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.
Apathy, or reduced interest, initiative and emotion, is common in people living with Alzheimer’s disease and can affect quality of life and functioning. This study will test whether combining methylphenidate, an oral medication, with intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a non-invasive brain stimulation treatment, is more effective than iTBS alone for treating apathy in dementia. Information collected will help determine whether this combined approach may improve apathy and quality of life for people living with dementia and their care partners.
This study aims to explore the hospitalization experiences of South Asian and Arab older adults with dementia and identify barriers and facilitators they encounter during their hospital stay in receiving culturally safe care. The information gathered will be used to identify gaps in current hospital dementia care practices and create resources and recommendations for policy and practice changes that promote culturally safe, inclusive dementia care for ethnic communities.
You are eligible to participate if you are:
Older Adults:
Caregivers
We are currently recruiting people living with dementia and their caregivers (i.e., family members, friends, or formal care providers such as nurses and social workers) for a study examining experiences with time among people living with dementia. The ultimate objective of this study is to gain an in-depth understanding of the experience of time among people with dementia, including how they feel about the past, present, and future, and how this time-related experience affects their caregivers’ daily life and wellbeing. Data from this study may be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at academic conferences.
You are eligible to participate if you:
• Are 18 years of age or older
• Reside in Canada
• Are fluent in English
• Have normal or adjusted normal hearing
• Are a person living with dementia OR are a caregiver/formal care provider of a person living with dementia (e.g., family member, friend, social worker, long-term care staff, nurse)
• Have access to a device with a reliable internet connection
This study explores dementia stigma within South Asian communities in Canada, a group that has been underrepresented in dementia research. Using a focused ethnographic approach, it aims to understand community beliefs and experiences related to dementia and identify ways to create a culturally appropriate dementia-friendly society.
The study will: Examine South Asian cultural understandings of dementia and dementia-related stigma. Investigate how dementia affects the overall well-being of people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers. Explore how individuals make decisions about seeking healthcare and support. The research also seeks to understand how social, cultural, structural, and political factors contribute to dementia stigma and how culturally relevant anti-stigma interventions can be developed.
Expected outcomes include: Generating new knowledge about dementia stigma in South Asian communities. Increasing awareness and promoting dementia-friendly environments. Sharing findings through academic publications, conferences, community presentations, and multilingual infographics in Bengali, Hindi, and Urdu to reach a broader audience.
You are eligible to participate if you:
- live with dementia or provide care for a loved one living with dementia
- live in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA)
- connect your roots or ethnicity to Bangladesh, India, or Pakistan
- are sixteen years of age or older
- can provide consent
- speak English, Hindi, Urdu, or Bengali
In the past, frailty and dementia were treated as distinct entities; however, it is now recognized that they share a complex relationship. As a result, there is an urgent need for the joint investigation of frailty and dementia. Our survey aims to bring together perspectives from stakeholders worldwide who share an interest in frailty and dementia. We are collecting data over the next several months, via various promotional "waves." Once we reach adequate participation and thematic saturation, we anticipate that data analysis and knowledge dissemination will take approximately six months.
Exposure to nature—even just a few minutes at a time—supports improved attention, mood, self-regulation, and social connection.
“Green health initiatives” are outdoor or nature-based activities designed to have a potential positive impact on health. Some of these initiatives are specifically designed to include people living with dementia. These can include walking groups, golfing, farm gardening programs, and seasonal social activities located in parks or natural spaces. We are currently conducting an international literature review to find out more about when and how green health initiatives operate to generate benefits for people living with dementia. As part of this initiative, we are planning a series of three consultation events to learn more about the interests of people living with dementia. For each consultation, participants will receive a $20 Tim Horton's gift card in thanks for their time.
You are eligible if you are currently living with dementia.
This study evaluates an at-home, digital cognitive screening tool for older adults experiencing memory changes across the dementia continuum. Participants will complete a brief series of engaging, online brain games and surveys to determine the tool's accuracy compared to traditional clinical assessments. The goal of this study is to provide accessible, patient-friendly monitoring of brain health that reduces the need for clinic travel and lowers barriers to early detection of dementia.
You are eligible to participate if you:
Are 50 years of age or older
Either have healthy cognition or are experiencing noticeable memory or thinking changes (Subjective Cognitive Decline), or have a clinical diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or dementia.
Have access to a computer, laptop, or tablet with a reliable internet connection.
Are able to provide informed consent, or have a legally authorized Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) who can provide consent on your behalf.
Have adequate vision and motor skills to view a screen and tap or click to respond to prompts (such as a choice reaction time task), using glasses or standard aids if necessary.
Are able to read and communicate in English.
Do not have comorbid psychiatric conditions that interfere with cognitive function Do not have a history of brain injury or neurodevelopmental disorders
This study looks at how an at-home nature-based virtual reality (VR) program may help people living with Alzheimer’s Disease manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), such as depression. Caregivers and/or study partners will have the option of taking part in the study and providing feedback regarding the VR intervention. This project will explore how virtual reality can be used as a non-pharmacological approach to prolong aging in place for individuals with BPSD, as BPSD contributes to rates of institutionalization.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of ALN-APP on measures of CAA disease progression and to characterize the safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamics (PD) of ALN-APP in adult patients with sporadic CAA (sCAA) and Dutch-type CAA (D-CAA). The study will be conducted over 2 periods: a 24-month double-blind treatment period and an optional 18-month open-label extension (OLE) period. The estimated duration of study participation, inclusive of screening, treatment, and additional safety follow-up, is up to 50 months.
Male or female participants aged 50 years of age
Has a history of previous clinical intracerebral hemorrhage.
Has probable CAA.
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