Brain & HealthSleep
Arianna Huffington
Understanding the True State of Brain Health Here in Ontario
The Ontario Brain Institute is leading the way in creating a collaborative ecosystem of brain health experts and
Brain health is in the eye of the beholder,” says Dr. Tom Mikkelsen, President and Scientific Director of the Ontario Brain Institute (OBI), a provincially funded not-for-profit that accelerates discovery and innovation in brain health by creating seamless connections between research discovery, patient care, and commercialization.
“It has to do with a state of being — thinking, feeling, social activity, and behaviour. Brain health is very broad — it means different things to different people.”
Brain health disorders include everything from neurodevelopmental disorders like cerebral palsy and autism, to neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and dementias including Alzheimer’s, to mental health conditions.
Widespread impact
than-ideal health than conditions like heart disease and cancer.” Brain disorders impact not only patients but also their families, caregivers, and society as a whole.
To get a snapshot of brain health in Ontario, OBI collected data on 13 brain disorders through the Brain Health in Ontario initiative. Dr. Mikkelsen estimates that one in six people living with one of these 13 disorders has at least one other brain disorder, and notes that people with brain disorders have much higher mental health and addictions health service usage. Action is needed to better understand the complexities of brain health and support those impacted.
Brain disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide, and one in three Ontarians will develop one over the course of their lifetime.
“Brain disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide, and one in three Ontarians will develop one over the course of their lifetime,” says Deanna Groetzinger, Manager at Neurological Health Charities Canada (NHCC) , a coalition of health charities and national brain health partner of the OBI. “Brain disorders actually have a greater impact on the number of years lived in less-
Leading the way forward OBI has taken a leadership role in the brain health space to support Ontarians through the creation of a brain health ecosystem that connects researchers, clinicians, patients and their advocates, industry, community groups and policymakers in order to foster the discovery and delivery of innovative products and services that improve the lives of those living with brain disorders. “Biomedical health research is all about team science these days,” says Dr. Mikkelsen. “We have experts in different areas,
whether it relates to scientific discovery or the health care practitioners delivering services or patients and their advocates. And we’re bringing them all together.”
For example, OBI’s priority setting process with research networks ensure that research efforts focus on what really matters to those impacted by bringing together different perspectives. A caregiver said, “If you know one kid with autism you know one kid with autism. Participating in something like this enables the researchers to get a much broader and more generalized perspective of what the day-to-day life is like and that means that they can then focus their research in terms of tangible benefits what matters to us as families.”
Working together
“Together with OBI, we’re pushing to break down those silos of expertise by sharing information and innovation,” says Groetzinger. “This is how we’re really going to move forward on true understanding about brain conditions and how they can be studied, managed, and treated.”
Dr. Mikkelsen and Groetzinger note the importance of continuing to build the brain health ecosystem. Their goal is for Ontario and Canada to shine as a world leader in brain research, commercialization, and care.
If dementia has impacted you or a loved one, participating in research is a way to help transform dementia care. Toronto is home to some of the world’s most respected leaders in dementia research, who oversee studies that test new treatments and teach us more about this condition. However, finding these studies and deciding whether to get involved can be confusing and overwhelming.
Breaking down barriers to participation in research
The Toronto Dementia Research Alliance and the Alzheimer Society of Toronto have partnered to make research more accessible. Together, we manage a list of studies on the Toronto Dementia Network website that are actively recruiting participants. Under the Research Studies section, studies can be browsed in plain language. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, a questionnaire can help match you to a study. Prior to being listed, each study must receive approval from an ethics board.
and research needs participants.
Studying diverse populations
Researchers are seeking a range of participants, such as people living with different types of dementia or mild cognitive impairment, those at risk of developing dementia, caregivers and care partners, and healthy volunteers. Studying diverse populations helps scientists better understand dementia, which guides prevention and treatment.
About the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance
Established in 2012, the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance is a collaboration between the University of Toronto, Baycrest, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Unity Health Toronto, and the University Health Network. Together with our partners, we aim to strengthen the link between basic science and clinical research to better understand, prevent, and treat dementia.
