Alex Bahar-Fuchs

Non-pharmacological interventions for people with dementia, particularly cognition-based interventions, are generating a great deal of interest because of their potential to relieve the burden of disease on persons affected and their families. When applied during the pre-dementia phase, often referred to as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), cognition-based interventions may be effective in maintaining cognitive function, prolonging functional independence, and therefore offset or prevent the onset of dementia. Professor Linda Clare is a world leader in non-pharmacological interventions in early dementia, and is widely recognised as a pioneer of the application of cognition-based interventions, particularly cognitive rehabilitation, for people with early dementia. 

Beginning in 2010, I have collaborated with Prof Clare on the development of intervention approaches that concurrently target cognitive and affective symptoms in MCI, and on the revision of the Cochrane Review on cognition-based interventions in early dementia. The Travel Fellowship will facilitate a continuous collaboration with Prof Clare and will allow me to visit her lab to seek more advanced training in the design and implementation of cognition-based interventions for persons with MCI. This collaboration will help in building both clinical and research capacity in this area.

Dr Bahar Fuchs is currently based at the Centre for Research on Ageing Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University and is also a registered Clinical Neuropsychologist. He only used up half of his fellowship as he was also awarded an NHMRC Early Career Fellowship in 2013 (2014-2018).