Laura Middleton

Research interests

Our research in the Brain and Body Lab aims to identify strategies to promote wellbeing and independence of those living with, or at risk for, dementia. We focus on the role of physical activity and complementary lifestyle strategies such as healthy eating, social engagement, and cognitive stimulation. We partner with people living with dementia, care partners, health care professionals, and community service providers as co-researchers to create accessible and effective supports and interventions. Recent projects developed strategies to improve the inclusion and participation of persons living with dementia and mild cognitive impairment in physical activity, healthy eating, and other community wellness programs and investigated the impact of combined exercise and cognitive training among persons at risk for dementia.

Graduate supervision and student opportunities

• Research volunteer
• Undergraduate thesis
• MSc thesis
• Coursework interns
• PhD thesis
• Postdoctoral fellowship
• Research assistant/coordinator

Please email me to discuss current available opportunities. 

Graduate studies application details

Teaching, expertise, tools and technologies

• Dementia
• Physical activity
• Prevention of dementia
• Accessibility and inclusion
• Community-engaged research
• Well-being

Courses

• KIN 418: Physical activity and aging
• KIN 658: Physical activity and cognition
• KIN 312: Introduction to neurological disorders

Education

BHK, University of British Columbia

MSc, University of Victoria

PhD, Dalhousie Univeristy 

Selected publications

See Google Scholar for full list of publications.

Bechard, L.E., McGilton, K.S., Middleton, L.E., Chertkow, H., Sivananthan, S., Bethell, J. Engaging people with lived experience of dementia in research: perspectives from a multidisciplinary research network. Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 2022, 35(3): 254-261.

Freeman, S., Pelletier, C., Ward, K., *Bechard, L., *Regan, K., Somani, S., Middleton, L.E. Factors influencing participation in physical activity for persons living with dementia in rural and northern communities: A qualitative study. BMJ Open, 2022, 12(6), e060860.

Mehrabi, S., Muñoz, J.E., #Basharat, A., Boger, J., Cao, S., Barnett-Cowan, M., Middleton, L.E. Immersive Virtual Reality Exergames to Promote the Well-being of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Pilot Study. JMIR Research Protocol, 2022,11(6), e32955.

*Neudorf, B., Hughes, C., *Ellis, C., Neudorf, R., Weston, Z., Middleton, L. Evaluating the YMCA Move for Health Program in Individuals with Osteoarthritis and Assessing Maintenance During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 2021, 1-12.

*Bechard, L.E., *McDougall, A., *Mitchell, C., *Regan, K., *Bergelt, M., Dupuis, S., Giangregorio, L., Freeman, S., Middleton, L.E. Dementia- and mild cognitive impairment-inclusive exercise: Perceptions, experiences, and needs of community exercise providers. PloS One, 2020, 15(9), e0238187.

Rockwood, K., Andrew, M.K., Aubertin-Leheudre, M., Belleville, S., Bherer, L., Bowles, S.K., Kehler, D.S., Lim, A., Middleton, L., Phillips, N., Wallace, L.M.K. CCCDTD5: Reducing the risk of later-life dementia. Evidence informing the Fifth Canadian Consensus Conference on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia (CCCDTD-5). Alzheimer’s Dementia (NY), 2020, 6(1), e12083.