OTTAWA — Algonquin College is pleased to announce its first clinical research study at the Garbarino Girard Centre for Innovation in Seniors Care.
The study will help researchers design and deliver integrated assessment systems to monitor movement and brain health to support early identification of cognitive decline, including dementia.
“Mobility and cognition are the two most common, intertwined complexities faced by older adults,” says the study’s clinical research lead, Dr. Frank Knoefel of the Bruyère Research Institute.
The study is also noteworthy for its use of technology.
“This project looks at how technology can help identify early indicators of decline to support improved diagnosis and treatment of cognitive issues,” added Dr. Rafik Goubran of Carleton University, the study’s technology lead.
The 12-month study will involve participants recruited from the Garbarino Girard Centre. During twice-monthly sessions, participants are asked to play computer games and complete balance tasks on a ‘standing’ computer system. The result will be greater insights on the correlation between declining mobility and cognition which is needed to create robust systems to help identify and treat cognitive health issues.
The study will also provide experiential training to post-secondary students. Those in computer engineering, technology, psychology, occupational and recreational therapy (assistant programs) and other disciplines will be able to assist the principal investigators.
The initiative will be officially launched with a reception and technology demonstration on Sept. 19, 2017 at Algonquin College.
The research study is supported by the AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE), which is Canada’s Technology and Aging Network.
“This is an innovative project that aims to harness the power of computer games and balance technology to improve the lives of older Canadians with cognitive impairment,” says Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Scientific Director of AGE-WELL. “We are excited to see the study get underway and delighted with the collaboration involved in making it happen.”
Algonquin College is a new partner of AGE-WELL, which includes 37 universities and research centres as well as more than 200 industry, government, and post-secondary institutions and non-profit partners.
“This project offers personalized education that combines both experiential learning and applied research,” says Dr. Barbara Foulds, Dean, Faculty of Health, Public Safety and Community Studies at Algonquin College. “The partnership with AGE-WELL also helps create a new landscape for heightened collaboration between our respective institutions that will better prepare our learners in health and community studies, media and design as well as advanced technology to contribute to healthcare innovation.”
A number of partners including the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre Adult Day Program, Carleton University, the Bruyère Research Institute and the University of Alberta are involved in the project. The Garbarino Girard Centre for Innovation in Seniors Care opened on May 25, 2016.
Event details follow.
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EVENT DETAILS
When: Sept. 19, 2017
Time: 12:55 p.m.
Where: Algonquin College, 1385 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa
Place: Garbarino Girard Centre for Innovation in Seniors Care
Parking: Lot 1
RSVP: Ruth Dunley, dunleyr@algonquincollege.com
Media Contacts
Algonquin College
Ruth Dunley
Manager, Communications
Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 6452
Mobile: 613-406-0970
dunleyr@algonquincollege.com
AGE-WELL
Margaret Polanyi
Senior Communications Manager, AGE-WELL
Office: 416 597 3422, ext. 7710
margaret@agewell-nce.ca
About Algonquin College: The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public-sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in more than 185 programs. Based in the Ottawa Valley, Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario. www.algonquincollege.com
About AGE-WELL NCE: AGE-WELL is a federally-funded Canadian network of industry, non-profit organizations, government, care providers, end users and academic partners working together using high-quality research to drive innovation and create technologies and services that benefit older adults and caregivers. Its vision is to harness and build upon the potential of emerging and advanced technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), e-health, information communication technologies (ICTs), and mobile technologies to stimulate technological, social and policy innovation. AGE-WELL was launched in 2015 through the Networks of Centres of Excellence program. www.agewell-nce.ca