Introduction to research on vascular cognitive impairment and dementia: clinical presentations, etiology, prevention and treatment
Speakers: Prof. Phillip Barber and Dr. Nárlon C Boa Sorte Silva
Time: June 11 4-6pm EST
This session will feature a presentation from Dr. Phil Barber on vascular dementia syndromes including causes, diagnosis, and treatment. Followed by a presentation from Dr. Nárlon C Boa Sorte Silva on defining randomized controlled trials (RCTs), prevention and treatment of VCI, and an overview of prominent RCTs for VCI and dementia focused on pharmacological and lifestyle interventions.
Bios:
Dr. Philip Barber is a Professor in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary. He directs the Stroke Prevention Clinic at the University of Calgary and is a member of the Vascular Illness Team of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration and Aging (CCNA). He has participated as committee member for a clinical update statement on Vascular Cognitive Impairment for the Canadian Consensus Conference on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia 5thEdition. His CIHR and Heart and Stroke Foundation funded research program investigates stroke and vascular contributions to neurodegeneration (H index 50, >20000 citations Google scholar).
Dr. Nárlon C Boa Sorte Silva is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Physical Therapy at The University of British Columbia. Under the supervision of Prof. Teresa Liu-Ambrose in the Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Health Lab, Dr. Boa Sorte Silva’s research aims to understand the impact of preventive or protective factors on age- and pathology-related declines in brain health. Specifically, he is assessing the influence of exercise on white matter myelin, cortical volume, and clinical outcomes such as mobility and cognition in older individuals living cerebral small vessel disease. Dr. Boa Sorte Silva earned his PhD in Kinesiology from Western University (London, Ontario) and a BSc in Physical Education from University Nove de Julho (São Paulo, Brazil). He has expertise in design and implementation of randomized controlled trials, exercise assessment and prescription, as well as neuroimaging, neuropsychological, and clinical data analysis. His postdoctoral research has been funded with competitive awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Michael Smith Health Research BC, Canadians for Leading Edge Alzheimer Research, and StrokeCog.
VAST Summer Program:
The VAST Summer Program encompasses a series of workshops and seminars targeted to undergraduate trainees in the field of VCI to help with overall VCI knowledge, research skills, and networking. While targeted to undergraduates, all are welcome to attend. This series is coordinated by our VAST Trainee Curriculum Committee members. We'd encourage everyone to invite trainees in their labs. Sessions are organized biweekly for Tuesdays beginning at 4pm eastern time / 2pm mountain time / 1pm pacific time. The series will finish with our annual Summer Student Symposium at the end of August (date TBD but save Aug 20 at 12-3pm eastern in your calendar)! All trainees who attend at least 4 of the sessions, as well as the symposium, will be awarded a certificate of completion. All trainees are welcome to sign up and attend the program.