Arianna Huffington shares the effect that sleep can have on our brain and overall health.
Dr. Tom Mikkelsen President & Scientific Director, Ontario Brain Institute
A Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease Is Finally On Its
Way, but We’re Not Ready
Canada will likely soon have its first-ever Alzheimer’s disease treatment — but unaddressed barriers may get between the drug and those who need it.
Cathy Barrick, CEO, Alzheimer Society of Ontario
This will be a deeply personal article for many of you. One in three Ontarians have a close family member — a parent, spouse, or sibling — who’s living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Unlike other chronic diseases, dementia is often hidden from view — the struggles of isolated care partners concealed within the family home and the indignities endured by our elders too often ignored within overstretched and under-resourced long-term care homes. If this doesn’t resonate with you, more likely than not you have a friend, co-worker, or neighbour who’s intimately impacted by Ontario’s strained network of dementia care supports.
So when the U.S. approved the world’s first-ever treatment for Alzheimer’s disease itself, not just its underlying symptoms, the reaction in Canada was immediate and overwhelming. We at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario got hundreds of calls from people asking how they could join a clinical trial, when it would be available here, and if it was right for their loved one. Late last year, the U.S. got its second treatment, which has also now been submitted for approval in Europe and Japan (and, we hope, soon in Canada).
Finally, a real breakthrough
To be clear, these two drugs aren’t perfect. They’re expensive, come with side effects (some serious), and, as with anything in dementia care, one size will not fit all. But they’re a start — the first
real breakthrough in dementia pharmacology in decades. As has been the case in other diseases, like MS, the first imperfect drugs will spur interest in developing more, and I hold out eternal hope that within my lifetime, we’ll find a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease that is broadly effective, affordable, and safe.
So it’s important that we get the rollout for these early drugs right. Ontario stands to save nearly $10 billion in avoided hospital and long-term care costs from a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, but only if a possible future treatment gets to those who need it most in a timely manner. That means earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease, quicker diagnoses, more scan capacity, better use of specialist providers’ limited time, and equitable access to care and treatment options across the province.
It takes up to 18 months to get a diagnosis of dementia in Ontario today. That simply isn’t good enough.
Addressing the urgency to act now It takes up to 18 months to get a diag-
nosis of dementia in Ontario today. That simply isn’t good enough. With the arrival of a disease-modifying treatment and no accompanying increases to our current capacity, that wait time will skyrocket to seven and a half years — longer than many who seek a diagnosis will live. We have potentially a very short runway to get ready for our first-ever approved treatment. We could be as little as two years away — within the mandate of Ontario’s current government. Even if, for whatever reason, treatments available in the U.S. aren’t approved in Canada, preparing for their arrival will leave us better off with more fulsome diagnostic capacity. The Alzheimer Society of Ontario is urging the provincial government to act now to address systemic barriers to early, timely, and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Ontarians are watching. We have no time to lose.
ThisarticlewasmadepossiblewithsupportfromEisaiPharmaceuticals.
How’s Your Mental Health? Staying On Top of It Is Vital
Cognitive health is crucial to maintaining a full, content life — be vigilant for indicators of illness and reach out if assistance is required.
Katherine Cappellacci
The brain is arguably the most complex organ in the body. With little understanding about how it actually works, people sometimes undervalue the importance of mental wellness.
Controlling essential functions like communication, problem-solving, productivity, decision-making, and emotions, it’s imperative to support adequate brain health. There are preventative measures that can be taken to stay cognitively fit — the biggest one being to care for the rest of the body by eating and sleeping well. Physical activity, reducing stress, and expressing one’s feelings are also beneficial. Unfortunately, maintaining brain health can be difficult or amplified by external factors. In fact, one in five Canadians experience mental illness every year*. Given its prevalence, it’s essential to be familiar with the varying types, indicators, and available treatments.
Controlling essential functions like communication, problem-solving, productivity, decision-making, and emotions, it’s imperative to support adequate brain health.
