The Dementia Advisory Committee
The Purpose of The Dementia Advisory Committee
The Dementia Advisory Committee (DAC) is an initiative led by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute Dementia Neuroteam and community members that engages people with lived experience with dementia as patient partners and experts from the community to make dementia research conducted at the University of Calgary more patient-oriented.
The DAC aims to advise on the design, priorities, and processes of dementia-related research conducted by the Hotchkiss Brain Institute Dementia Neuroteam. In this way, the DAC seeks to ensure that the research projects of ongoing studies align with the priorities of those affected by dementia-related disorders and improve healthcare systems and health outcomes.
From left to right in the back row: Jenna Jepson, Nancy Nelson, Michael Graham, Dr. Dallas Seitz, Kathy Grimwood, Dr. Eric Smith. From left to right in the front row: Iona Boughton, Donna Shukys, Sogna Stipanov. Not pictured: Sarah Besenski.
Dementia Advisory Committee Members
DAC Support Staff
Sarah Besenski, Jenna Jepson
Patient Partners
Iona Boughton, Michael Graham, Kathy Grimwood, Nancy Nelson, Donna Shukys, Sogna Stipanov
Research Representatives
Dallas Seitz, Eric Smith
What is a ‘Patient Partner’?
The term patient in health research refers to individuals with personal experience with a particular health issue and informal care partners, such as family members and friends (Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)). A patient partner is a research team member who draws upon lived experience and expertise to inform and advise at different stages of the research cycle (Alberta SPOR SUPPORT Unit). Lived experience in this context refers to someone who has been directly affected by dementia. This includes people with dementia and those supporting them, such as their informal care partners or family members.
Patient partnership in research ensures that the research is relevant and of value to the community affected by it – patient-oriented.
To learn more about patient partners and patient engagement in health research, check out the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research.
The Importance of Patient-Oriented Research
In recent decades, conducting patient-oriented research has become increasingly important within the dementia- and Alzheimer-related disorders research fields. Patient-oriented research refers to an approach to health research that centralizes patient-identified priorities to improve patient outcomes (CIHR). This type of research often also engages patients as partners in the research process and typically aims to apply the findings of such studies to improve healthcare practices and systems (CIHR).
To find out more about Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, please review the CIHR’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research.
Upcoming Events
Below are some upcoming events related to the Dementia Advisory Committee and within the community.
Dementia Advisory Committee Meeting
December 16th, 2024, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Care Partner Strategies
Wednesday, January 8th, 2025, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Virtual session held by Alzheimer Calgary
Engaging Activities for Care Partners
Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Virtual session held by Alzheimer Calgary
Down Syndrome & Dementia Workshop
Thursday, March 6th, 2025, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Virtual session held by Alzheimer Calgary
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Virtual session held by Alzheimer's Calgary
2SLGBTQIA+ Care Partner Support Group
Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Virtual session held by Alzheimer's Calgary
Dementia Research in the News
News on dementia research advancements at the local, national, and international level.
Investigating link between menopausal symptoms to dementia
"A University of Calgary study is looking into whether severe symptoms of menopause can act as early warning signs for dementia.
Dr. Zahinoor Ismail, a professor of psychiatry, neurology, epidemiology and pathology at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, said the CAN-PROTECT project began in March and involves an ongoing cross-sectional look at brains and aging."
Using blood tests to screen for Alzheimer's Disease
"Dr. Oskar Hansson, a professor of clinical memory research at Lund University in Sweden, and his team report that a combination of blood tests for specific forms of beta-amyloid and tau proteins correctly identified whether 1,213 Swedish participants, with an average age of 74 and memory problems, in fact had Alzheimer's about 90 per cent of the time."
Calgary's FORE! The Love of Golf dementia-inclusive project
"Inclusivity is often about making relatively small changes that breaks down barriers and make an activity more accessible to more people. This is exactly what the FORE! The Love of Golf pilot project is all about – exploring how to help people living with dementia and their care partners return to a game they love."
Experts hope 'repurposed' drugs may limit dementia
"Researchers are investigating whether diabetes and eye disease drugs could also be used to treat or even prevent dementia.
Scientists at the University of Manchester are studying methazolamide, a treatment used by glaucoma patients, to find out if it can also help treat Alzheimer's disease by restoring the health of nerve cells."
Dementia Supports Available in Calgary
If you or someone you know is affected by dementia and needs support, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of the organizations listed below.
Alberta Health Services provides dementia advice to meet the immediate needs of people living with dementia and their care partners who require education, health-related advice, information on community resources, and emotional support. The AHS website also includes several guidelines, assessment tools, and resources to support Dementia Care in Alberta.
Website: Advancing Dementia Care & Support in Alberta | Alberta Health Services
Phone number: 811
The Alzheimer Calgary provides free, confidential consultations. They also have a team of registered social workers to support local families and individuals needing support, information, or resources in and around Calgary.
Website: Dementia Support Resources (alzheimercalgary.ca)
Phone number: (403) 290-0110
Email: findsupport@alzheimercalgary.ca
The Dementia Network of Calgary provides numerous helpful resources, information, and toolkits related to living with dementia.
Website: Dementia Resources - Dementia Network Calgary
Phone number: (403) 290-0110
Researchers
If you are a researcher at the University of Calgary and are interested in potentially involving the Dementia Advisory Committee or patient partners in your research, please contact Sarah Besenski, the Committee Coordinator, at sarah.besenski@ucalgary.ca with your project information and desired level of involvement if known.
People with Lived Experience
If you have lived experience with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia and are interested in becoming involved with health research, please contact Sarah Besenski, the Committee Coordinator, at sarah.besenski@ucalgary.ca.