Dr Claire Burley

Dr Claire Burley is interested in healthy ageing, measures of brain health (e.g., MRI and Doppler imaging, neuropsychiatric, cognitive and quality of life), changed behaviours, psychological symptoms, dementia risk factors, and improving care for people living with dementia using person-centred, non-pharmacological approaches. Dr Burley has two research/ teaching roles at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, both involving dementia and brain health. One is based at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Clinical Medicine and the other is based at the UNSW Medicine & Health Lifestyle Clinic, School of Health Sciences.

Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Clinical Medicine: 

Dr Burley's CHeBA project is funded by the NHMRC and focused on improving care for people living with dementia in the hospital setting using nonpharmacological and evidence-based approaches such as person-centred care (PCC).  The study involves educating nursing, medical and allied health staff in person-centred care which has been shown to improve health outcomes for people living with dementia, reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms, and lead to higher levels of staff satisfaction. Their team have shown that these approaches are effective in a hospital setting in a pilot study and implementation study. A PhD student has developed and implemented the online education component of the PCC program.

UNSW Medicine & Health Lifestyle Clinic, School of Health Sciences:

Dr Burley's projects at the UNSW Lifestyle Clinic focus on improving physical and brain health using physical activity approaches provided by Accredited Exercise Physiologists. These projects include optimising exercise strategies for hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. These strategies aim to reduce pain, improve quality of life and reduce risk for falls and developing dementia. Two PhD students developing this work and are investigating optimal exercise and dietary strategies for people living with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, both are which are associated with increased dementia risk.