Learn the facts People may unintentionally miss
the signs and symptoms as they can be difficult to pinpoint. They can include changes in mood and normal habits, confusion, excessive fears, fatigue, detachment from reality, and an inability to cope with daily stresses. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or other dissociative disorders are some mental health afflictions that can vary in severity from mild to serious. Addiction and substance use are other conditions impacting brain health, where behaviours may include a loss of frequency control and increased compulsion. Someone who’s struggling needs to have access to the resources necessary for them to heal safely and effectively. Fortunately, the importance of selfcare and mind-related wellness is being normalized. ConnexOntario is one of many organizations that connects those who ask for help to available services. Their hope is to offer all Ontarians a link to information and support for mental health, substance use, and problem gambling.
Here to help
Their free and confidential services are available 24/7 by phone, text, email, and more. Online, they’re a hub of data and articles for those looking to educate themselves on certain ailments, preventative care, or what to do next. Services are available to anyone — for the person calling or on behalf of a loved one.
As Ontario’s most comprehensive community database, ConnexOntario can put callers in touch with thousands of resources. These include 31 programs for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 211 for eating disorders, and 191 related to problem gambling — just to name a few. Aside from treatment services, ConnexOntario provides community-based details about distress centres, crisis lines, self-help groups, and family services. With partnered associations, they also provide a specific post-secondary student hotline called Good2Talk.
ConnexOntario wants people to prioritize their mental wellness, learn about signs and symptoms, take preventative measures, and reach out if they need care. It’s never too late to take the first step towards a healthier, fulfilling life.
How to Change our Minds about Brain Health and Substance Use
Eliminating the stigma surrounding substance use disorder can bring about a more equitable and compassionate approach to patient care.
Anthony Esposti
There’s a question that people with a substance use disorder are often asked: “Why don’t you just stop?” Some might see that as a fair question — after all, for people with a substance use disorder, substance use is a choice, right?
I’m here to tell you that this line of thinking lacks a fundamental understanding of the relationship between our brains and substances. I also see this critical gap in information as a driving force behind the stigma and discrimination that continue to have a direct effect on people’s health.
Establishing the facts
All substance use involves the brain. And even though three out of four of us in Canada use substances to some degree, little is known about the effect of substance use on the brain. Our relationship with substances ranges from no use at one end to a disorder at the other. Most people fall somewhere in the middle, yet few know how their use affects their overall health, let alone their brain.
Neuroscientists have found that trauma, among other factors, can restrict the region of the brain that keeps us well and feeling safe while pushing fear into overdrive. It’s possible that people who develop a substance use disorder are trying to re-set this imbalance by filling the gap with substances, including tobacco and alcohol, to feel better. This damaged wiring of the brain impairs our ability to make healthy choices. Using substances becomes instinctual and part of our need to survive. Choice doesn’t stand a chance.
A Leger Opinion survey conducted last December for CAPSA and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction found that nearly a quarter of participants believe addiction is a choice. Despite this, 80 per cent of respondents believe people need more
access to information and health services when it comes to substance use.
More knowledge is needed
Forty-nine per cent of survey participants reported getting their information about substance use from the media. Much of the current information today tends to focus on the disorder end of the spectrum. This leaves many of us without the answers we need to make informed decisions. People also need to know where to go for information about their substance use. People who reach out to health care professionals are often told that they’re simply not sick enough to warrant care. This would be akin to telling a stage 2 cancer patient to come back when they’re at stage 4.
When it comes to brain health, more research could explain why some people’s brains choose substances as a good coping strategy and others’ don’t. Education can also empower young people to know more about the effects of substances on their developing brains. It can help us know how to nurture resilience by being OK with life’s struggles and building coping skills. Studies in neuroplasticity could inform health programs so we know what to expect from the brain and its power to heal itself.
Stigma limits our understanding
The gap in information about substances is significant. It’s also dangerous. Not understanding substance use has created the perfect condition for stigma and discrimination. People living with a substance use disorder are often stigmatized heavily, even by their own health care providers. This has resulted in discriminatory systems being built up. It’s time we changed this.
Understanding substance use as a health issue aims to create a safe space for people to question their relationship to substances without stigma.
Just like Physical Health and Mental Health, our Substance Use Health doesn't presume illness. We can better manage substances across our lifespan when the conversation is grounded in client-partnered, integrated, and individualized care with outcomes that focus on shared decision-making and empathy.
