Grant: Operating Grant

In Canadian Aboriginal communities there are few culturally relevant resources dedicated to Alzheimer Disease (AD). Education about symptoms and disease progression can help people prepare for the life changes associated with AD. Without such information, Canadian Aboriginal people will be limited in their ability to plan for this disease and, overall, their health may suffer. We are working with a particular First Nation whose members are at risk for a familial AD that occurs around age 50. Some members inherit a unique genetic mutation that leads to AD. In the face of predictive genetic testing, the need for culturally relevant information is even more pressing. Most Canadian resources explain AD as a brain illness, but this explanation does not align with Indigenous worldviews that balance physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness. We anticipate that culturally relevant informational resources based on Indigenous concepts of wellness and illness will improve the understanding of AD prediction, diagnosis, and care. We will work with members of this Nation to: 1. Elucidate how members explain AD within a holistic framework that values both scientific knowledge and traditional teachings. To do this, we will facilitate Sharing Circles and Family Interviews with members of this Nation, and we will interpret the findings in collaboration with the research participants. 2. Synthesize the findings in a preliminary report and, through an iterative process with the community, discuss and further interpret the results. 3. Create a final resource report that leads to improved understanding of AD prediction, diagnosis, and care for members of the Nation, clinicians, academics and policy makers. Our research will bring together traditional teachings and scientific understandings. It will contribute to Canadian knowledge of Aboriginal health and wellness, rural and remote health, AD, and intersecting challenges in the science of the brain, genetics, and ethics.