Baycrest

12 BrainMatters FALL/WINTER 2018 THE JOURNEY to find a cure for dementia W e are in a race against time to develop an effective treatment for dementia. As the world's population ages, a new case of the neurodegenerative disorder is diagnosed every four seconds, with 7.7 million new cases per year worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Currently, about 50 million people around the globe live with dementia and this number is expected to surge to 75 million by 2030. The statistics appear bleak, but there is still an opportunity to intervene. "We now know that Alzheimer's starts to develop in the brain decades before memory loss symptoms become apparent," says Baycrest President and CEO Dr. William Reichman. "By focusing on ways to prevent the disorder from developing, we stand a chance of stemming this ballooning public health crisis." To make this vision a reality, a number of steps must first be taken. 1. BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE It can take years for research to make its way into practice. There is often a gap between what is known to be helpful and when it is implemented in healthcare. By shortening the time between translating research findings into practical improvements, clients could have quicker access to the latest and best treatments available. Baycrest remains committed to accelerating the adoption of new and innovative treatments through a number of initiatives, such as the Kimel Family Centre for Brain Health and Wellness and its new Clinical Trials Unit, which will work closely with researchers in the established Rotman Research Institute and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation. Under the direction of Baycrest's new Chair in Cognitive Neurology and Innovation and Senior Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute, Dr. Howard Chertkow, the Kimel Family Centre for Brain Health and Wellness will become a space for various activities that have proven to be beneficial to brain health, such as exercise, nutrition advice, mentally stimulating classes and psychological and spiritual support. All clients will have access to this programming that is done within a research setting to answer the question: How can we prevent the onset of cognitive loss and dementia? "Everyone who walks through the doors of the Kimel Family Centre will have a research assessment done to screen their mental, cognitive and physical health, and we will also learn about their medical and family history," says Dr. Chertkow, whose work focuses on finding ways to diagnose the disease earlier and develop new treatments. "After that, every activity they choose to participate in becomes data to learn about their health and how we can make it better. "For instance, we will be able to track whether one kind of exercise produces a better outcome than another and we will even be able to study why one individual commits to certain diet and exercise compared to someone who gives up the next week." stimulating classes and psychological and spiritual support. All clients will have access to this programming that is done within a research setting to answer the question: How can we prevent the onset of cognitive loss and dementia? Dr. Howard Chertkow Dr. William Reichman and dementia?

• Cover