How we get there
CAPSA is not a brain organization — we focus on stigma and eliminating barriers to equitable care. And stigma has created barriers, keeping us from knowing more about Substance Use Health. We can learn how to change our minds about substance use. The way forward is simple: provide good information to people so they can make an informed decision, without stigma getting in the way.
The following are six calls to action to help us get there.
• Enable more research on the impact of substance use on brain health.
• Increase education and supports across the spectrum of substance use. Resources are needed for everyone, even those who don’t use substances.
• Enforce proper labelling of all substances, listing ingredients and dosage.
• Have ongoing conversations with your doctor about your Substance Use Health as it relates to your brain health.
• Provide better education for doctors about Substance Use Health.
• Encourage more research on treatment and its ability to restore neuroplasticity and overall brain health.
Together, we can reduce the stigma associated with substance use and promote better health and understanding.
The following is a snapshot of a survey on Substance Use Health that CAPSA and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction conducted with Leger Opinion in December 2022, which involved surveying 4,000 people living in Canada:
Anthony Esposti Chief Executive Officer, CAPSA
Arianna Huffington: Prioritizing Sleep
Mediaplanet spoke with Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO of Thrive Global, Founder of TheHuffingtonPost & author of TheSleepRevolution, about the negative effects sleep deprivation can have on both our mental and physical health.
What would your advice be for those not prioritizing their own sleep?
I would urge those not taking their sleep seriously to consider the science on sleep, which is very clear. Sleep is the underpinning of every aspect of our physical and mental health. Sleep deprivation affects our physical health by putting us at a higher risk of a host of illnesses, like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke. For our mental health, sleep deprivation is associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety, as well as reduced empathy, emotional intelligence and ability to focus. All great reasons to prioritize sleep!
What is the biggest change/benefit you have seen since beginning to prioritize your sleep?
Since I’ve made sleep a priority in my life, I’m not only more productive, calmer and less stressed, but I also feel more present to enjoy my life and those around me.
How Quality Bedding Can Make a Difference to Your Sleep
By producing the highest-quality bedding, this femalefounded, female-led, Canadian business is helping to change the way we sleep.
If you’re not sleeping well at night, you might want to check your bedding. Poor-quality pillows, sheets, and covers can hinder a good sleep in many ways — from an unpleasant crinkly feel to lack of breathability and temperature regulation to poor head and neck support.
“Great bedding, on the other hand, will feel amazing, help regulate your body temperature, and ensure proper alignment of your neck and back, all of which contribute to a tranquil, uninterrupted sleep,” says Joanna Goodman, CEO of Au Lit Fine Linens, a family-owned bedding and bath store located in Toronto.
Finding the right bedding for you
With so many bedding options out there, selecting the right bedding to invest in can seem like an overwhelming task. “We typically recommend people start by identifying any sleep problems or concerns,” says Goodman. “A lot of problems like overheating at night, neck and back pain, and even fighting for covers can be addressed with the right kind of bedding.” A hot sleeper, for example, might do best with a linen or bamboo fabric, a lightweight duvet, and an all-natural mattress protector to add an extra layer of breathability and moisture-wicking underneath.
Another consideration is what
A
What are your tips for those struggling to balance work and getting adequate, quality sleep at night?
One tip is to declare an end to the day, even if you haven’t completed your to-do list. That means being comfortable with incompletions. It’s always impossible to do all you could have done in any one day. But once you’ve handled the day’s essential priorities, you can declare an end to the day and recharge, so you can return to work the next day ready to seize new opportunities.
Another tip is to have a routine that tells your mind and body that it’s time to begin winding down and say goodbye to the day.
For me, I treat my transition to sleep as a sacrosanct ritual. The first part — and this is essential — is that I turn off all my electronic devices and gently escort them out of my bedroom. Our phones are repositories of everything we need to put away to allow us to sleep — our to-do lists, our inboxes, the demands of the day. So charging our devices in another room allows us to wake up as recharged as our phones.
you personally like in your bed ding — crisp and cool sheets with a hotel feel or the fine and silky soft texture of sateen? A thick and firm pillow offering high support, or something flatter and softer? A duvet with some cozy weight or something bordering on weightlessness? Goodman also recommends doing some research on where the raw materials are sourced, where the fabric is woven, and where the finished pieces are made. “These details will provide a ton of insight into the quality of the bedding,” she says.
