Managing Disease in Older Adults
This theme is focused in on the nutrient basis to various chronic diseases and how diet can be used to manage these diseases. Chronic diseases that are relevance include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and arthritis. This theme will also focus on nutritional management of diseases and ailments that are highly prevalent in older populations such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia and macular degeneration.
Ongoing Research Projects:
| Human clinical trial to investigate the effects of a high rosmarinic acid spearmint tea on measures of disease activity and cartilage degradation in rheumatoid arthritis | |
Laima Kott |
As 4.5 million Canadians live with some form of arthritis, at an estimated cost of $18 billion per year, developing alternative therapies to aid in alleviating the inflammation and symptoms associated with arthritis is an exciting area of growth for the functional foods and natural health product sector. Through research in the Department of Plant Agriculture (Kott), a spearmint plant containing 15-20 times more rosmarinic acid than native mint has been developed. Rosmarinic acid is a compound found in many herbal plants, including rosemary and spearmint, and has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. In this study, the Human Nutraceutical Research Unit (Wright, Duncan, Tulk), in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences has partnered with the Department of Plant Agriculture to test the efficacy of a high rosmarinic acid spearmint tea in improving measures of physical function, disease activity, cartilage degradation and inflammation in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. |
Completed Research Projects:
| Sensory Perception and Alzheimer's Disease | |
Lisa Duizer |
The ability to taste and smell plays an integral role in the whole eating experience. It highly affects diet selection, appetite and eating habits. Problems of inadequate nutrition and energy intakes are common in the aging population. Losses in sensory abilities associated with AD may accentuate the decline in nutritional status of older adults. This study will help the researchers to understand the changes in smell and taste function experienced in late-onset Alzheimer's Disease patients. |