DATE Lab in the Media

Congratulations Erica

The Government of Canada is committed to raising awareness on dementia to help reduce stigma and thereby make communities more inclusive and welcome for individuals with the condition. In 2019 the National Dementia Strategy was launched with three main objectives: (1) prevent dementia, (2) advance therapies and find a cure, (3) improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and caregivers. To aid these efforts, a wide variety of projects have been funded through the Dementia Strategic Fund.

This past month, the Public Health Agency of Canada published their 2022 Annual report of the Dementia Strategy for Canada. Among the many incredible projects being conducted nation-wide, the work of PhD student Erica Dove received a special mention.

Erica’s PhD thesis involves developing an exercise video game for people living with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. The purpose of the game is to improve balance and reduce fear of falling which could help people living with dementia decrease their risk of falls.

This is a great achievement for Erica and we are proud to help her celebrate this accomplishment!

Here is what Erica had to say regarding this report:

My PhD work was featured in the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) 2022 dementia strategy. This was my first time being featured in any type of report, [so] I was both surprised and deeply honored. It’s an amazing feeling when others see how your research can impact the real world.

Click below to learn more about Erica’s work and read the full report.