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You can help stop the disease most feared by older Australians – and double your impact

*** Limited opportunity: All donations matched ***

  • $50 Your gift becomes $100 after matching
  • $100 Your gift becomes $200 after matching
  • $250 Your gift becomes $500 after matching.
  • $500 Your gift becomes $1,000 after matching.

The disease most feared by older Australians:

Dementia

Number one cause of death for Australian women. Second only to coronary heart disease for men. Just one of the serious diseases linked to brain impairment

Brain cells die as you age, at varying rates. That affects memory, judgement and mood. 

There is no cure. 

Preserve Life

Help stop the disease most feared by older Australians

The world-first Preserve Life Cognitive Preservation Research Project is a 12-month pilot study – to find new ways to stop cognitive loss, improve brain cell function and preserve quality of life.

This innovative research cannot start without visionary people like you. 

Will you donate today to improve the outlook for all Australians as they get older?

This could be a game-changer. Time is critical.

Every donation doubled. Donations are tax-deductible.

Double your impact

Every donation made will be matched – to launch this research sooner.

Help older Australians with dementia

“Patients and loved ones struggle in a cloud of confusion. It’s heartbreaking.”

“Switch on” the brain and “supercharge” healing – read more about the NIIM research that could be a game-changer.

FAQs about Integrative Medicine and more

Find out more about this emerging field of healthcare and how it can benefit you and your loved ones.

NIIM’s holistic healthcare impact

✦ 10,000+ people helped each year through NIIM’s healthcare services, education and research.
✦ 15+ major research studies into complementary medicines and emerging treatments.
✦ 5,000+ research participants trialed potentially life-changing therapies.

*** All donations matched ***

Double your impact

You will help find new therapies to fight dementia and other brain disorders – plus your gift will be doubled!

Before the world-class Preserve Life Cognitive Preservation Research Project can start, NIIM needs to raise $500,000. 

Thanks to a generous philanthropist, every gift will be doubled (up to our target of $500K)– to see this exciting research launch sooner. 

Will you double your impact today?

✦ Your gift of $50 becomes $100.
✦ Your gift of $250 becomes $500.
✦ Your gift of $500 becomes $1,000.

Your choice of any size will be doubled for greater impact.

“Like you, I have a life-long interest in health and the happiness it brings. Integrative Medicine has so much to offer. To help NIIM’s Preserve Life project to success, I have committed to match and so double your generous donations.”

Radek Sali, NIIM Board Member

You can help older Australians with dementia

No cure exists for dementia.
All of life is affected.
The consequences can be serious.

NIIM Integrative Nutrition and Health Coach, Simone Roberg, sees the impact of dementia first-hand… 

I’ve seen patients struggle in a cloud of confusion. It’s heartbreaking. Dementia affects your confidence, your ability to function normally, and your quality of life. It’s scary and one of the worst things someone could endure.

Getting dementia is a really slow process. Someone might struggle to remember what they did yesterday, or ten minutes ago. When my patients come to me, they are very stressed. They feel, ‘Is this it?’

A lot of the time they’re sitting there throughout their day trying to remember: What was I meant to be doing? What did that person say? Why did I go into this room? All of that confusion, that’s exhausting. For the brain. For the person. For the carers. This exciting research could help a lot of people in the community.

Preserve Life Cognitive Preservation Research Project

Faster answers. More effective solutions. Better health and wellbeing for Australians aged over 55. The potential of this research could be ground-breaking.

The NIIM Preserve Life Cognitive Preservation Research study explores two exciting therapies with potential to halt and reverse the effects of ageing on brain function. As the first stage of a planned research program, the pilot will focus on early cognitive decline.

The 12-month pilot study will assess whether these treatments are effective:

1. Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBM) – An emerging field, (PBM) helps “switch on” the brain by shining red or near-infrared light via a special helmet. The light sparks up brain cell “batteries” (called mitochondria) to recharge them so the cells work better. This stimulates more brain activity – to fight inflammation, stop cells from dying, and create new healthy cells. 

2. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) – HBOT helps “supercharge” the healing process and already shows promise for treating cognitive loss for a variety of conditions including Alzheimer’s dementia.² Patients breathe in oxygen-enriched air via a special pressure-controlled chamber. Increased oxygen helps to reduce inflammation and heal tissue damage. Plus, it speeds up and multiplies the healing process.

