Virtual Reality - Courtney Berezuk - University of Toronto

Functional disability is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease and is typically assessed using informant questionnaires. With funding support from NSERC, we're working to develop the first virtual reality application where activities of daily living can be assessed objectively and with high ecological validity. These activities, such as meal preparation, housework, and self-care, can then be associated with cognitive decline and neurological changes on MRI. This technology can improve our: (1) understanding of functional decline; (2) ability to assess risk, and (3) appreciation of how men and women differ in Alzheimer's disease.