13 research teams to study age-related cognitive impairment
Feb. 2, 2024
Global Korean Post
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Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a set of symptoms affecting brain function. It is characterized by a decline in cognitive abilities, including memory; awareness of person, place, and time; language; basic math skills; judgement; and planning. Dementia can also affect mood and behaviour.
Close to half a million people in Canada aged 65 and older live with dementia. As our population ages, that number is expected to increase. Researching brain health and age-related cognitive impairment will help us develop strategies to prevent dementia, discover new treatments, improve patient outcomes, and raise the quality of life for people affected by dementia, including caregivers.
On January 29, 2024, during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Mark Holland, Minister of Health, and Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Seniors, announced a new research investment of $8.7 million through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in partnership with the Azrieli Foundation and its Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, to support 13 research teams who are studying ways to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in aging.
Through this investment, seven teams are researching risk reduction and care for people with dementia; four teams are studying the short- and long-term health risks for caregivers of people with age-related dementia; one team is investigating the impact of infection and inflammation on brain health; and one team is focusing on Indigenous health research and how to provide culturally appropriate care for those impacted by dementia. These grants will also allow for the training and mentorship of the next generation of dementia researchers in Canada.
