Latest Evidence
This page shares resources that summarize the latest evidence related to the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle interventions (for example, physical activity, healthy eating/nutrition) among people living with dementia in the community. We focus on the outcomes that matter most to people with dementia and family/friend care partners: functional independence and quality of life. We also identify gaps where more research is needed. The resources were co-created with people living with dementia, health care professionals, and dementia service providers. The University of Waterloo, the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA), and the Alzheimer Society of Canada collaborated to develop and share our results.
Beyond dementia prevention: Understanding Impact and Knowledge Gaps related to Lifestyle Interventions for People with Dementia
This page shares resources that summarize the latest evidence related to the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle interventions (for example, physical activity, healthy eating/nutrition) among people living with dementia in the community. We focus on the outcomes that matter most to people with dementia and family/friend care partners: functional independence and quality of life. We also identify gaps where more research is needed. The resources were co-created with people living with dementia, health care professionals, and dementia service providers. The University of Waterloo, the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA), and the Alzheimer Society of Canada collaborated to develop and share our results.
Healthy Eating
Nutrition and eating well can support people living with dementia.
This resource is intended for people living with dementia and care partners who live in the community. The resource provides information on the benefits of healthy eating and the types of nutrition programs and services that can improve the nutritional status of people living with dementia. The resource also shares screening tools that can be used to assess nutritional risk so that you know whether specialized eating and nutrition services and programs may be helpful.
Supporting people living with dementia through nutrition programs and services.
This resource is intended for clinicians and service providers. The resource shares the latest evidence related to healthy eating and nutrition interventions among people living with dementia. The resource also explains the importance of nutrition risk screening for people with dementia. Assessments to identify those who are at risk of malnutrition and should be referred to eating and nutrition programs and services are shared.
Supporting People Living with Dementia through Nutrition Programs & Services
Nutrition and eating well can support people living with dementia
Physical Activity
Physical activity can benefit people living with dementia.
This resource is intended for people living with dementia and care partners who live in the community. The document provides information on the benefits of physical activity and the types of physical activity that are beneficial for people living with dementia. It also offers guidance on suitable types of physical activity, safety considerations, and strategies for incorporating physical activity into daily life.
Physical Activity can Benefit People Living with Dementia
Policy Brief
Beyond dementia prevention: Understanding impact and knowledge gaps related to lifestyle interventions for people with dementia
This resource is intended for policy makers who design and implement policy related to dementia care, health care, health promotion, public health, and senior services.
Beyond dementia prevention: Understanding impact and knowledge gaps related to lifestyle interventions for people with dementia
Project Team
Principal Investigator
- Laura Middleton – University of Waterloo
- Carrie McAiney – University of Waterloo
Co-Investigators
- Christine Aiken – Person with Lived Experience
- Jennifer Bethell – Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network
- Heather Cooke – Alzheimer Society of B.C.
- William Heibein – Person with Lived Experience
- Kathy Hickman – Alzheimer Society of Ontario
- Heather Keller – University of Waterloo
- Grace Liu – University of Waterloo
- Teresa Liu-Ambrose – University of British Columbia
- Sian Lockwood – Alzheimer Society of Canada
- Myrna Norman – Person with Lived Experience
- Megan E. O’Connell – University of Saskatchewan
- Luca Pisterzi – Alzheimer Society of Canada
- Jackie Stapleton – University of Waterloo
- Vanessa Vucea-Tirabassi – Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging
- Ingrid Waldron – McMaster University
- Jennifer Watt – University of Toronto
- Sarah Wu – Alzheimer Society of B.C.
- Marie Lee-Yous – McMaster University
Partners
Acknowledgment
Funding provided through the Brain Health and Reduction of Risk for Age-related Cognitive Impairment: Knowledge Synthesis and Mobilization Funding Opportunity, a partnership between The Weston Family Foundation and Canadian Institutes of Health Research.