Research at the CCAA

The CCAA was founded in 1989 as a research centre at the University of Western Ontario, with affiliations to the current St. Joseph’s Health Care London (SJHC) and Lawson Health Research Institute (LHRI). The mandate of the CCAA is to investigate interrelationships among activity (e.g., physical, social), health, well-being and aging, and to study evidence-informed activity-based interventions designed to promote optimal health and well-being of older adults. The CCAA is well-positioned to implement its mandate in alignment with the proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly to name 2021-2030 as the Decade of Healthy Ageing. The proposal was put forth by the World Health Organization and endorsed by the World Health Assembly.

Research at the CCAA includes a wide spectrum of basic and applied high-quality, innovative studies using a range of investigative designs and quantitative and qualitative methods. The emphasis of research is on activity, health, well-being and aging processes among older adults often linked to optimizing their inter- and independence. Knowledge mobilization, translation and exchange also are key theme areas of research frequently undertaken collaboratively by CCAA Research Associates, other researchers, graduate students and Community Partners at local, regional, provincial, national and international levels.

Recent examples of CCAA research

Recently Completed Studies

Studies led by CCAA Research Associates

Principal Investigator: A. Garnett (Western University)

Co-Investigators: K. Prentice, R. Booth, L. Donelle, J.B. Orange, F. Webster

  • Title: Social isolation in community-dwelling older adults during COVID-19: Understanding the roles of resilience.
  • Funder: Western Strategic Support
  • Amount: $22,638
  • Award period: 2021
  • Manuscript: Garnett, A., Prentice, K., Booth, R., Donelle, L., Orange, J. B., & Webster, F. (2023). Social Isolation in Community-Dwelling Older Adults During COVID-19: Understanding the Role of Resilience. Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing, 60, 469580221148880. https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580221148880

Principal Investigator: S. Dogra (University of Ontario Institute of Technology)

  • Title: Environmental Features of Age-Friendly, Healthy, Active Cities
  • Funder: CIHR
  • Amount: $70,000
  • Award Period: 2021-2022

Studies led by CCAA

Principal Investigator: J.B. Orange (Western University)

  • Title: Mobilizing community coaches to reduce social isolation and other modifiable risk factors for dementia.
  • Funder: Western Strategic Support
  • Amount: $24,956.48
  • Award Period: 2021

Currently Funded Studies

Projects led by CCAA Research Associates

Principal Investigators: L. Nagamatsu, J.B. Orange (Western University)

  • Title: Leading research in activity and aging: Identifying research priorities of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging through a co-designed symposium
  • Funder: CIHR
  • Amount: $9,909
  • Award Period: 2023-2024

Principal Investigator: S. Dogra (University of Ontario Institute of Technology)

  • Title: Co-Creation and Feasibility Assessment of a Staircase Approach to Reduce Sedentary Time and Increase Physical Activity in Older Adults
  • Funder: CIHR
  • Amount: $100,000
  • Award Period: 2023-2024

Principal Investigator: S. Hunter (Western University)

Co-Investigator/Collaborators: H. Omana J.B. Orange, S. Belfry

  • Title: Identification of Preclinical Mobility Disability in Community Dwelling Older Adults since COVID-19 Pandemic: A pilot study
  • Funder: Western Faculty Research Development Fund
  • Amount: $5,727
  • Award Period: 2023

Principal Investigators: A. Roberts (Western University), E. Rogalski, C. Geula, M. Mesulam (Northwestern University)

Co-Investigators/Collaborators: L. Finger, J.B. Orange, R. Bartha

  • Title: SUPERAging: Study to Uncover Pathways to Exceptional Cognitive Resilience in Aging. [U19 sub-project: Vascular and Behavioural Determinants of SuperAging
  • Funder: National Institute of Aging (NIH)
  • Amount: $20,000,000
  • Award Period: 2022-2027

Principal Investigators: M. Tyler, C. Hofstetter, M. Hayward, J. MacDermid, J. Paquette-Warren, A. Rushton, J. Oram Cardy, K. Shoemaker (Western University)

