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The aetiology of childhood brain tumours (CBT) is largely unknown. Damage to germ cells after parental exposure to airborne carcinogens, such as volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is one plausible pathway. This analysis aimed to investigate whether parental refuelling of vehicles or the use of domestic wood heaters in key time periods relating to the child's birth was associated with an increased risk of CBT. Procedure: Cases <15 years of age were recruited through 10 paediatric oncology centres around Australia; controls were recruited through nationwide random-digit dialling, frequency matched to cases on age, sex and State of residence. Exposure to refuelling and wood heaters was ascertained through questionnaires from both parents. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for relevant covariates. Results: Data were available for 306 case and 950 control families. Paternal refuelling =4times/month was associated with an increased risk of CBT (OR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.29), and a dose-dependent trend was observed (P=0.004). No association was seen for maternal refuelling. Use of closed, but not open, wood heaters before (OR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.15) and after (OR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.01) the child's birth was associated with increased risk of CBT, but dose-response relationships were weak or absent. Conclusions: Paternal refuelling of vehicles =4times/month and the use of closed wood heaters before the child's birth may increase the risk of CBT. Replication in larger studies is needed.

Reduced awareness of cognitive deficits in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is associated with poorer outcomes although little is known about the anatomical correlates of this. We examined the association of insight and grey matter volume using a voxel-based morphometry approach in 65 volunteers with MCI and 55 healthy age-matched controls. Participants with MCI had multiple areas of subtle grey matter volume loss compared with controls, although these did not survive correction for multiple comparisons. These were predominantly in the temporal and anterior portions of the brain. Individuals with MCI did not differ from each other on a number of demographic and cognitive variables according to level of insight. Reduced awareness of cognitive deficits was associated with few differences in grey matter volume apart from a subtle loss of grey matter in the medial frontal gyri. Given the modest nature of these findings, the routine assessment of insight in non-clinical populations of individuals with MCI is therefore not supported. Prospective data in larger samples, however, would be helpful to clarify this further and determine if impaired insight predicts brain atrophy and cognitive decline.

Purpose: Childhood brain tumors (CBT) are the second most common type of childhood cancer and the leading cause of childhood cancer mortality. Few causes of CBT are known, but parental , fetal and early life exposures are likely to be important given the early age at diagnosis of many cases. We aimed to investigate whether parents’ diagnostic radiological procedures before conception, in the mother during pregnancy or the child’s procedures were associated with an increased risk of CBT. Methods: This population-based case-control study was conducted between 2005 and 2010. Causes were identified through all the Australian pediatric oncology centres and controls via nationwide random-digit dialing; frequency-matched to cases on age, sex, and state of residence. Information on radiological exposures in the time periods of interest was obtained for 306 case and 950 control families through mailed questionnaires. Analysis used unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for matching variables and potential confounders. Results: We found no evidence of positive associations between risk of CBT overall and childhood or parental pre-pregnancy radiological procedures. Increased ORs for high-grade gliomas associated with childhood radiological procedures were based on small numbers and may be due to the reduced intensity of CTs after 2001. Future research to investigate the safety of fetal exposure to more intense procedures like C scans is needed.

Purpose: Childhood brain tumors (CBT) are the leading cause of cancer death in children, yet their etiology remains largely unknown. This study investigated whether household exposure to paints and floor treatments and parental occupational painting were associated with CBT risk in a population-based case–control study conducted between 2005 and 2010.Methods Cases were identified through all ten Australian pediatric oncology centers, and controls via nationwide random-digit dialing, frequency matched to cases on age, sex, and state of residence. Data were obtained from parents in mailed questionnaires and telephone interviews. Information on domestic painting and floor treatments, and parental occupational exposure to paint, in key periods relating to the index pregnancy and childhood was obtained for 306 cases and 950 controls. Data were analyzed using unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for frequency matching variables and potential confounders. Results: Overall, we found little evidence that parental, fetal, or childhood exposure to home painting or floor treatments was associated with risk of CBT. There was, though, some evidence of a positive association between childhood exposure to indoor painting and risk of high-grade glioma [odds ratio (OR) 3.31, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.29, 8.52] based on very small numbers. The OR for the association between CBT and paternal occupational exposure to paint any time before the pregnancy was 1.32 (95 % CI 0.90, 1.92), which is consistent with the results of other studies. Conclusions: Overall, we found little evidence of associations between household exposure to paint and the risk of CBT in any of the time periods investigated.

Background: Parental occupational exposures have been associated with childhood brain tumours (CBT), but results are inconsistent. Few studies have studied CBT risk and parental solvent exposure, suggesting a possible association. We examined the association between CBT and parental occupational exposure to solvents in a case–control study.Methods: Parents of 306 cases and 950 controls completed detailed occupational histories. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for both maternal and paternal exposure to benzene, other aromatics, aliphatics and chlorinated solvents in key time periods relative to the birth of their child. Adjustments were made for matching variables (child’s age, sex and state of residence), best parental education and occupational exposure to diesel exhaust.Results: An increased risk of CBT was observed with maternal occupational exposures to chlorinated solvents (OR=8.59, 95% CI 0.94–78.9) any time before birth. Paternal exposure to solvents in the year before conception was associated with an increased CBT risk: OR=1.55 (95% CI 0.99–2.43). This increased risk appeared to be mainly attributable to exposure to aromatic solvents: OR=2.72 (95% CI 0.94–7.86) for benzene and OR=1.76 (95% CI 1.10–2.82) for other aromatics.Conclusions: Our results indicate that parental occupational exposures to solvents may be related to an increased risk of CBT.