A lot of problems like overheating at night, neck and back pain, and even fighting for covers can be addressed with the right kind of bedding.
High-quality, natural bedding
Au Lit Fine Linens was founded in 1981 by Goodman’s late mother, Peggy Byron, in Montreal under the name Boutique Au Lit. On a mission to change the way you sleep, Byron was one of the first in Canada to offer pure cotton sheets instead of treated polyester.
That motto endures to this day with Au Lit offering bedding that’s made of the finest all-natural fibres here in Canada and in Europe. “Natural fibres are inherently more breathable and moisture-wicking than synthetics,” says Goodman. “They’re also typically stronger and more durable than synthetics, meaning longer-lasting, better-fitting sheets that are less prone to pilling and weak spots, not to mention less turnover at the landfill.”
Science-Based, Natural Solution to
Enhance
offers a researched-backed, natural solution to adults and kids who have trouble falling and staying asleep.
Good sleep is vital to health and well-being but often hard to come by. Stress, caffeine, and poor sleep habits can adversely affect sleep quality, as can certain types of light exposure, especially at night. “Blue light in particular tends to delay the release of melatonin, a hormone that you need to fall asleep, so people who scroll on their smart phones before bed and are exposed to this light are often chronically sleep-deprived,” says Sheryl Guloy, Co-Founder and President of Somnolence+ and a researcher who studies the relationship between mobile app use and sleep onset.
Promoting good, restful sleep
The effect of light on sleep is something that NASA started studying in the 1960s, after observing the sleep challenges astronauts were having when not exposed to the Earth’s 24-hour cycle. However, NASA researchers discovered that red light exposure at specific wavelengths — to mimic the effect of a sunset — seemed to help astronauts fall asleep.
The cotton used in Au Lit’s sheeting is a mix of long-staple Egyptian and American. “We exclusively use long-staple cotton for our bedding as the fibres are longer, stronger, and smoother,” says Goodman. As for where the sheets are woven, Au Lit has partnered with some of the premier textile mills in Italy and Portugal for the past 40 years. “Our mills have decades-long histories in the textile industry and produce the world’s best fabrics,” says Goodman. Au Lit also has a workroom in Montreal which allows them to offer a range of fabrics, fills, styles, and sizing to accommodate different needs and preferences, including extradeep or oddly sized mattresses. “We understand that everyone has different needs, so having our own workroom in Montreal gives us the unique ability to customize bedding for the perfect fit and feel,” says Goodman. It's a universal fact of life that we spend nearly a third of our lives in bed. “Considering how much sleep impacts our lives, investing in exceptional-quality bedding will ensure that every second of your sleep counts,” says Goodman.
Sleep Quality
This research is the inspiration behind Helight Sleep from Helight, a French and Canadian manufacturer of photobiomodulation devices. Helight Sleep is a completely natural, non-invasive sleep aid that emits a pure red light at a wavelength of 630 nanometers for 14 minutes before gradually fading out. “What makes our red-light technology so effect ive is that it’s not just any red light,” says Greg Bonnier, Helight’s Vice President. “It’s exposure to red light at a specific intensity for a specific amount of time, at a very specific wavelength.”
Portable and easy to use, the Helight Sleep requires no effort on the user’s part. “You simply turn it on,” says Bonnier. Helight Sleep can help people fall asleep faster, reduce the effects of blue light exposure from screens, and help with jetlag.
The Helight Sleep device is 100 per cent safe and may be used with children and infants. “Kids love it because it creates a ritual and is a fun thing to do before going to bed, so there’s a psychological aspect to it too,” says Bonnier.
Helight Sleep and Helight Kidzzz units may be ordered through the company’s website at helight.ca This article was sponsored by Helight Sleep
Helight Sleep
Anne Papmehl
Anne Papmehl
Read Arianna's full Q&A online at healthinsight.ca