ICON: A network to support older adults to keep moving

Senior man on beach using digital tabletChronic diseases such as dementia and arthritis are the leading causes of decreased mobility in Canadians aged 65 and over. Arthritis alone affects 4.6 million Canadians and it is estimated that one new case of dementia is detected every 4 seconds. The impact of these diseases on an older adult’s quality of life can be devastating, even fatal if not treated appropriately.

The good news is that the health of older Canadians could improve drastically if we simply act on what is known today. There have been major advances in knowledge of how to keep the brain and joints healthy but, despite this, proven ways to prevent these diseases (e.g. regular exercise) and treatments (e.g. weight management) are not being used to best effect.

 

A new team of health researchers and computer scientists called ICON* has come together to develop innovative technologies (e.g., mobile apps, wearable health tracking devices) that will support people to put the best evidence on brain and joint health into action in their everyday lives.

*ICON: Improving Cognitive and Joint Health Network

 

Scientific posters presented about this network include:

2014-03-12_1019_Poster-ImageExamining Perceived Risk Factors of Arthritis: Findings from a Public Opinion Survey Presented at the Canadian Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting, Lake Louise, AB, February 2016

2014-03-12_1019_Poster-ImageCrowdsourcing priority setting: A survey of Canadian’s priorities and views about using digital media in arthritis prevention and treatment Presented at the Canadian Rheumatology Association Annual Scientific Meeting, Quebec City, February 2015

 

Reports from this network include:

2014-03-12_1019_Poster-ImageICON Year 1 Meeting Report July 24-25 2014

 

2014-03-12_1019_Poster-ImageICON Year 1 Meeting Report – Executive Summary July 24-25 2014

 

2014-03-12_1019_Poster-ImageICON Year 2 Report August 2014-June 2016

 

2014-03-12_1019_Poster-ImageICON Year 3 Meeting Report October 20-21 2016

 

 

Co-Principal Investigators:

Linda Li, University of British Columbia, Arthritis Research Centre of Canada

Teresa Liu-Ambrose, University of British Columbia

John Esdaile, University of British Columbia, Arthritis Research Centre of Canada

Diane Gromala, Simon Fraser University

 

Co-Investigators:

Chris Shaw, Simon Fraser University

Richard Smith, Centre for Digital Media, Simon Fraser University

France Legare, University of Laval

Sharon Straus, University of Toronto

Allyson Jones, University of Alberta

Paul Adam

 

Collaborators:

Cheryl Koehn, Arthritis Consumer Experts

Leslie Soever, Arthritis Health Professions Association

Alzheimer’s Society of BC

CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons)