CAMH is uniquely positioned to make discoveries that benefit people with
mental illness and addictions.
“From neuron to neighbourhood,” our integrative approach to research
encompasses genetics, molecular neuroscience and brain imaging, clinical and
community-based studies, and epidemiological, social and policy research.
Our research has a common goal—to improve the lives of people with mental illness and addictions.
Through our Research Renaissance Project, our capacity to leverage this
integrative approach will grow in the coming years. This investment into
research infrastructure has provided the momentum to unravel causes, and
discover effective prevention and treatment approaches.
Mental illness in later life
CAMH has a strong research program focused on aging and mental health.
Over the past year, our scientists have made discoveries in both prevention
and treatment. In prevention, Dr. Aristotle Voineskos used an innovative
combination of brain imaging and genetic analysis to identify healthy people
at risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. He identified a genetic variation of
a protein that may play a role in Alzheimer’s. The protein, a brain-derived
neurotrophic factor, is essential for learning and memory functions.
Drs. Aristotle Voineskos (l) and Tarek Rajji in front of an image of a
transcranial magnetic stimulation coil applied to the brain.
More than half of people with Alzheimer’s disease experience distressing
symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations or agitation, and they are
often treated with antipsychotic drugs such as risperidone. A study by
Drs. Bruce G. Pollock and Robert Bies found that high concentrations
of the drug’s by-product led to people quitting their medication because
it was not working or because of side-effects. Dr. Pollock is currently
co-leading a multi-site study of a potential alternative treatment, supported by
the U.S. National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Mental Health.
A number of mental illnesses are associated with problems with memory,
attention and planning, and other cognitive deficits. The presence of these
deficits can predict how well people function in their daily lives.