Research summary
In the coming decades, Canada’s aging population will be a key factor affecting the nation’s biological, social and economic health. As Canada Research Chair in Brain Aging and Repair, Dr. Karl Fernandes seeks to improve the brain health of our aging population.
He and his research team aim to bridge the “translational gap” that separates basic science discoveries in brain health from new clinical treatments. For example, they are working on brain fatty acid metabolism as a new therapeutic target to treat Alzheimer’s disease, the main cause of age-related dementia. Fernandes and his team are also exploring the use of ketogenic supplements to improve healthy brain aging and developing state-of-the-art stem cell technologies to better understand brain aging. Ultimately, their research will accelerate the development of new strategies and treatments that will improve quality of life for seniors as our population ages.