What is this Study about?

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of CARES-D for physiotherapists on learner knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in dementia. We will administer online questionnaires to practicing rehabilitation professionals in Canada who work with individuals with dementia to: 1) Assess changes in rehabilitation professionals' knowledge about dementia; 2) Evaluate shifts in attitudes toward individuals with dementia; 3) Measure improvements in confidence in managing dementia care; 4) Gather participant feedback on the CARES-D training program; 5) Compare pre- and post-training outcomes to determine the program's effectiveness.

What is this Study about?

The objective of this study is to understand: (1) what community-based interventions caregivers/care partners for persons living with young onset dementia (i.e., dementia diagnosed under the age of 65) are accessing across Southern Ontario; (2) caregivers/care partners perceptions towards the community-based interventions they have accessed; and (3) the reasons, if any, for not accessing community-based interventions.

The results of this study will be used to help inform the development and enhancement of community-based interventions for persons living with YOD and their caregivers/care partners, and is a part of my PhD dissertation.

What is this Study about?

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of DataDay, a digital self-management application, in improving the quality of life of patients and caregivers. In this respect, we aim to identify the benefits and challenges to the app’s usability and impact on health outcomes and quality of life for these individuals.

The information gathered from this study concerning the impact on patient and caregiver quality of life, as well as the feasibility and usability of the app will inform future iterations of the app.

What is this Study about?

‘Bootle Blast’ combines therapy and video games. It has been used with children and youth with musculoskeletal disabilities in clinics and homes. Preliminary research supports Bootle Blast’s ability to engage players and support physical outcomes. Informal testing suggests it may also appeal to older adults. This study will test Bootle Blast’s feasibility with people with dementia. Pairs of people with dementia and their caregivers (n=10) will play Bootle Blast at home for 2 weeks. Data will include video recordings, surveys, balance tests, safety and adherence tracking, and interviews. This study aims to inform a more accessible version of Bootle Blast.

What is this Study about?

This study consists of a 45-60 minutes virtual interview to better understand the experiences of familial caregivers of persons with dementia.

What is this Study about?

This study looks at how an at-home nature-based virtual reality (VR) program may help people living with Alzheimer’s disease manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), such as depression. Caregivers/study partners will have the option of taking part in the study and providing feedback regarding the VR intervention. This project will explore how VR can be used as a non-pharmacological approach to prolong aging in place for individuals with BPSD, as BPSD contributes to rates of institutionalization. This will take place completely remotely, in your own home.

What is this Study about?

In collaboration with our South Asian community collaborators, our goal is to gain an in-depth understanding of new immigrant, multigenerational, South Asian family caregiving for a relative with dementia amidst COVID-19. The goal is to inform future family-centered, healthcare interventions aimed at supporting equity deserving families during times of crisis.

To achieve our goal, we are starting to recruit family care partners living in a multigenerational home and caring for a relative with dementia from each of the four groups of South Asian families. We will be using a multiple case study to examine new immigrant, multigenerational caregiving for a relative with dementia from the perspective of four groups of South Asian families; 1) Pakistani, 2) Bangladeshi, 3) Indian, and 4) Sri Lankan. We will also be using secondary data sources, including genograms, ecoMaps, and key documents.

We will be conducting interviews with a family care partners from each of the four groups. Following these interviews, we will hold four focus groups with a new purposeful sample of South Asian multigenerational care partners to understand if the findings from the interviews reflect their caregiving experiences thereby increasing the reliability of the study findings.

What is this Study about?

CAN-PROTECT is a Canada-wide online study recruiting participants and caregivers of persons with dementia to explore how lifestyle, background, and caretaking factors affect our health, quality of life, cognition, behaviour, and function as we age. CAN-PROTECT data will be analyzed and jointly published by the University of Calgary in partnership with the University of Exeter.

What is this Study about?

Our study titled "Investigating the Role of Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping and Oxygen Extraction Fraction as Advanced Neuroimaging Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease" aims to develop non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We focus on evaluating the potential of QSM and OEF to differentiate between AD, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and Cognitively Unimpaired populations and to predict amyloid and tau pathology, using a Systems Biology approach. Leveraging the McGill University's TRIAD cohort, the study utilizes advanced imaging and machine learning to predict amyloid and tau presence, which could transform AD diagnostics and treatment. Methodologically, it involves preprocessing neuroimaging data and employing machine learning classifiers to analyze these features. The anticipated outcomes include validating QSM and OEF as non-invasive biomarkers for AD, establishing their correlation with amyloid and tau proteins, and developing predictive models for clinical decision-making, potentially resulting in significant advancements in AD diagnostics.