What is this Study about?

Seeking individuals with mild, early-stage dementia ages 65+ to explore how they access daily information like weather forecasts and newspapers. The study aims to improve information accessibility for the dementia community. Participation involves a 60-90 minute session (in-person or via Zoom with caregiver) observing information access behaviors. Findings will guide strategies for making information more comprehensible and accessible. Participants will receive $50 for their time. This study is approved by York University’s ethics committee (#2024-176). For details, contact Dr. Somang Nam at [email protected].

What is this Study about?

We are interested in how the brain changes in aging and with dementia. With this study, we will investigate how the brain senses and interprets sights and sounds. We are particularly interested in how listening to music, especially familiar music, evokes emotions and activates vivid memories. Learning how the brain processes music will help us understand why music therapy is such an effective tool for those with Alzheimer’s. We also aim to understand how the brain combines sights and sounds. This is an important part of how we navigate complex everyday situations, such as walking down a busy street. Alzheimer’s disease interferes with the brain’s ability to combine information from different senses, which could cause challenges in daily living.

What is this Study about?

The aim of this study is to develop a large, ethically sourced, and diverse database of voice recordings to determine whether voice has biomarkers for particular disease categories, including neurological and neurodegenerative conditions. The data that is collected will be used to develop a full open-access database to fuel artificial intelligence research related to voice.

What is this Study about?

This study examines how people with dementia or MCI perform household tasks, focusing on when they seek support, and which prompts help them complete tasks. The findings will help develop technologies to assist them in completing tasks more independently and safely.

What is this Study about?

McMaster University, in partnership with Ressam Gardens Memory Care Community, is conducting a study on the effects of brain stimulation in individuals aged 50 and older with dementia or memory loss. The research focuses on using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive technique that delivers magnetic pulses to the brain, to enhance cognitive function and balance. The goal is to extend the positive effects of brain stimulation in improving cognition and balance in individuals with dementia.

What is this Study about?

In this study we aim to explore the motivations and impacts of disclosure a personal diagnosis of dementia or being a care partner on social media. The overall goal of the study is to develop an evidence-based resource to promote benefits of social media for the dementia community while minimizing its harms.

What is this Study about?

Early detection of brain changes is crucial to prevent cognitive decline and dementia. This study uses electroencephalography (EEG) to record the brain's electrical signals during simple tasks, with the hope of validating a measure that can improve early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

We are recruiting 150 individuals with mild memory issues and mild dementia at Baycrest in Toronto and Bruyère in Ottawa. In a separate study we are also recruiting older adults with no memory problems. The results of both studies together will help us determine if our new EEG measure can detect abnormal changes in brain health early on and if it can help predict future cognitive changes. We hope that this new test will be used in the clinic to identify individuals who may benefit the most from early treatment and interventions.

What is this Study about?

This study aims to explore how the website, the Driving and Dementia Roadmap (DDR), is experienced by and impacts how people with dementia and family/friend carers manage the driving cessation process. Participants will be asked to use the DDR for 2-6 weeks, record their thoughts in a diary and take part in an interview or focus group.

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.