mHealth App Use and Outcomes in Canadians

Principle Investigator: Dr. Theone Paterson

The goal of this research is to improve understanding of how Canadians use diet and physical activity mobile applications (‘mHealth apps’) available on the Canadian market to aid in achieving personal health goals. The gap between our goals and our behaviours has been termed the intention-behaviour gap. 

We aim to 1) learn from users what it is about mHealth apps that help them achieve goals, 2) increase our understanding of who is using mHealth apps to achieve their goals, 3) examine relationships between person-centered, interpersonal, app-related factors, and peoples’ use and success using these apps, and finally, 4) explore individuals’ maintenance of goal behaviours.

Status: Survey creation in-progress

Neuropsychological Consequences of Long-COVID

The aim of this research is to understand the neuropsychological symptoms experienced by individuals with Long-COVID. With these findings, we hope to contribute to the development of interventions and supports available to impacted individuals. 

Our goals are to 1) establish consistent definitions and core outcomes of Long-COVID 2) establish valid diagnostic and prognostic tools, 3) characterize subtypes and phenotypes of Long-COVID , 4) develop national recommendations for rehabilitation pathways for persons with Long COVID, 5) determine the feasibility of virtual care solutions (in particular, Cogniciti’s Brain Health Assessment) at addressing cognitive symptoms.

Status: In-progress

Personality Traits as Predictors of Domain-Specific Cognitive Decline

Investigating Graduate Student: Morgan Schaeffer

The purpose of this study is to examine Big-5 personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism) as predictors of cognitive decline. Specifically, this project aims to determine the association between personality traits and the onset of specific dementia and pre-dementia syndromes (e.g., Alzheimer’s dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Subjective Cognitive Decline). A secondary aim of this study is to determine which personality traits predict declines in memory vs. declines in other cognitive domains (e.g., executive functions, language, etc.). Because personality traits are generally stable over the lifespan, they may be used to identify risk during early and middle adulthood (before symptoms of dementia-related cognitive decline typically manifest). The Data for this study will be obtained from the Einstein Aging Study (EAS) database, a large-scale population-based cohort study based in the United States.

Status: complete

Publications

Schaeffer, M. J., MacDonald, S. W., & Paterson, T. S. (2024). Premorbid personality traits as predictors for incident predementia syndromes: a multistate model approach. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 1-11.

Investigating Determinants of Risk for Cognitive Decline

Investigating Graduate Student: Maddie Gregory

Maddie Gregory is currently working on a patient-oriented research project as part of a Graduate Fellowship in conjunction with the BC SUPPORT unit and Island Health. Broadly, the project involves investigating the genetic, psychological and social determinants of risk for cognitive decline. 

Status: in-progress

The Effects of Chronic Illness on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy In Canadian Youth

Investigating Honours Student: Christina Beck

This study investigates the relationship between pre-existing chronic illness and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy through national data collected in the Youth Vaccine Confidence survey. Beyond the presence of chronic physical illness, the study looks at the presence of mental illness, government mistrust, and medical mistrust as possible avenues that may contribute to vaccine hesitancy in chronically ill Canadian youth. The ultimate purpose of this project is to better understand vaccination
behaviours of those vulnerable to developing a severe COVID-19 infection.

Cognitive Health App

Collaborative Project

We are in the beginning phases of developing a mobile app for promotion of cognitive health. We plan to address diet, exercise, and other predictors of better cognitive health through a multi-media approach.

Stay tuned for updates as we progress in the research and development of this mobile app!