Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA)
The Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) is a national hub for collaboration research on dementia. CCNA researchers are divided into 19 teams operating at sites located throughout Canada and are working in the areas of prevention, treatment and quality of life.
The University of Waterloo is a research site for one active CCNA study, and all participant visits take place at the Centre for Community, Clinical and Applied Research Excellence (CCCARE).
Caring Minds
Caring Minds is a four-year project working with Black, Chinese, and South Asian communities to understand what living well with dementia means to them and co-develop culturally relevant and accessible supports. People living with dementia and care partners are actively involved in shaping the research questions and developing resources that reflect their communities' needs and preferences.
Healthy Peer Support Study
The Brain and Body Lab and the Stress and Healthy Aging Research Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) conducted a study to understand older adults’ needs and preferences for using remote peer support to maintain brain-healthy lifestyle habits.
COMPASS-ND
Recruitment has ended at our site for the signature clinical trial of CCNA. Currently being collected at 30 sites across Canada, this is an observational study of people with various types of dementia or cognitive complaints. The study collects clinical, neuropsychological, and MRI imaging data as well as blood, saliva, and urine samples from participants. We are hoping to resume collection of the year 2 visit for remaining participants once we are allowed to restart this research!
- Participants come to CCCARE for 4 study visits over 3 months, including an MRI.
- A telephone check is conducted at 12 months, and baseline procedures are repeated after 2 years.
SYNERGIC and SYNERGIC-2 (Team 12)
SYNERGIC (Completed)
The original SYNERGIC trial investigated the combined effects of physical exercise, cognitive training, and vitamin D supplementation on cognition and mobility in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Results demonstrated that combining aerobic and resistance exercise with cognitive training improved cognitive performance, while vitamin D supplementation provided no additional benefit.
SYNERGIC-2
Building on the original trial, SYNERGIC-2 is evaluating a 12-month, personalized, home-based lifestyle intervention to improve cognition in older adults with MCI. Delivered virtually through one-on-one coaching, the intervention targets five areas of brain health: physical activity, cognitive training, nutrition, sleep, and vascular risk management.
The Synergic trial studied the combined effects of exercise, cognitive training, and vitamin D on cognition and mobility of people with mild cognitive impairment. We have finished recruitment and data collection for this clinical trial, and are currently working on mobilizing the findings!