More than 500,000 Canadians live with dementia -- an overall term for a set of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease. There is currently no cure or treatments that can reverse dementia however, through research, St. Joseph’s Lawson scientists, led by Dr. Michael Borrie, Medical Director for St. Joseph’s Aging Brain and Memory Clinic, a key member of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration and Aging (CCNA) and Program Director of the South Western Ontario Regional Geriatric Program, are completing clinical trials on medications and treatments that can slow and sometimes stop the progression of the disease.

On this episode of the DocTalks Podcast, Dr. Borrie joined host Mandi Fields to discuss the dementia research happening at Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph’s. You can listen to the previous episode with Dr. Borrie where he discusses what dementia is, here.

If you are interested in taking part in the studies Dr. Borrie mentions in this episode, please contact Julia Truemner, Research Coordinator, at memory@sjhc.london.on.ca or 519-64661000 Ex 46600.

If you would like to help support Dr. Borrie’s research, please visit the St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation’s website and learn more about making a donation.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a human heart beats about 100,000 times per day. Last season, DocTalks featured an episode on heart health in women – today, Dr. Neville Suskin joins the show to discuss heart health in men. Men are 2 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than women, and are newly diagnosed with heart disease on average 10 years before women. Dr. Suskin discusses why this is, the risk factors of heart disease and St. Joseph’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

Note: The content of St. Joseph's DocTalks Podcast is for informational purposes only. The material is not intended for and should not be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from a licensed health care practitioner.

Brought to you in partnership with St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation. Produced by The Pod Cabin and Emily Mackey.

How would you feel if you could no longer smell your favourite scent?

Anosmia is a partial or full loss of smell. While usually a temporary symptom of an illness like a cold or sinus infection, more serious medical issues like a brain injury or diabetes could cause anosmia. On today’s episode of the DocTalks Podcast, Dr. Leigh Sowerby, Division Head of Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery at St. Joseph’s Health Care London and Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Western University, joins to discuss anosmia. He chats with host, Mandi Fields, about causes, impact on lifestyle and treatments.

Note: The content of St. Joseph's DocTalks Podcast is for informational purposes only. The material is not intended for and should not be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from a licensed health care practitioner.

Brought to you in partnership with St. Joseph's Health Care Foundation. Produced by The Pod Cabin and Emily Mackey.