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May 01, 2025
The Gerontology Research Centre (GRC) led by Andrew Wister, Director and SFU CLSA principal investigator, is partnering with Carolyn Sparrey (SFU, Mechatronic Systems Engineering) and the Director of the SFU ImageTech Lab at Surrey Memorial Hospital Alex Wiesman (SFU, BPK). Their work involves collecting sophisticated brain imaging (MRI) scans and biological samples from a subset of participants taking part in the 20-year Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).
The CLSA is a major 20-year research platform initiative that began in 2011 and follows over 51,000 Canadians aged 45 to 85. It gathers extensive data, including questionnaires, physical assessments, and biological specimens, to explore how various factors influence aging.
The CLSA-Weston Healthy Brains, Healthy Aging study, supported by $12M in funding is a sub-study of over 6,000 CLSA participants from across Canada. It aims to integrate detailed brain health data with a broader CLSA dataset. "Brain health is receiving increasing attention," says Wister, "as the number of older adults experiencing Alzheimer’s Disease and related neurological disorders (ADRD) continues to rise, placing enormous pressures on our already stretched healthcare system."
This initiative will provide researchers with new insights into how genetic markers, preventive health behaviours, socio-demographic factors, and other influences shape brain health. It also strengthens the CLSA's role as a global research platform and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration on aging and cognitive resilience to address ADRD and brain health resilience over the life course of Canadians.
The SFU Surrey-based CLSA Data Collection site, managed by Dr. Heather Stewart, is actively working with the ImageTech team to complete the HBHA data collection. Wister adds, "stay tuned for this data’s availability for research."
As part of the HBHA study, participants are asked to provide stool samples for metagenomics and metabolite profiling–an important step in exploring the gut-brain health relationship. Cognitive functioning tests further help capture brain health outcomes.
Ultimately, the HBHA sub-study offers a valuable opportunity to deepen our understanding of the neural and biological factors that contribute to brain resilience from mid to late life, and to drive innovation in the prevention and treatment of ADRD.