November 2006 issue
Mark Your Calendar
November is Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Most people with Down syndrome develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease by age 40. Now, two separate discoveries by CIHR-supported research teams at the University of British Columbia offer hope that new therapies can be developed to prevent Alzheimer's symptoms in Down syndrome patients.
November is Osteoporosis Month
More than 1.4 million Canadians suffer from osteoporosis. Treating osteoporosis fractures costs the Canada's health-care system about $1.3 billion a year and this is estimated to increase to at least $32.5 billion by 2018. CIHR's Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis is working with Canada's research community to develop several prevention and treatment strategies to combat this debilitating condition. Contact CIHR Media Relations to arrange interviews with Dr. Cyril Frank, the Institute's Scientific Director.
November 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
CIHR-funded researcher Dr. Nicole Letourneau of the University of New Brunswick has launched a first-of-its-kind study into the relationship between mothers and children who have been exposed to partner violence. The study, involving 90 mothers and their children, and 90 service providers, could lead to new support mechanisms for mothers living in violent relationships. Media interviews can also be arranged with Dr. Miriam Stewart, Scientific Director of CIHR's Institute of Gender and Health (IGH). Note that CIHR's IGH has invested extensively in research on violence, gender and health. On October 2, Statistics Canada released new statistics on violence against women.
November 5-11: Pain Awareness Week
Acupuncture Can Help Clear a Chronic Pain in the Neck
Acupuncture can help to relieve chronic neck pain, according to a Cochrane Collaboration review of existing research. Dr. Kien Trinh at McMaster University included 10 trials with a total of 661 participants. Research participants reported better pain relief after receiving acupuncture than those who received sham or inactive treatments. Nearly three-quarters of the adult population in Canada claims to have had at least one episode of neck pain or stiffness during their life. CIHR is a partner in the Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre.
November 20: Universal Children's Day
A CIHR-funded program is studying what's working and what's not in Atlantic Canada schools when it comes to healthy eating and physical activity. Donna Murnaghan at the University of PEI, leads the School Health Research Network and is available to discuss how researchers, policy-makers and schools are coming together in a unique program aimed at improving the health of school children.
CIHR-Supported Research...
Why Some Young People End Up on the Street
Two CIHR-funded University of Victoria researchers are doing more than dropping coins in the palms of young panhandlers. Drs. Cecilia Benoit and Mikael Jansson are leading an innovative long-term study that involves multiple interviews with street youth to determine the causes of living on the street and consequences on their health and well-being. "Often, they had very little opportunity to bond with others, and lived in an environment where they had no security," says Dr. Benoit. The researchers have interviewed nearly 200 youth between the ages of 14 and 18 and compared their responses to those of a random sample of youth in the general population.
Can Your Neighbourhood Make You Sick?
Where you live can have a long term effect on your health, resulting in obesity, respiratory illness, coronary hearth disease or mental disorders. "Graffiti, litter, a lack of social cohesion, a history of violence and many fast-food restaurants in a neighbourhood, are all characteristics that can lead to negative health outcomes for its residents", said Dr. Paul Bernard. Other neighbourhoods, in comparison, can contribute to better health. The CIHR-funded researcher at the Léa Roback Research Centre on Social Inequalities in Health of Montreal is working closely with government policy-makers to better understand how a neighbourhood's make-up can affect our health.
Did You Know?
There is an 11-year gap between life expectancy at birth between the wealthiest neighbourhoods of Montreal and some of the inner city areas.
Study Identifies Part of Brain Responsible for Tone Deafness
A new study has discovered that the brains of people suffering from tone deafness are in fact lacking in white matter. The study published in a recent issue of Brain was conducted by a team of CIHR-funded researchers from the Université de Montréal, the Montreal Neurological Institute and the Newcastle University Medical School. Tone deafness (or congenital amusia) is a lifelong disability that prevents otherwise normal-functioning individuals from developing basic musical skills.
Upcoming Events
November 6-7, 2006: CIHR's Institute of Gender and Health 5th Annual Symposium and Workshop
Theme: Knowledge Translation
Halifax, Nova Scotia
November 22, 2006: Canadian Health Research Awards - A Celebration of Excellence
Seven awards will be presented to 10 of Canada's most distinguished health researchers.
National Gallery of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
November 27, 2006: Open Forum, CIHR's Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Theme: Closing the Health Care Gap: The Role of Partnerships and Knowledge Translation
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
December 15, 2006: Nominees sought for Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
Do you know a Canadian citizen worthy of induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame? The nomination process is underway for individuals who have made a single meritorious contribution or achieved a lifetime of outstanding accomplishments in the health sciences. The deadline for nominations is December 15, 2006.
For more information on any of the above story leads, please contact:
Marie-France Poirier
Media Relations
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Phone: 613-941-4563
Cell: 613-447-4794
mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca
