Dementia Research in Alberta
Learn how we're working to provide Hope for Tomorrow by investing in research to find a cause and cure for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Help fund research to find a cause and a cure.
Your donations can be designated to research. A gift to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories may help fund ground-breaking research that will lead to a cure during your lifetime or the lifetime of your children.
Hope for Tomorrow Research Program
Thanks to your contributions, the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories has been able to champion groundbreaking studies through the annual Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition in partnership with Alberta Neuroscience.
Launched in September of 2022, the Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition supports top neuroscience researchers in high-priority areas concerning Alzheimer’s and dementia. The competition supports projects focused on improving and maintaining quality of life with potential to have a significant impact on the lives of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia in Alberta, and beyond.
This significant investment in research reflects our shared commitment to understanding and managing dementia, nurturing hope, and improving the quality of life for those affected. We want to express our deepest gratitude for your role in this collective journey and for the trust you've placed in us to use your donation to make a real difference.
Hope for Tomorrow Research Competition Winners - 2024/25
- Dr. Philip Barber - University of Calgary - PREVENT Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI) Study. The PREVENT VCI study detects early dementia risk by tracking Alzheimer’s blood markers in minor stroke patients. Using AI, it links amyloid-covered platelets to brain shrinkage and vessel damage, aiming to catch disease before symptoms begin.
- Dr. Richard Frayne - University of Calgary - Novel MR Imaging Biomarkers for Detecting Early Change in Alzheimer’s Disease. We use advanced MRI to spot early brain changes linked to dementia. By comparing scans to our “Lifespan Charts” of normal aging, we aim to detect mild cognitive issues sooner—helping doctors intervene earlier and support healthy brain aging.
- Dr. Glen Jickling - University of Alberta. The Immune System and the Aging Brain. Aging damages small brain vessels, reducing resilience to diseases like Alzheimer’s. Our study explores how immune system changes contribute to this damage, aiming to find treatments that prevent cognitive decline and improve brain health.
- Dr. Eric Smith - University of Calgary. Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Blood Markers Research Initiative. Amyloid-beta can coat brain blood vessels, causing cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), which leads to strokes and cognitive decline. We’re testing if blood proteins can help diagnose CAA, offering a simpler way to detect it in affected patients.
More information about Alberta Neuroscience and the research competition is available here
To donate or for more information about how you can support world-class dementia research please contact:
Holli Bjerland, Vice-President External Relations & Chief Development Officer,
Phone: 587-635-0804
April Grindheim, Major Gift & Planned Giving Officer,
780.761.0036
Alzheimer Society Research Program
The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories also contributes to the Alzheimer Society Research Program. This program provides grants and training awards to Canadian researchers in the field of Alzheimer's disease.
Alberta Neuroscience
The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories support various initiatives in collaboration with Campus Alberta Neuroscience (CAN), a province-wide network connecting the Universities of Alberta, Calgary, and Lethbridge to increase the impact of neuroscience and mental health research, education, and translation. Through collaborative partnerships with researchers, government and health system stakeholders, industry, and community organizations, CAN aims to improve brain health in Alberta and beyond.
More information is available on the Alberta Neuroscience website.
With your support, we are getting closer to our goal of a world without Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Find Alberta Research Studies
The links below are a great place to look for current dementia research studies.
For more information on dementia research in your area, you can always call us at 1-866-950-5465.