York University's Glendon College researchers Guy Proulx and Kristoffer Romero have received $240,000 in funding from The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) to develop The North-South Brain Health Educational Course Initiative.
Guy Proulx
Kristoffer Romero
Proulx, principal investigator, and Romero, co-primary investigator, will develop the course to increase the level of knowledge of professionals specializing in neurological conditions and geriatrics in areas such as cognitive health and neurodegenerative diseases.
Given the barriers for Franco-Ontarians to access specialized services for cognitive impairment, improving the knowledge of community health care practitioners regarding identification and treatment of cognitive impairments will provide concrete, immediate benefits.
Cutting-edge research has identified the specific effects of various neuropathologies on cognition, and developed non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive impairment. Yet, this knowledge is not readily available to front-line health care workers, who may immediately benefit from advanced training in the brain and behaviour. This project will further refine a series of bilingual professional development courses in neuropsychology to improve awareness, service delivery and expertise about neurodegenerative diseases and dementia for Franco-Ontarians.
The course will give clinicians a better understanding of the identification, and prognosis, of cognitive impairment due to neurodegenerative diseases, and will provide a “toolbox” of interventions to manage these issues when identified at the earlier stages (i.e. pre-dementia).
The neuropsychology credit course will be delivered by The Glendon Centre for Cognitive Health (CCH) at York University to clinicians working with the Ontario Francophone community. CCH supports research in neuropsychology with a focus on cognitive aging.
Proulx and Romero said it was after an extensive evaluation process that The North-South Brain Health Educational Course Initiative was successful in being awarded CABHI financial support.
"Ultimately, thanks to the support of CABHI and its funders, we hope this innovation will be developed to have a significant impact on the quality of life for older adults in Canada," said the researchers.
"We acknowledge the generous support provided by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Science, and by the Government of Canada through the Public Health Agency of Canada, and by the Baycrest Foundation, which enables CABHI to administer all of their investment programs."
The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation, led by Baycrest Health Sciences, announced 26 new projects receiving more than $8.3 million in CABHI financial support to accelerate solutions that can help to improve the quality of life and care for older adults with dementia and cognitive health issues.
Information about the Centre for Aging + Brian Health Innovation 2017 Innovation Investments is available online.