The potential to delay or prevent dementia will be the subject of Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso's presentation at the University of Regina's Centre on Aging and Health's Distinguished Lecture.
Over 600,000 people in Canada are currently living with dementia and the Alzheimer Society of Canada predicts that more than 1.7 million Canadians will be affected by dementia by 2050. That translates into an estimated 6.3 million Canadians diagnosed, living with, and eventually dying from dementia over the next thirty years.
While aging is a primary risk factor in developing dementia, dementia is not a normal part of aging. People living with dementia experience cognitive decline, memory loss, changes in mood and behaviour and loss of functional abilities which negatively impacts their lives, their family and friends. It also has a huge cost to Canada's health care system.
Delaying the onset of dementia by just one year has been projected to save the Canadian health care system $120 billion over the next three decades. Cognitive training, social engagement, physical activity, management of blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and other health conditions, are some of the interventions that may slow or prevent the onset of dementia.
Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso (MD, PhD, FRCPC, AGSF, FGSA) is a Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University (Ontario) and Director of the "Gait & Brain Lab" at Parkwood Institute, London, Ontario. He is a geriatrician and clinician-scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute and serves as team leader at the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) and team co-leader at the Ontario Neurodegenerative Research Initiative (ONDRI).
The Centre on Aging and Health Distinguished Lecture series is free and open to the public.
Details:
- Date: Thursday, April 27, 2023
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Location: Education Auditorium (room 106), Education Building
Main Campus, University of Regina*
*Free parking is available at parking meters and M & Z lots after 5 p.m. In order to maximize inclusiveness, we encourage masking while in the room. Masks will be available at the entrance.