Led by NIIM Director of Research, Associate Professor Karin Ried, the talented research team will use advanced ways to find answers. Part of a comprehensive brain research program, the study will draw on international research, and other original NIIM research into cognitive function which has shown that herbal and nutritional medicine can improve memory. 

This world-first study could help find integrative, non-invasive therapies to prevent cognitive loss and preserve quality of life, with fewer side effects. 

Without donations, this vital research cannot start.

Frequently Asked Questions

The emerging field of Integrative Medicine considers the complexity of the “whole person”. It combines the best of conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies. Looking at the cause of an illness, not only its diagnosis and treatment, leads to deeper understanding for a more balanced response to a person’s health. Lifestyle, nutrition and non-pharmaceutical therapies add to the suite of healing options. The goal is not only to prevent and treat illness, but to promote wellbeing – and find safe, healthy solutions that last. 

“The practice of Integrative Medicine refers to the blending of conventional and evidence-based natural and complementary medicines and/or therapies with lifestyle interventions to deliver holistic, patient-centred care.” – Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM) was founded as a charity in 2005 by Australia’s “father of integrative medicine”, Professor Avni Sali AM, and visionary supporters. This was in response to the need for evidence-based complementary medicines and better therapy solutions, with a genuine focus on people not profit. Today, NIIM is recognised as a national leader and pioneer in the innovative field of integrative medicine.

Working with a network of local and international partners, NIIM leads original research in high-impact areas such as cancer, heart health, cognition, chronic diseases and mind-body medicine – all through a distinct holistic health lens. Heading up NIIM’s research team is Professor Sali alongside the Director of Research, Associate Professor Dr Karin Ried.

The world-first NIIM Preserve Life Cognitive Decline Prevention research study will explore new therapies to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians aged over 55. It seeks to find faster and more effective ways to halt and reverse the effects of ageing on brain function. A 12-month pilot, it will investigate two non-invasive therapies: Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBM) and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Read more about the research here.

More than 400,000 Australians live with dementia.¹ It’s getting worse. Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people with dementia is expected to double over the next 35 years. We must find answers now to reduce the burden of disease on people with dementia and the Australian health system.

Dementia is the second leading cause of death of Australians. Nearly two in every three people with dementia are women. No known cure exists for dementia.
After coronary heart disease, Australian men are most likely to die from dementia. It costs around $3 billion dollars each year to diagnose, treat and care for Australians with dementia. Dementia kills more Australian women than any other disease.
1 Sources: Dementia in Australia, Summary – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au) Dementia in Australia, What puts someone at risk of developing dementia? – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au)

This Preserve Life research pilot could help people with early onset age-related cognitive decline. Australians aged 65 and over are more concerned about the impact of dementia on quality and length of life than any other disease.

1 That impact reaches far beyond each person affected – to family members, friends and neighbours.

Dementia is just one of the conditions linked to memory loss, confusion, mood changes and trouble concentrating. While there are many different types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, the common factor is loss of brain function. Cognitive decline can result also from brain damage caused by stroke, high blood pressure or untreated diabetes, and it features in diseases like Parkinson’s.

Building on the Preserve Life pilot study’s findings, this research will continue in future years. The outcomes of the pilot study will guide further research into cognitive preservation, such as to extend the current project to a larger sample size, or to explore the impact on specific conditions (e.g. Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s) or different age demographics.

Yes, donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. The National Institute of Integrative Medicine Ltd ABN 15 095 139 209 is a DGR (deductible gift recipient) endorsed registered charity. All donations made by 30 June 2023 will be doubled. You can donate here.

The National Institute of Integrative Medicine aims to prevent disease, empower people about their health options, and foster wellbeing. The Institute’s dedicated team of researchers and clinicians provide holistic healthcare services, education and research. 

NIIM’s Melbourne-based clinic is Australia’s largest integrative medicine clinic. It brings together multi-disciplinary health professionals to treat, manage and prevent many conditions, especially chronic diseases. More than 5,000 research participants have trialled potentially life-changing therapies for several chronic health issues.

This research project will be looking to recruit eligible participants aged over 55 with mild cognitive decline. If you might be eligible to be part of this Preserve Life study, contact Associate Professor Karin Ried at NIIM on research@niim.com.au.

Thank you for your interest in the
Preserve Life Cognitive Decline Prevention research study.

Please consider supporting this research pilot as it cannot start without donation support.