Dementia Research: Now Recruiting

Are you interested in working on a unique project that could impact the health and well-being of thousands of Canadians? If so, keep reading!

The Coronavirus pandemic has presented many challenges, but perhaps no group has felt the impact more significantly than our country’s nearly 200,000 long-term care (LTC) residents. LTC residents are among the most vulnerable to the virus and individuals living with dementia, which make up more than 64% of Ontario’s LTC residents, have been especially impacted, as significant and prolonged changes to their routines can impact their responsive behaviours and exacerbate symptoms. Even in a post-pandemic world, we must be prepared for long-standing changes, and it is essential that innovative solutions be explored immediately.

Through this trail-blazing research project, you will join experienced applied researcher, Dr. Mikelle Bryson-Campbell PhD, and internationally recognized cannabinoid medicine specialist, Dr. Blake Pearson MD, as part of the core research team to assess the impact of cannabinoid therapy on social engagement, quality of life, and well-being amongst individuals living with dementia in long-term care. The ultimate goal is to identify an additional dementia therapy that is safe, effective and promotes the opportunity for greater social participation, improved quality of life and reduced caregiver burden.

We’re looking for a part-time Research Assistant and two part-time Research Students to work on this trailblazing and much-needed research project. 

Research Assistant must be currently enrolled in or hold a Master’s or PhD in Health Sciences. Full job spec available here.

Research students must be completing their undergraduate degree or diploma from a Health Sciences program (Nursing, RPN, PSW, Pharmacy, etc.) Full job spec available here.

Please send all applications to Mikelle.bryson-campbell@lambtoncollege.ca. The deadline to apply is August 16, 2021

Can CBD Help A Loved One With Dementia?

An estimated 50 million people around the world have been diagnosed with some form of dementia, and every year, there are approximately 10 million new cases. There is no cure, current treatment options are limited and it’s been described as a global health crisis requiring urgent action. Despite this, like so many issues affecting our seniors, it doesn’t get a lot of airtime. 

Kudos to Amy Marturana Winderl and Health Central for this extremely informative article about how advances in research are showing cannabinoid medicine to be a safe and effective treatment option in the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia. I was really pleased to be a part of this story. 

Every 65 seconds someone in the USA is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease - and after age 65, 1 in 5 women have a chance of developing the disease. This is a topic we should all care about.

Read the full article here.

The #CoverCannabis Project: A Look Into Long-Term Care

According to a recent report from the Ontario Long Term Care Association, approximately 64% of residents living in long term care have been diagnosed with dementia and 90% have some form of cognitive impairment.

This is one of the first areas that the Government should consider covering.

Not only have we seen that cannabinoid medicines have a strong treatment success rate, they have a safer side-effect profile compared to other traditionally used medications and are multi-modal, meaning we can often treat more than one symptom at a time and reduce other meds. This is super important amongst the elderly, as polypharmacy (taking multiple medications) is the number one cause of hospitalizations due to adverse drug reactions amongst seniors.  

So, not only can we improve quality of life and decrease side-effects through cannabinoid therapy, we can often reduce other medications, which has an inherent cost savings. Who else sees this as a win-win?

Alzheimer's - Let's Talk About It

British artist Tony Husband has created this thought-provoking cartoon to show that it doesn’t matter where or when, it’s important to start the conversation about dementia. This #WorldAlzheimersMonth, Alzheimer’s awareness advocates around the world are encouraging everyone to start talking about dementia and break the stigma. 

Picking the right moment and words to say or not say can be difficult, but your local Alzheimer’s associations are here to help. 

We’ve already shared some resources from Canada and the USA,  so today I’d like to spotlight some of the great resources available from the UK.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/world-alzheimers-month