What is this Study about?

Informal caregivers provide much-needed support to friends, family and loved ones suffering from dementia and related conditions who continue to live at home. Smart home technologies allow providers and caregivers to monitor patients while simultaneously aiding with daily tasks such as remembering to take medications. Although smart home technology has become a common intervention with many benefits, there is very little evidence surrounding informal caregivers’ thoughts, perceptions and needs when patients are utilizing this intervention. There is a necessity to gather insights from this user group to increase uptake and proper use.

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?

This study aims to understand the needs and experiences of caregivers in managing medications for people living with dementia (PLWD) to enhance future resources. In stage one, caregivers of PLWD will be interviewed to gain insights into their needs and preferences for resources. In stage two, healthcare providers from various backgrounds and settings will be interviewed to understand how they support medication management for PLWD.

By understanding caregivers' experiences and needs in medication management, this study strives to contribute to the development of improved resources for caregivers. Ultimately, improving medication management practices has the potential to enhance the quality of life and health outcomes for both PLWD and their caregivers. By empowering caregivers with effective tools and resources, we contribute not only to the well-being of individual caregivers and care recipients but also to the broader societal goal of fostering a supportive and sustainable healthcare system for those affected by dementia.

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?

Alert systems such as United States’ Silver Alert and Scotland’s Purple Alert support first responders in locating missing persons with dementia. In Canada, provinces are responsible for Silver Alerts. To date, Alberta and Manitoba amended Missing Persons Acts, but have no Silver Alerts. British Columbia has a citizen-led Silver Alert, yet no provincial legislation. This study examines how policies and programs for alert systems are developed and implemented in Canada, Scotland, and the United States. Findings will inform policies and implementation of alert systems to optimize the safety and well-being of people living with dementia at risk of going missing.

What is this Study about?

Caregivers of people living with dementia experience significant stress which can negatively affect their mental health. The overall aim of the current study is to evaluate a newly developed app that focuses on providing stress-management strategies for family caregivers of people living with dementia. Findings from the study of an app that aims to address the stressors associated with caregiving has the potential to improve the quality of life of caregivers of people living with dementia.

What is this Study about?

Surveying opinions on how to improve diversity in dementia research.

What is this Study about?

A dementia diagnosis impacts the cognitive, functional, and physical abilities of those diagnosed, which will influence their ability to perform activities of daily living including meal preparation and eating. Persons living with dementia can experience a range of difficulties while eating that will impact their ability to consume adequate food and fluids, which include but are not limited to swallowing, chewing, and self-feeding difficulties. Consequently, persons living with dementia are at increased risk of malnutrition and negative health outcomes. The objective of this study is to understand the experience of persons’ living with dementia or diagnosed memory problems and/or their caregivers in managing eating challenges and swallowing problems in the community.

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.