Approximately 88% of Canadian older adults struggle to comprehend medical information. Low health literacy is linked to poor health outcomes, a fact that is especially worrying given that elderly patients tend to suffer from chronic health conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure.
By providing tools to improve health literacy, pharmacists can help patients better manage conditions and interpret vital information.
According to a new report presented at the 2016 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this week in Toronto, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias increased more than 18 per cent across Ontario over the past 8 years.
Early-life stress has an impact on brain development and adult behavior. However, little is known about what stress does to brain cells. Doctoral student Nyasha Gondora is studying the cellular-level impacts of stress.
Over a prolonged period of time, stress can affect the brain’s communication network by changing brain cells, or neurons. But not all stress is bad.
Working with a particularly vulnerable population has given Tejal Patel, Assistant Clinical Professor at the Waterloo School of Pharmacy, a keen appreciation for how precious life is. Passionate about her patients, her practice and teaching, Patel has established herself as a pre-eminent pharmacist, clinician, educator and researcher in the specialty area of neurology.
