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.
This study investigates whether digital activity data collected from wearable and mobile devices can be used to understand changes in cognitive functioning associated with aging and neurological conditions. Participants’ daily movement patterns and activity behaviors will be monitored using advanced tracking technology that collects detailed spatial and temporal data. Researchers will analyze these patterns using computational methods to identify digital markers associated with cognitive functioning.
You are eligible to participate if you are 60 years or older, have a confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, remain relatively independent in your day-to-day life, are able and willing to wear digital activity tracking technology to monitor daily activity patterns, and are able to provide informed consent and participate in study procedures. You are also eligible to participate if you are a partner/caregiver as a healthy control.
McMaster University is conducting a study on the effects of brain stimulation in individuals aged 50 and older with dementia or memory loss. The research focuses on using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a noninvasive technique that delivers magnetic pulses to the brain, to enhance cognitive function and balance. The goal is to extend the positive effects of brain stimulation in improving cognition and balance in individuals with dementia.
1.) Diagnosed with Dementia and/or memory loss by a clinician
2.) Exhibit adequate oral communication skills and cognitive function
3.) Walk or stand with or without personnel or assistive devices
4.) Individuals must be greater than or equal to 50 years of age
This study explores how adult day programs affect the lives of people living with dementia and their caregivers across several Canadian regions. Over time, we gather information about health, well-being, daily experiences, and quality of life of people living with dementia who attend day program and their caregivers. We also aim to learn about day programs themselves, such as their activities, staffing, challenges, and successes. By combining surveys, interviews, and focus groups, our program of research aims to understand what makes day programs helpful, where challenges exist, and how day program can better support families, and people who use them.
You are eligible to participate if you:
• Are an older adult living with dementia who attends or does not attend a day program
• You are a family/friend caregiver of someone living with dementia who attends or does not attend a day program
• Live in one of the participating regions (Ontario, Winnipeg MB, Calgary AB, or Interior BC)
• Are able to take part in a conversation or complete surveys, with support if needed
Assistive technology products are things that help you function or carry out activities more easily by yourself. Products could be any devices, equipment, instruments, or software. Examples could be mobile phone apps that provide calendar reminders, switches that turn off stoves, or walkers.
Assistive technology services are activities or resources that help you to use or maintain assistive technology products. Services refer to assessment, training, and maintenance that help with choosing, using, and repairing assistive technology products.
Getting these products and services means having to contact different organizations. If these products and services could be bundled as one unit, it may help persons with dementia get them more easily and potentially reduce costs. Right now, policymakers need more information about providing assistive technologies as bundles.
The purpose of the study is to learn about your experiences with accessing and using products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles.
For persons with dementia: We would like to interview you now to understand your past and current experiences. We would also like to interview you each year for up to three years (for three interviews) to see how your experiences change over time. You may leave at any time.
For care partners: The purpose of the surveys is to learn about your views and experiences with accessing and using products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles. If interested, you may also take part in longitudinal interviews (two interviews, one annually) after the initial survey in year one to see how your experiences changed over time. You may leave at any time.
For healthcare providers: The purpose of the surveys is to learn about your views and experiences with assisting persons with dementia and care partners to access and use products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles and how delivery may be improved. If interested, you may also take part 6 / 10 in longitudinal interviews (two interviews, one annually) after completing the initial survey in year one to see how your experiences changed over time. You may leave at any time.
People with dementia:
- Are a Canadian resident who can speak English or French
- Live at home (not care home)
- Able to respond to questions about yourself and your assistive technology product and service use
- Have a score 25 or below on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (will be conducted by research team prior to interview)
- Able to provide consent (or assent, with a substitute decision maker providing consent)
Care partners:
- Are a Canadian resident who can speak English or French
- Family or friend who provides 5 hours or more of support a week for someone with dementia living at home (not a care home)
- Able to respond to questions about yourself and your assistive technology product and service use - Able to provide consent Healthcare providers:
- Are a Canadian resident who can speak English or French
- A healthcare provider (such as physician, nurse, therapist, social worker) who works with 8 / 10 persons with dementia
This study will assess if an in-vehicle Driving Monitoring System can identify differences in driving behaviours between older adults who are cognitively healthy, those with mild cognitive impairment, and those with mild dementia.
Participants must:
• Be 65 years or older.
• Be cognitively healthy or have mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
• Have a valid General class driver’s license and still driving.
• Be fluent in English.
• Own an insured vehicle of 1998 or newer model year.
• Drive to at least 2 different locations per week.
This study aims to evaluate the acceptance and usability of the GuardIO Family Care app, a mobile application designed to support community safety for individuals living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and their care partners. The study also aims to analyze mobility patterns collected from the app to explore how mobility data can contribute to the early detection of cognitive impairment. The findings will help improve app design, inform care strategies, and support early intervention efforts for individuals living with dementia or MCI.
You are eligible to participate if you:
Are 18 years of age or older
Are living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, or are a care partner of someone with MCI or dementia
Are able to use a smartphone or tablet with the GuardIO app
Are willing to participate in the study activities, including using the app, completing questionnaires, and attending an optional focus group
Can understand and communicate in English (or another supported language, if applicable)
The aim of this study is to develop a large, ethically sources, and diverse database of voice recordings to determine whether voice has biomarkers for particular disease categories, including neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions. The data that is collected will be used to develop a full open-access database to fuel artificial intelligence research related to voice.
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
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