Daily Media Digest April 12, 2022

COVID-19 linked to changes in the brain
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
“Imaging taken before and after the start of the pandemic shows brain changes likely from virus-related loss of smell and inflammation.”
TAGS: COVID-19, pandemic, neuroscience, inflammation, VCH-RI

New Sunnybrook-led national training program will advance critical care research
Sunnybrook Research Institute
“The initiative, called The Life-Threatening Illness National Group (LifTING) Research Training Platform, is co-led by principal investigator Dr. Dominique Piquette, critical care physician and affiliate scientist at Sunnybrook, alongside a group of 20 partner organizations.”
TAGS: critical care, innovative research, training, Sunnybrook Research Institute

Virtual Behavioural Medicine program is a game changer for people living with dementia
Baycrest
“An innovative, Baycrest-developed dementia care program can reduce the need for hospital admissions by 60 per cent, according to a new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. The program, called the Virtual Behavioural Medicine (VBM) program, allows clinicians to assess and manage patients with severe neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia while the patients remain in their homes. VBM also supports acute care hospitals in the management of individuals with severe neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia.”
TAGS: virtual care, dementia, behavioural medicine, neuropsychiatric symptoms, Baycrest

Why It’s Important to Recognize Signs of Rare Blood Disease
Health Insight
“The road to a paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) diagnosis can take up to five years. That’s why awareness is critical for both patients and physicians.”
TAGS: blood disease, diagnosis, University Health Network

Breath test could diagnose repetitive blast injuries to the brain for first time: Lawson – Global News
Global News
“Scientists at London’s Lawson Health Research Institute say they have developed a way for doctors to accurately diagnose repetitive blast injuries …”
TAGS: concussion, mild traumatic brain injury, blast injuries, Lawson Health Research Institute

New course to explore health care and research with Indigenous focus – UM Today
UM Today – University of Manitoba
“The College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences is offering a new course for the summer term that will explore health care and research …”
TAGS: healthcare, Indigenous health care, University of Manitoba

New research targets faster diagnosis for Parkinson’s patients – Western News
Western News – Western University
“MRI images of the brain can help researchers identify biomarkers that detect Parkinson’s disease (Photo credit: Ali Khan).”
TAGS: biomarkers, Parkinson’s research, patient care, diagnosis, Western University

Loneliness, depression on the rise among older adults amid pandemic: BC study – Castlegar News
Castlegar News
“Canadians aged 65+ are experiencing higher levels of depression and loneliness since the pandemic began, according to a Simon Fraser University …”
TAGS: mental health, loneliness, depression, pandemic, Simon Fraser University