Health & Wellness
U of A researcher developing personalized program that brings the appeal of electronic gaming to physical therapy for older adults.
28
November
2018
A high-tech University of Alberta research project is letting seniors hit a computerized gym especially designed for their needs.
VirtualGym, an electronic game that combines the entertainment of gaming with prescribed exercises, is being put through its paces in a Calgary seniors’ residence to test its user-friendliness and appeal.
Once perfected, it will deliver at-home therapeutic exercises for seniors with chronic health issues, mobility problems or dementia, at the click of a button.
“It’s a concept of bringing rehabilitation home,” said PhD candidate Noelannah Neubauer, who helped design the program. “We already have telehealth being used by doctors, why not rehabilitation too?”
RELATED: Why fall detection devices for seniors are falling short RELATED: New AI-based video system helps seniors stay safe and independe...Headlines
RSS feed - Headlines (opens in new window) View all headlines - Headlines06
December
2018
Oxygen promotes deep, restorative sleep, study shows
New research by U of A neuroscientists points to potential for oxygen therapy to treat sleep problems.
Exposure to high levels of oxygen encourages the brain to remain in deep, restorative sleep, according to a new study by University of Alberta neuroscientists.
Researchers administered high levels …
05
December
2018
Discovery brings saliva test for Alzheimer’s disease one step closer
U of A researchers find biomarkers for identifying Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment in saliva samples.
The discovery of three biomarkers that detect mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s has the potential to lead to the development of a saliva test to diagnose the chronic neurodegenerative …
05
December
2018
Smart nutrition: what to eat to help you succeed during exams
U of A nutrition student offers practical tips to help you perform to your fullest potential when stress is high and time is short.
Pizza, instant noodle soup, mac and cheese—University of Alberta nutrition student Seanna Benoit has seen it all.
“They are the classics,” the go-tos that post-secondary students reach for to keep …
27
November
2018
Commonly used concussion test useful in confirming—but not making—diagnosis for pro athletes: study
Sideline assessment test can reinforce clinical diagnosis but shouldn’t replace it, U of A researchers caution after looking at how well it assessed concussions in CFL players.
One of the more prominent sideline concussion assessment tools being piloted in professional sports may be useful as a tool to confirm, not make, clinical diagnoses, according to University of …
26
November
2018
COMMENTARY || Holiday detoxes sell more snake oil than science
There is no solid science to support the idea that we need to detox our bodies in the way the purveyors of detoxification suggest, says health trend debunker Timothy Caulfield.
Almost every day, our local newspaper runs an advertisement for a product that will, allegedly, help you detoxify your liver, which, apparently, we all need to do. It is a full-page ad. It has …
26
November
2018
CBD in cannabis no panacea for what ails us, say U of A experts
While more research is needed, scientists say the brightest prospects for the medicinal benefits of cannabis so far may lie in more complex combinations of its compounds.
CBD, the non-psychoactive medicinal ingredient found in the marijuana plant, has been credited with relieving pain and inflammation, reducing epileptic seizures, quelling anxiety and insomnia, …
22
November
2018
Study aims to provide clearer picture of how digital devices affect kids
U of A researcher offers three tips for parents to reduce their children’s screen time—and a chance to take part in the new study.
It’s not alcohol or a drug, but cellphones and iPads are also a problem for kids, says a University of Alberta expert who has launched a new project to measure children’s usage.
“Kids are …
19
November
2018
New national blueprint aims to help Canadians move more and sit less
First-ever federal policy framework, created with help from U of A expert, takes broader view of environmental and cultural factors influencing physical activity.
By MICHAEL BROWN
Canada has its first national blueprint to increase physical activity and reduce the toll sedentary living is taking on Canadians, thanks in part to a leading University of …
15
November
2018
U of A makes strong gains in latest ranking of Canada’s top 50 research universities
Significant funding boosts see U of A exceed $500 million in revenue earmarked for research.
The University of Alberta was among the leaders in a new ranking of Canadian universities’ research funding, which reached levels not seen in a decade.
According to Research Infosource, research …
14
November
2018
What the ‘Spanish flu’ pandemic of 1918 has to teach us today
What happened a century ago shapes our understanding of the flu to this day.
By GEOFF McMASTER
One hundred years ago this month, the so-called Spanish flu swept across the globe infecting a third of the world’s population and claiming somewhere between 50 and 100 million …
14
November
2018
Improvement needed in gestational diabetes education: study
U of A researchers add practical information on website to provide resources and help health pregnant women learn critical self-care skills.
Shanna McCutcheon, 32, was shocked and fearful after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in her second trimester.
“I thought I was pretty active. I wasn’t overweight and my …