Career Advancement Fellow Dr Dona Jayakody awarded the WA 2023 Young Tall Poppy Science Award
RPH Research Foundation's Career Advancement Fellow Dr Dona Jayakody has been selected as one of the outstanding early career researchers to receive a Western Australia 2023 Young Tall Poppy Science Award.
Dr Jayakody is the Head of Brain and Hearing at Ear Science Institute Australia, RPH Research Foundation Fellow and an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia.
Her research focuses on investigating the impact of hearing loss rehabilitation on dementia on both Indigenous and non-indigenous older adults.
Dr Jayakody’s research also looks at identifying barriers to accessing hearing services, the impact of untreated hearing loss (HL), hearing rehabilitation and investigating the impact of hearing rehabilitation on cognitive functions, mental and psychosocial well-being.
Hearing loss is a chronic health condition that significantly impacts healthy ageing in older adults. Data from the general Australian population suggests that HL increases the risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, depression, anxiety and stress, and loneliness.
“I am passionate about my research and if cognitive decline can be delayed and mental and psychosocial well-being can be improved, that will positively impact the Australian economy and lessen the burden on family and caregivers,” said Dr Jayakody.
The prestigious annual Young Tall Poppy Science Awards were created by the Australian Institute of Policy & Science to recognise and celebrate Australian intellectual and scientific excellence and to encourage younger Australians to follow in the footsteps of our outstanding achievers.
The awards honour up-and-coming scientists who combine world-class research with an enthusiastic commitment to communicating science.
Dr Jayakody has been recognised as one of the Western Australia 2023 Young Tall Poppy Science Award recipients in recognition of her commitment to sharing her research with the community and empowering older adults to understand the importance of hearing health.
“I am very grateful to receive the WA Tall Poppy Award. This is a great testament to excellence in research and supporting the next generation of STEM scientists.”
Investigating the links between hearing loss and dementia.
Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australians. Currently, there are 400,000 Australians living with dementia and Aboriginal older adults are experiencing dementia at a rate of 3 to 5 times higher than the general Australian population. With no cure or effective treatment insight, it is vital to identify the factors that will help prevent or delay pathological cognitive decline and dementia for the healthy ageing of our community.
Dr Jayakody now aims to determine the association between central auditory processing and dementia in Aboriginal older adults. Dr Dona Jayakody leads the Ear Science Institute Australia research team investigating the links between hearing loss and dementia. If hearing loss treatment can indeed prevent dementia, it could make a huge difference to society by reducing the number of people with dementia and saving billions of dollars for the Australian economy.