Purpose Previous research has suggested positive associations between parental or childhood exposure to pesticides and risk of childhood brain tumors (CBT). This Australian case–control study of CBT investigated whether exposures to pesticides before pregnancy, during pregnancy and duringchildhood, were associated with an increased risk.Methods Cases were recruited from 10 pediatric oncology centers, and controls by random-digit dialing, frequency matched on age, sex, and State of residence. Exposure data were collected by written questionnaires and telephone interviews. Data were analyzed by unconditional logistic regression.Results The odds ratios (ORs) for professional pest control treatments in the home in the year before the index pregnancy, during the pregnancy, and after the child’s birth were 1.54 (95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.07, 2.22), 1.52 (95 % CI: 0.99, 2.34) and 1.04 (95 % CI: 0.75, 1.43), respectively. ORs for treatments exclusively before pregnancy and during pregnancy were 1.90 (95 % CI: 1.08, 3.36) and 1.02 (95 % CI: 0.35, 3.00), respectively. The OR for the father being home during the treatment was 1.79(95 % CI: 0.85, 3.80). The OR for paternal occupational exposure in the year before the child’s conception was 1.36 (95 % CI: 0.66, 2.80). ORs for prenatal home pesticide exposure were elevated for low- and high-grade gliomas; effect estimates for other CBT subtypes varied and lacked precision.Conclusions These results suggest that preconception pesticide exposure, and possibly exposure during pregnancy, is associated with an increased CBT risk. It may be advisable for both parents to avoid pesticide exposure during this time.

Background: Physical activity (PA) may potentially delay or slow down cognitive decline. Developing strategies to encourage the adoption and long-term maintenance of PA is a major challenge. Knowing what factors predict an increase in PA will enhance and focus such strategies. We aimed to identify the baseline characteristics of FABS participants that predict short and long-term PA. Methods: Volunteers with memory complaints but dementia-free recruited from memory clinics and the general community were randomly assigned to a control or PA group. The PA group undertook an individualised home-based PA program with a target of 150 minutes/week of moderate PA and a behavioural intervention for the first 6-months. They then continued their PA for a further 12 months without any further intervention. The control group continued their usual PA throughout the study. Baseline measures included; age; gender; Body Mass Index (BMI); PA (7-day pedometer scores); PA self-efficacy(self-efficacy to be active in adverse events); cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - cognitive section (ADAS-cog)) and physical and mental health (SF-36V2, components PCS and MCS).These were repeated at 6, 12 and 18 months. Mixed-effects longitudinal regression models were used to determine predictors of PA. Results: One hundred and seventy participants mean age 68.5 (SD 8.6) years started the study. At each time-point there was no significant difference between groups in the number of participants who were retained in the study. After 6 and 12 months the PA group had significantly higher PA than the control group (P<0.01). When all study participants were considered higher self-efficacy (P<0.001); cognition (MMSE) (P<0.01) and physical health (PCS) (P<0.01) were significant independent predictors of higher PA at all time-points. Older age (P<0.001) and having a higher BMI (P<0.01) predicted lower PA. Conclusion: In this group of older adults having bette

This research project developed a model of Australian Aboriginal house crowding in order to provide policy-makers with ways to predict, measure and manage Aboriginal household overcrowding.

Background: Higher levels of physical activity (PA) have been associated with better cognitive function. Finding ways to increase PA is an ongoing challenge. Gender differences in adherence to PA interventions are rarely reported and little is known about gender differences in participants with MCI or memory complaints. We aimed to identify gender differences in adherence to a PA program in this target group. Methods: Participants dementia-free but with memory complaints were randomly assigned to a control or PA group. The control group continued their usual PA throughout the study. The PA group were given a home-based program with a target of 150 minutes/week of moderate PA and a behavioural intervention for 6-months. Participants recorded their PA sessions in diaries. Program adherence (PAdh) was calculated from the number of sessions recorded and was defined as the percentage of PA completed compared to the PA prescribed. Total adherence (TAdh) was the number of sessions completed compared to the total number of sessions (baseline sessions + prescribed sessions) expressed as a percentage. Results: The PA group comprised of 51% men (n = 43). At baseline men were significantly older than women 71.1(±SD 8.4) versus 66.0(8.1) years respectively. After 6 months retention was greater for the men (98%) than for women (83%), (P<0.05). Men had higher PAdh than women 79.2 (95% CI, 76.4, 82.1) % versus 65.5 (62.3, 68.6) % (P <0.001). Similarly (TAdh) was 83.6 (81.6, 85.7) % and 72.2 (69.9, 74.5) % (P<0.001) for men and women respectively. Women had significantly greater number of illnesses and injuries 1.2 (0.8, 1.5) than men 0.6 (0.4, 0.9). Further, for TAdh there was a significant interaction between gender and injury with females who reported an injury having 16.31 (5.68, 26.00) % (P< 0.01) higher TAdh than males who sustained an injury. Conclusions: Retention and adherence in this 6 month home-based PA program was greater for men than women. Women experienced more illne

There has been increasing interest in the influence of diet on cognition in the elderly. This study examined the cross-sectional association between dietary patterns and cognition in a sample of 249 people aged 65-90 years with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Two dietary patterns; whole and processed food; were identified using factor analysis from a 107-item; self-completed Food Frequency Questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses showed that participants in the highest tertile of the processed food pattern score were more likely to have poorer cognitive functioning; in the lowest tertile of executive function (OR 2.55; 95% CI: 1.08-6.03); as assessed by the Cambridge Cognitive Examination. In a group of older people with MCI; a diet high in processed foods was associated with some level of cognitive impairment. © 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.