By Dayna Park

Did you know that every month, 700 Nova Scotians reach the age of 65? According to the Government of Nova Scotia, our rising aging population currently stands at about 131,000 people. This number is projected to nearly double by 2026, signaling a significant demographic shift that will influence every aspect of our society.

As the region with the highest percentage of people aged 65 and older in Canada, the quality of life for our seniors is profoundly impacted by chronic illnesses such as dementia, which are strongly linked to frailty.

Frailty, an age-related condition, is a significant concern in older adults. It makes it difficult for those suffering to recover from illness and accidents, and increases the risk of falls, delirium, hospitalization, and death.

At Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, our world-leading researchers are at the forefront of tackling the challenges of aging. Their work focuses on preventing illness, improving treatments, and shaping policies that will help us all age better and contribute longer to our communities.

Featured at Breakthrough Breakfast

This vital area of research is the focus of the Faculty’s September 2024 Breakthrough Breakfast Series event. Sponsored by Shannex, QEII Foundation, and Cape Breton University and designed to celebrate groundbreaking research and medical innovation, the Breakthrough Breakfast Series showcases different areas of medical discovery, featuring esteemed researchers at the forefront of their fields.

From cardiac research to cancer, immunity and vaccinology, neurosciences & brain diseases (including mental health and Alzheimer’s disease), to healthy aging and frailty, the series spans a diverse spectrum of crucial medical topics. Each event includes researchers, graduate students, patients, or community members who have contributed to or benefited from this research.

The next Breakthrough Breakfast is January 8th, 2025 - stay tuned for more info!

Meet some of the researchers at Dalhousie who are exploring innovative solutions and strategies to enhance the health and well-being of our aging population.

DR. PAMELA JARRETT, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF GERIATRIC MEDICINE

Dr. Pamela Jarrett is a geriatrician with Horizon Health Network in Saint John, New Brunswick, and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University. A Dalhousie Medical School graduate, she has practiced geriatric medicine since 1994, contributing to clinical care, administration, teaching, and research. Her work focuses on improving the lives of older adults, particularly those living with dementia, through prevention, management, education, and caregiver support.

Dr. Jarrett leads research initiatives on Transitions in Care of Older Adults and has been recognized with a Clinical Research Scholarship from ResearchNB and the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Aging. In 2023, she was appointed to the Canadian Ministerial Advisory Board on Dementia, highlighting her dedication to enhancing care for older adults in New Brunswick and beyond.

DR. SUSAN HOWLETT, PROFESSOR OF PHARMACOLOGY AND GERIATRIC MEDICINE

Dr. Susan Howlett is a Professor of Pharmacology and Geriatric Medicine at Dalhousie University. She has discovered profound differences in male and female heart cell function, how these change with age, and how sex hormones regulate these processes. Her lab has pioneered the measurement of frailty with a novel “frailty index” (FI) tool based on deficit accumulation.

Her work shows that the level of frailty rather than age alone is a better tool to grade maladaptive, age dependent changes in heart structure and function. A translational scientist, she has used results from animal studies to develop a new tool based on lab results (the FI-Lab) to measure frailty in people.

DR. KENNETH ROCKWOOD, PROFESSOR OF GERIATRIC MEDICINE & NEUROLOGY

Dr. Kenneth Rockwood is a Professor of Medicine (Geriatric Medicine & Neurology) and a Clinical Research Professor of Frailty & Aging at Dalhousie University. He has leadership roles in many studies of frailty and dementia, in Canada and around the world. Since 1991, Dr. Rockwood has been a staff physician at Nova Scotia Health and since 2021, Senior Medical Director of Nova Scotia Health’s Frailty & Elder Care Network.

In 2021 Ken received the Ryman Prize, which the Prime Minister of New Zealand awards for the best work carried out anywhere that has enhanced quality of life for older people. Several honours have followed, the most recent being named as an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is recognized in his home province as being “not too shabby for a Newfoundlander”.