Co-Investigators/Collaborators: M. Stewart, C. Gosnell, M. Pampillo, J. Edwards, N. Whalen, S. Belfry, V. Smye, D. Muir, K. Huner, E. Morse, S. Armstrong, C. Bressette, O. Oloya, P. White, M. Smith

  • Title: Research Engagement Collaborative Alliance with Partners (RECAP)
  • Funder: Western Strategic Priorities Fund
  • Amount: $500,000
  • Award Period: 2022-2024

Studies led by Western with CCAA Involvement

Principal Investigator: M. Tyler, C. Hofstetter, M. Hayward, J. MacDermid, J. Paquette-Warren, A. Rushton, J. Oram Cardy, K. Shoemaker

Co-Investigators/Collaborators: M. Stewart, C. Gosnell, M. Pampillo, J. Edwards, N. Whalen, S. Belfry, V. Smye, D. Muir, K. Huner, E. Morse, S. Armstrong, C. Bressette, O. Oloya, P. White, M. Smith

  • Title: Research Engagement Collaborative Alliance with Partners (RECAP)
  • Funder: Western Strategic Priorities Fund
  • Amount: $500,000
  • Award Period: 2022-2024

Proposed Studies

Projects led by CCAA Research Associates

Principal Investigator: V. Dumeaux (Western University)

Co-Investigators/Collaborators: C. Baron, J. Burton, A. Khan, J. Thornton, G. Belfry, L. Nagamatsu, J.B. Orange, S. Belfry

  • Title: Testing a novel exercise regimen on the microbiome towards improved cognitive function in individuals at higher-risk for Alzheimer's dementia
  • Funder (Proposed): Western Research - Interdisciplinary Development Initiative (IDI)
  • Amount: $200,000
  • Award Period: 2023-2024

Studies led by CCAA

Principal Investigator: J.B. Orange (Western University)

Co-Investigators/Collaborators: L. Nagamatsu, A. Roberts, M. Joy, L. Tsotsos, J. Bacsu, V. Provencher, H. O'Rourke, M. Porter, B. McIllroy, L. Middleton, K. Van Ooteghem, P. van Wyk, A. Garnett, M. Mitchell, S. Schabrun, S. Scollie, Centre de santé communautaire de l'Estrie, City of London, engAGE: Concordia University Centre for Research on Aging, Sheridan Centre for Elder Research, Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre, Gray Centre for Mobility and Activity, Thompson Rivers University, University of Manitoba Centre on Aging, University of Waterloo, University of Windsor, University of Sherbrooke

  • Title: Mobilizing community coaches to reduce social isolation and other potentially modifiable risk factors for the development of dementia
  • Funder (Proposed): Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
  • Amount: Stage 1 - $19,036 & Stage 2 - $2,482,712
  • Award Period: 2024-2031

Manuscripts

  • Basque, S.R., Belfry, S.T., Mylly, L., Blomquist, K., Orange, J.B., Demonstrating research outcomes, gauging reception and facilitating further development of the HAroLD database: A thematic analysis.
  • Basque, S.R., Belfry, S.T., Cuvalo, N., Orange, J.B. Feasibility of Modifying an Annual Fitness Appraisal Database to Include Screening of Modifiable Risk Factors for the Development of Dementia in Older Adults: A pilot study.
  • Belfry, S.T., Cuvalo, N., Orange, J.B. Mobilizing community coaches to reduce social isolation and other modifiable risk factors for dementia: A national study.
  • Hunter, S., Acheson, J., Belfry, S.T., & Orange, J.B. Scoping Review on the Reliability of the Single Leg Stance Test in Older Adults.

View a complete list of recent publications by internal Research Associates

Research Associates

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Researchers come together from local, national and international post-secondary institutions, and collaborate on innovative studies related to activity, health, well-being and aging.

Research Events

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Presentations from various researchers from a wide array of disciplines, focused on activity, health, well-being and the aging process.

Research News

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Key findings are presented from high-quality, innovative research related to activity, health, well-being and aging by CCAA Research Associates, Western and other researchers and graduate students.

Community Partners

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Community partners are integral to the Knowledge Mobilization, Knowledge Translation and Knowledge Exchange activities carried out in reciprocal fashion with CCAA Research Associates.