help advance globally significant research and you could also win a Coles Myer Voucher

The strength of the ISLAND Project research lies in a large number of participants undertaking their annual surveys. If you are an ISLAND research participant, please don't forget to do your annual surveys. 

As a way of saying thanks, we have five $100 Coles Myer vouchers to give away to five ISLAND participants who complete all their October 2022 surveys.

Log into your ISLAND portal to do the surveys and complete them all before the closing date for your chance to win. 

Winners will be notified by email by end November 2022. 

Good luck!

Exciting news! TAS Test – detecting dementia risk through movement analysis

As ISLAND research participants, you will soon have an opportunity to take part in a new cognitive test that is being developed by our research team at the University of Tasmania. TAS Test (or “Tasmanian Test”) is a completely new type of cognitive test that focuses on using movement analysis to detect who is at high risk of developing dementia. As a movement-based test, it crosses the usual language barriers and as an online test, it easily overcomes geographical barriers. Look out for your invitations to take part – coming soon!

Click here to login to your ISLAND portal

We have listened to you

Thank you to all our participants! Without you, we cannot develop this test.

Last year, more than 2000 ISLAND participants completed TAS Test (thank you) and many gave feedback in the questionnaire at the end. In response, we have developed a new test with: 

• Clearer instructions
• Improved usability
• More video and audio instructions

Please complete your annual survey and then try out the new TAS Test as repeat tests from each person will help us more accurately track dementia risk.

Click here to login to your ISLAND portal

Why does TAS Test analyse hand movements?

Hand movement patterns subtly change in the earliest stages of dementia, 10 - 20 years before any memory or thinking symptoms (see below graph). Measuring hand movements using computers may help predict who is at high risk of dementia much earlier than current tests. 

Thank you for taking the time to complete TAS Test - you are a key part of this research project that aims to develop a new dementia screening test that can be used around the world. 

“pa-pa-pa…!” - New speech analysis this time too!

Our researchers won the 2022 Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation grant, enabling incorporation of speech analysis into TAS Test this year. Internationally renowned speech pathologist A/Prof Lyn Goldberg has led development of the "pa-ta-ka" speech test.

As we know that walking and hand movement patterns change in the earliest stages of dementia, it makes sense to ask if the movements needed for speech also change. The areas of the brain responsible for hand and speech movements are closely aligned (see above picture).

Measuring lip, tongue, and palate movements provides us with two important sets of data: it enables us to compare speech movements with hand movements, and it enables us to look at fine motor movement if someone has difficulty moving their hands. We will ask you to repeat the sounds “pa” (lips), “ta” (tongue) and “ka” (palate) separately and together at a comfortable pace and as fast as you can (see a screenshot of the test below). These seemingly simple tasks give us valuable information about the strength, coordination, timing, and planning needed for accurate speech production. Please try it out and give your feedback. Thank you so much for your help and have fun with this new set of tasks! 

Click here to login to your ISLAND portal

TAS Test Webinar

Come along and hear from our researchers about TAS Test development, research collaborations and what your participation in TAS Test has helped us learn to date. The tests in TAS Test all aim to detect early clues of dementia and we hope will lead to better interventions at the earliest time.

We hope you can come join us on Monday 24 October at 12:30pm - please register here

Watch a recording of our 'Risk Reduction Seems to be Working' Webinar

Last month, we invited participants to a webinar where our researchers conveyed our latest activity and early indications of results. It was great to see so many of our participants come along, if you couldn't make it you can watch the recording if you wish:

Keep an eye on your newsletters for more webinar sessions in the future.

The University of Tasmania received funding from the Australian Government. Views and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of its authors, and may not be the same as those held by the Department of Health.

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