
The Alzheimer Society Research Portal connects researchers with Canadians looking to participate in research studies. On this website, find active studies that you can participate in to help advance research on dementia.
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.
Are a member of the TRIAD cohort at McGill University, falling within one of the following categories: young control, cognitively unimpaired, mild cognitive impairment, or Alzheimer's Disease.
Are willing and able to undergo advanced neuroimaging techniques including MRI and PET without contraindications.
Have not had any significant neurological conditions (other than AD for the AD group) that might interfere with the results of the study.
Have no metal implants, devices, or other conditions that may contraindicate or distort MRI imaging.
Are not currently participating in other clinical trials or studies that involve interventions which might interfere with the results of this study.
Are able and willing to provide informed consent for participation in the study or have a legally authorized representative who can do so.
Do not have a history of substance abuse or other conditions that might confound the imaging and cognitive data.
Have not undergone any significant head trauma or surgery in the past 6 months.
Are not pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the duration of the study.
Are willing to comply with all study-related procedures, imaging sessions, and follow-up evaluations.
Ability to speak English and French
Researchers at the University of Waterloo are looking for individuals to participate in a research study that explores the perceptions of dementia and health-seeking behaviour amongst Arab care partners in Ontario. This study aims to understand how dementia is perceived by Arab care partners and the use of dementia-related health services and community support services.
Sharing your experience will help us to understand 1) how dementia is perceived by Arab care partners and 2) the use of dementia-related health services and community support services.
We are looking for individuals who:
1. Are from the Arab community AND
2. Are a family member who cares or has cared for a person living with dementia OR Are a family member who cares or has cared for a person with memory challenges
Interviews can be conducted in Arabic or English based on the participants' preference
Our overall goal is to improve the surgical experience for older adults with cognitive decline, including people with Alzheimer's and related dementias, their families, and caregivers.
The aim of this study is to understand and describe the experiences of patients, families, and healthcare providers with postoperative delirium (delirium after surgery), and to identify strategies to support patient and family centered care for patients with postoperative delirium. We will conduct interviews with patients, families, and healthcare providers to describe their experiences with postoperative delirium.
Our findings will be used to inform the development of a strategy for reducing delirium after surgery.
1) are a patient aged over 65 years who has experienced postoperative delirium (delirium after surgery), or
2) are a caregiver/family member of a person who has experienced postoperative delirium (delirium after surgery)
Ability to speak English
You are being invited to participate in a research study. You are invited to participate in this study to help us assess the use of music as an aid in verbal learning and memory performance, and determine the related brain plasticity, measured through electroencephalography.
We are inviting older adults between 60 and 85 years of age to participate who meet the following criteria:
You have mild memory loss or noticed a change in your memory
A reliable study partner is encouraged but not required (spouse, child, close friend or family member)
You have travel ability to Baycrest Centre
Ability to speak English
All participants should ensure they meet the following exclusion criteria:
Have normal or corrected to normal hearing
Have no current unstable psychiatric illness
Have no current or past experience with substance abuse
Have no known history of neurological disorders, brain injury, symptomatic stroke, or head
trauma
Have no current or past learning or attentional disorder
Have not participated in any formal musical training in the past 10 years
Older adults with normal cognition, mild impairments, and mild dementia can benefit from physical activity. This may be due to factors such as cognitive impairments (memory related), hearing and vision impairments, social factors (stigma, gender) and biological factors (cardiovascular disease, diabetes...etc). But we are not sure how these factors interact to impact physical activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand the interactions of these factors and thereby increase physical activity participation in older adult populations.
-Older adults (65+)
-Able to complete the on-line questionnaires (we accept that this will limit participants to mild dementia)
- Has access to headphones (either in ear or over ear)
- Ability to speak English
DELIGHT (DEmentia Lifestyle Intervention for Getting Healthy Together) is a multi-component, group-based healthy lifestyle program for persons living with dementia and family care partners. It aims to improve health behaviours of participants, and reduce the progression of dementia-related impairments and improve physical, social, and mental wellbeing of persons living with dementia and care partners. Following an initial test of the program at the University of Waterloo, the focus of this stage of the project is to work together with community members to adapt the program more diverse contexts, including diverse community centers, rural settings and community groups supporting people of linguistic/ethno-cultural minorities.
Are a person living with dementia, memory problems, mild cognitive impairment or care partners, and community service providers and healthcare professionals in Canadian communities.
Ability to speak English.
This qualitative study will examine family experiences of engaging in nutritional care with residents living with dementia in long-term care in Saskatchewan. We will use individual interviews with family caregivers to articulate what enhances or detracts from mealtime experiences for families living with dementia in long-term care, what supports are needed to engage families meaningfully at mealtimes, and what supports are needed to enable family involvement in a resident's nutritional care into later stages of dementia.
- 18 years of age or older
- able to understand, speak, and read English
- identify as the family caregiver of a person living with dementia who resides or resided in a Saskatchewan long-term care home in the past three years
- are or were involved in mealtimes as part of your caregiving role
- are at least three months bereaved (if applicable)
This qualitative study investigates the intersection of family-provided care and care provided in health care facilities (e.g., hospitals). Focus areas include family influence of care and family involvement in developing goals of care. Data is gathered via qualitative interviews and is analyzed using techniques to categorize the data to develop descriptions of family-provided care and its intersection with the health system.
Participants will take part in individual or family interviews (in-person or online). Eligible participants are adults who have a family member with dementia who resides in Manitoba (family members may live in other jurisdictions). Each person may take part in 1-3 interviews (approximately 60 minutes each in length); the number of interviews will depend on participant interest and how much description they wish to provide. Participants will receive a $25 gift card for a local coffee shop or grocery store to compensate them for each interview they participate in.
Participants will sign letters of consent approved by the Canadian Mennonite University Research Ethics Board. Data will be treated confidentially, and privacy is of the utmost importance. Participants will be given pseudonyms and all identifying features will be removed from the interview transcripts. Data will be kept in the password protected computer of the principal investigator for up to seven years (destroyed by deleting all electronic files and shredding any paper documents).
You are eligible to participate if you are an adult family member of a person living with dementia who resides in Manitoba (family members may live in other locations). You are also eligible to participate if your family member with dementia has died within the past year.
The aim of this thesis project is to explore how technologies can be designed to allow People with Dementia to continue to follow their rituals in everyday activities. The research question being explored is how can habits and rituals be incorporated in the design of assistive technologies for community dwelling older adults living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment? The purpose of this project is to understand rituals and habits associated with everyday activities. The semi-structured interviews will be conducted with people with dementia and their caregivers in dyads while they engage in everyday activities. The synthesis of the results will identify objects, social, cultural, and other personal aspects that inform rituals and thus engagement with activities. It will also identify rituals that have been adapted due to impairments of dementia.
You are an older adult aged 50+ living with dementia and/or their caregiver
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