The Neurobiology of Dementia
Undergraduate
TAS-CAD201 2025Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 16 Feb 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Price from
- $1,655
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
The Neurobiology of Dementia
About this subject
Upon completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Discuss changes that occur in the brain as a result of dementia-related illnesses
- Interpret research findings to discuss the biological basis and clinical features of dementia-related illnesses
- Communicate biological and clinical information about dementia-related illnesses
- Week 1 - Module 1: Identifying and Understanding Dementias - Molecules, Circuits and Brain Function. Processes of Neurodegeneration.
- Week 2 - Module 1: Identifying and Understanding Dementias - Diagnosing Dementias.
- Week 3 - Module 2: Frontotemporal Dementia - Speech and Language.
- Week 4 - Module 2: Frontotemporal Dementia (Pathology) and Motor Neuron Disease
- Week 5 - Module 3: Revisiting Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia - Alzheimer's Disease - Pathology and Mechanisms.
- Week 6 - Module 3: Revisiting Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia - Genetics and Microglia
- Week 7 - Module 3: Revisiting Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia - Vascular Dementia
- Week 8 - Module 4: Lewy Body Dementia - Symptoms, Pathology and Mechanisms in Dementia with Lewy Bodies
- Week 9 - Module 4: Lewy Body Dementia - Parkinson's Disease Dementia and More
- Week 10 - Module 5: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
- Week 11 - Module 5: Childhood Dementias
- Week 12 - Module 5: Alcohol-related Dementia
- Week 13 - Revision
This subject uses research into the biological basis of dementia to explore the specific pathology of the more common diseases causing, or associated with, dementia. Students will learn the relationship between the development of pathology in the nervous system and the clinical features of dementia related illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and Lewy body dementia. The subject will explore how the diseases that cause dementia progress throughout the lifespan, and will explore the current tools and techniques used in diagnosing dementia-related illnesses.
- Quizzes (30%)
- Short Answer Task (25%)
- Assignment (15%)
- Oral Presentation (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Teaching arrangement: Online learning - approximately 10 hours per week
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Undergraduate
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