At Baycrest, she intends to focus on the
link between depression and changes in the
hippocampus, which is central to the process
of remembering and imaging. "With repeated
episodes of depression, the hippocampus
actually starts to atrophy," she says.
She plans to look at memory and imagination in
older adults to discover what part of the imagination
process is breaking down in depression and aging.
"To be a Canada 150 Research Chair, you have to be
among the best in the world," says Allison Sekuler,
Baycrest's Vice-President of Research and Managing
Director of the RRI. "Having Dr. Addis here opens up
new avenues of exploration for us and strengthens
our work in the area of mental health and aging.
Depression is a risk factor for dementia, so Dr.
Addis's research is a natural fit for our efforts
to prevent dementia and help people
live long and live well."
Working collaboratively with
neuroscientists and clinical
researchers at Baycrest,
Dr. Addis will look at what
kinds of interventions
or activities, or even
brain stimulation, could
allow people to imagine
in a way that helps
them in depression, and
particularly, in aging. "I would
like to investigate the potential
for targeting brain networks that support memory
and imagination to help people feel better about
their future and increase their sense of well-being,"
she explains.
"There are so many great initiatives going on at
Baycrest - like the new Kimel Family
Centre for Brain Health and Wellness
and the Clinical Trials Unit - that
are making it possible to take
basic brain research into
different directions. This
is the place to be for
memory research and the
only place I would move
halfway around the world
to work."
Visit baycrest.org to learn
more about this program.
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