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Dementia in unhoused people was 1.9 times greater than the general population, with a higher prevalence for age groups younger than 85 years, according to new research from Lawson Health Research Institute and ICES.

In one of the first population-based studies of its kind and published in The Lancet Public Health, researchers compared dementia prevalence in people experiencing homeless with the general population and people living in low-income neighbourhoods in Ontario, Canada.

“Not only did we find that dementia was more common among unhoused individuals, but the difference was greatest between the ages of 55 to 64 years,” says lead author Dr. Richard Booth, Scientist at ICES and Lawson Health Research Institute, and Associate Professor and Arthur Labatt Family Research Chair in Nursing at Western University.

“There’s a strong link between homelessness and accelerated ageing, which may be one of the reasons people experience an earlier onset of the disease,” says Dr. Booth.

Using a prevalence ratio, the researchers found that within the ages of 55-74 years rates of dementia were 4 to 5 times higher than the general population and 3 to 3.5 times higher than the low-income group. There was a higher dementia prevalence in all age groups younger than 85 years among people experiencing homelessness in both males and females.

Unhoused people were younger on average, less likely to be female, and less likely to live in rural areas compared to the other two groups. They also had higher rates of health conditions associated with dementia, such as head trauma, neurological conditions, HIV, and mental health and substance-use disorders.

After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, residential area, and health conditions, the prevalence ratio for people experiencing homelessness was 1.7 times higher compared to the low-income group, and 1.9 times higher compared to the general population.

“Other research has outlined that the rates of homelessness in older adults are expected to double by 2030, which means that the number of people living with dementia could rise substantially,” says Dr. Booth. “Our findings suggest that unhoused individuals should be screened for dementia at younger ages, rather than waiting until age 65 as many guidelines suggest.”

The researchers also note the complexity of diagnosing dementia in an individual experiencing multiple, chronic health conditions, as cognitive symptoms can overlap. Because of the difficulty in obtaining a medical history and diagnosis in this population, the study could have underestimated the true prevalence of dementia.

“We hope this work serves to enhance the awareness of policy makers and practitioners of the increasing prevalence of dementia among people experiencing homelessness,” says study author Salimah Shariff, Staff Scientist with the Populations & Public Health Research Program at ICES, Associate Director of research operations and strategic partnerships at ICES Western, and Associate Scientist at Lawson. “As housing is a core determinant of health and essential to the sustainment of individuals’ health and wellbeing, access to permanent, supportive housing structures for people experiencing homelessness is also critical in preventing and slowing the progression of dementia in this population.”

This study was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Misty Pratt
Senior Communications Associate, ICES
@email 613-882-7065

Researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute (Lawson) have launched a new study to investigate the use of bovine lipid extract surfactant suspension (BLES^®) for treating severe cases of COVID-19. They hope to improve COVID-19 outcomes, and reduce the time needed on mechanical ventilation for severe cases.

Surfactant is made of lipids and proteins. Its primary function is to reduce surface tension in the alveoli in the lungs, helping us to exchange gases and breathe more efficiently. Alveoli can be described as tiny, balloon-like air sacs that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the blood stream. When there is less surfactant being produced, or the surfactant is dysfunctional, alveolar walls can stick together, making it difficult to breathe.

Lung analyses from patients with severe COVID-19-induced respiratory failure indicate there is a change in their alveolar type-II cells; the cells which secrete surfactant. This suggests a change to the surfactant being produced, and a decrease in its functional efficacy.

Dr. Jim Lewis, Lawson Scientist and Respirologist at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, and his colleague, Lawson Scientist Dr. Ruud Veldhuizen, are studying whether the use of BLES^®, an exogenous surfactant, given at the time of intubation, will help improve outcomes such as gas exchange, need for mechanical ventilation, systemic inflammatory response, and length of ICU and hospital stay in patients with severe COVID-19.

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BLES® is a pulmonary surfactant, manufactured in London, Ontario. It is currently used worldwide to help improve lung function in premature babies. Researchers are confident that it can help adults who develop lung disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Dr. Jim Lewis explains, “BLES® has been studied in pediatric and adult populations with ARDS, and we have found that it improves outcomes in patients with direct lung injury when compared to patients receiving standard treatment. We have proven this treatment effective in the past, and COVID-19 seems to be another prototypic case that we think will respond well.”

“Mechanical ventilation, while sometimes necessary, can cause damage to the lungs,” says Dr. Veldhuizen. “In previous studies, we’ve been able to show that if you give the surfactant early, prior to ventilation, you can prevent some of this damage from occurring.”

“The world is focused on finding good treatments for COVID-19. This kind of research is only possible through strong partnerships, and we are thankful for the collaboration that is possible here in London. Many different experts are involved in this study, including scientists and research staff, physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and staff at BLES® Biochemicals,” adds Dr. Veldhuizen.

Researchers hope to recruit ten patients to receive the exogenous surfactant, with another ten serving as the control group.