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Consistent with previous findings in a remote population, urban and regional Aboriginal Australians face high rates of dementia at younger ages, most commonly Alzheimer's dementia.

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QTL analyses identified several chromosomal regions influencing skeletal phenotypes of the femur and tibia in BXD F 2 and BXD RI populations of mice. QTLs for skeletal traits co-located with each other and with correlated traits such as body weight and length, adipose mass, and serum alkaline phosphatase.Introduction: Past research has shown substantial genetic influence on bone quality, and the impact of reduced bone mass on our aging population has heightened the interest in skeletal genetic research. Materials and Methods: Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses were performed on morphologic measures and structural and material properties of the femur and tibia in 200-day-old C57BL/6J × DBA/2 (BXD) F 2 (second filial generation; n ‫ס‬ 400) and BXD recombinant inbred (RI; n ‫ס‬ 23 strains) populations of mice. Body weight, body length, adipose mass, and serum alkaline phosphatase were correlated phenotypes included in the analyses. Results: Skeletal QTLs for morphologic bone measures such as length, width, cortical thickness, and crosssectional area mapped to nearly every chromosome. QTLs for both structural properties (ultimate load, yield load, or stiffness) and material properties (stress and strain characteristics and elastic modulus) mapped to chromosomes 4, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15, and 18. QTLs that were specific to structural properties were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 17, and QTLs that were specific to skeletal material properties were identified on chromosomes 5, 11, 16, and 19. QTLs for body size (body weight, body length, and adipose mass) often mapped to the same chromosomal regions as those identified for skeletal traits, suggesting that several QTLs identified as influencing bone could be mediated through body size. Conclusion: New QTLs, not previously reported in the literature, were identified for structural and material properties and morphological measures of the mouse femur and tibia. Body weight and length, adipose mass, and serum alkaline phosphatase were correlated phenotypes that mapped in close proximity of skeletal chromosomal loci. The more specific measures of bone quality included in this investigation enhance our understanding of the functional significance of previously identified QTLs.

While there is strong evidence of the need for healthy ageing programs for older Aboriginal Australians, few are available. It is important to understand older Aboriginal Australians’ perspectives on healthy ageing in order to co-design culturally-appropriate programs, including views on technology use in this context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 Aboriginal Australians aged 50 years and older from regional and urban communities to explore participants’ health concerns, preferences for healthy ageing programs, and receptiveness to technology. Qualitative data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. This study found that older Aboriginal Australians are concerned about chronic health conditions, social and emotional well-being, and difficulties accessing health services. A range of barriers and enablers to participation in current health programs were identified. From the perspective of older Aboriginal people, a successful healthy ageing program model includes physical and cognitive activities, social interaction, and health education. The program model also provides culturally safe care and transport for access as well as family, community, cultural identity, and empowerment regarding ageing well as central tenets. Technology could also be a viable approach for program delivery. These findings can be applied in the implementation and evaluation of culturally-appropriate, healthy ageing programs with older Aboriginal people.

Background: Validated cognitive screening tools for use in urban and regional Aboriginal populations in Australia are lacking. Methods: In a cross-sectional community-based study, 235 participants were assessed on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) and an urban modification of the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (mKICA). Performance on these cognitive screening tools was compared to dementia diagnosis by clinical consensus. Results: All tests were culturally acceptable with good psychometric properties. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed that the MMSE and mKICA were the most accurate. Conclusion: The MMSE is an effective cognitive screening tool in urban Aboriginal populations. The mKICA is a good alternative when illiteracy, language or cultural considerations deem it appropriate. The RUDAS also has adequate validity in this population.

Background: While the evidence of an association between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) *E4 allele and Alzheimer's disease is very strong, the effect of the *E4 allele on cognitive decline in the general population is more equivocal. A cross-sectional study on the lifespan effects of the *E4 allele [1] failed to find any effect of the *E4 allele on cognitive performance at ages 20-24, 40-44 or 60-64 years.